diff --git a/world/Track.cpp b/world/Track.cpp
index 547c56d3..ee99a107 100644
--- a/world/Track.cpp
+++ b/world/Track.cpp
@@ -3388,8 +3388,9 @@ TTrack::create_track_bed_profile( gfx::vertex_array &Output, TTrack const *Previ
                 {0.5f + map12, 0.f} }; // prawy skos
         }
     }
-    if( m_sleepers3d.active ) {
-        // the ballast lowered under the sleepers laid on it, so they stick out of it
+    if( m_sleepers3d.active && false == ( m_sleeper_enabled && false == m_sleeper_model_name.empty() ) ) {
+        // the ballast lowered under the sleepers laid on it, so they stick out of it; the ballast under the sleepers of
+        // the model of the track itself is moved by its own trackbed shift, as without the 3D sleepers
         for( auto &point : Output ) {
             point.position.y -= static_cast<float>( track_sleepers::bed_drop );
         }
diff --git a/world/TrackSleepers.cpp b/world/TrackSleepers.cpp
index 85790d85..bcb5cf09 100644
--- a/world/TrackSleepers.cpp
+++ b/world/TrackSleepers.cpp
@@ -118,6 +118,10 @@ void lay( TTrack &Track ) {
     if( false == laid.active || laid.timbers == nullptr ) {
         return;
     }
+    // the sleepers of the model of the track itself (sleepermodel) at the height they're drawn at without the 3D sleepers: the
+    // origin of the model at the top of the rails, moved up by the sleeper shift, which the model was fitted to
+    auto const ownplains { laid.plains != nullptr && Track.m_sleeper_enabled && laid.plains != plain_model() };
+    auto const plainlift { ownplains ? Track.rail_height() + Track.m_sleeper_offset.z : 0.f };
     auto const &parts { *laid.timbers };
     if( auto const panel { panel_off_plane( Track ) }; panel.first > coplanar_tolerance ) {
         WriteLog(
@@ -202,7 +206,7 @@ void lay( TTrack &Track ) {
             // the whole sleeper at its own length, its middle under the middle of the track
             auto const &plain { *laid.plains };
             laid.plain.emplace_back(
-                glm::translate( frame, glm::vec3 { -0.5f * ( plain.span.x + plain.span.y ), -plain.seat, 0.f } ) );
+                glm::translate( frame, glm::vec3 { -0.5f * ( plain.span.x + plain.span.y ), ( ownplains ? plainlift : -plain.seat ), 0.f } ) );
         }
         else if( false == parts.stretchable ) {
             // a timber of a model which can't be put together, the whole of it stretched to the length