Dose it make any Different when put code 100 or 80 Track together.
Erick
Yes, it will make a difference. The two are different heights so there’s going to be a slight drop going from 100 to 83 or a bump going from 83 to 100. There are metal transition joiners for joining the two as well as plastic transition joiners for making insulated joinings. There’s also a transition track available.
If you are using Atlas flex track, both have the same dimension from rail top to tie bottom - thicker ties under the lower rails.
If you plow out enough of the code 83 tie for clearance, the Atlas universal joiner will work without modification to hold the rails in horizontal alignment at a joint between the two. The code 100 also needs to have a little of the tie top trimmed so the rail end remains level. then, when the rail is anchored, use a heavy, flat-bottomed weight to keep the rail ends in vertical alignment until the latex caulk sets up.
I laid one length of Code 83 flex in an otherwise all code 100 run, specifically to determine what special manipulations would be required to make the two play nice with each other. It has been in service for four years now without the least hint of misalignment. Since I expect to make a number of such transitions, the ease of using unmodified joiners was a pleasant surprise.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I have two places on my layout where I transition from Code 100 to Code 83. I used the Walthers transition track section, and it works fine. It’s a short piece of straight sectional track, about 6 inches long, with the actual transition in the center. To be honest, it’s probably a bit overpriced for what it is, but it seemed like the “safest” way to go at the time. I used one as is, and I cut the other one down a bit to fit.
I have several places on my layout where I transition from 100 to 83 or vice versa. I take a code 100 rail joiner, flatten one end really flat then solder that to the bottom of the 83 rail. Insert the other end into the 100 rail and the height matches perfectly.
Like Mister Beasely, I have a spot where my mainline code 100 rail transitions into my yard code 83 rail, and used the Sinohara/Walthers 100/83 transition track. I put it in over 10 years ago and it’s worked smooth as silk since. In fact, I’m not really sure I could locate it if you asked me where it was exactly as far as the layout, LOL!
Tom
By the way, how can you tell code 83 from 100? can you visually see the difference?
Much of the difference is from items other than the rail. A lot of code 100 track in HO uses shorter ties than code 83 (8’ instead of 8’6"), the ties are wider and/or spaced differently, and the spike detail is very different in appearance (and usually very oversized). Atlas code 100 also has an odd rail shape compared to most code 83.
So…the height of the rail may be noticeable, but the other aesthetic aspects of the track will make code 100 more obvious.