hi i am going to be hand laying track, but came to realize that i have no clue what track code i need to use, or what is prototypical from the time period of 1940 or so. Going to have mainline, branch, and industrial line. Pretty sure they are all different. Lay you wisdom on my fella"s
If I were to handlay (which I’m way to lazy to do) I’d go 83 on the main and heavy industrial sites, 55 on some branches if you have newer equipment that can ride 55.[:o)]
In HO you might want to use code 83, 70, and 55. Use thin head spikes, especially for the code 55. Alternatively, you could glue the code 55 to the ties and paint on spike heads.
Enjoy
Paul
Good for you, Rick. [:)][tup] Will you be going with the Fast Tracks system?
http://handlaidtrack.com/ho.php
That’s something that I’d like to do on my next layout.
Code 83 and 70 ought to be fine for your era. One concern: If you have any older Rivarossi, you may run into some problems with the taller wheel flanges bottoming out.
Tom
Hi again Rick.
Code is actually the height of the rail in thousands of an inch. So code 83 ts .083" of an inch.
Now, prototype rail is measured by weight per yard (3 feet). Modern class 1’s are starting to upgrade to 150lb rail to acomadate heavier loads. In modeling terms it’s equal to code 100. Code 83 equals 135lb in prototype. Code 70 is 110lb and Code 55 is 75lb.
Many short line rails are lighter than 150lb, maybe 110lb to 135lb, which puts them between a rock and a hard spot. If they interchange with a class one, the new heavier load bearing rail cars are restricted from their rails. Thereby loosing car movement and income. To get that trafic means big investment.
Anyway, lets get back to your question, which code to use. You might want to look into what the prototype you’re modeling used in the 1940’s. My guess is 100lb for main and 85lb for secondary track. So code 70 main, code 55 secondary, shortlines, industry tracks. Keep in mind the shorter the rail, the more difficult spiking is. B-K Enterprises says to glue code 55 turnouts, not spike them. But they don’t explain why. Could be it’s easy to warp the thin rail. Or wheel flanges will hit the rail head.
Which brings up another consideration, wheel flange size. All but the cheapest junk in HO Scale will operate on code 83 and most can operate on code 70 MANUFACTURED TRACK. On handlaid track, the spikes are lower than on manufactured track and it is recommended to angle the spikes 45 degrees which will also give extra flange depth clearence.
Now this has nothing to do with rail code size but, do you want to use NMRA standards or Proto 87 (fine scale) or what is discused in question #5 on the Railway Engineering web site.
You will also need a few tools. I recommend:
[url="http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01
Great info, Gary! [tup]
Tom
Bottom of this page on the NMRA’s site shows the usage of different weight rails for class 1 railroads 1940-1960 http://www.nmra.org/standards/rp-15_1.html
Enjoy
Paul
Code 100 or 83, whichever I hope it works out for you! Good luck!
I’ve had laid codes 70, 55 and 40 (this was before code 83 came out.) If wheels met HO/HOn3 NMRA standards, equipment would operate even if spikes (thin-head only) were used on all codes except for 40. Code 40 must be soldered or glued. Smallest code for turnouts I used was code 55, and had no problem using spikes and taking care not to crush.
Back in the 60s when I handlaid HOn3 track, I used code 55 with a few spurs code 40. Russ Simpson made great turnouts for handlaying back then. In the 80s I used mostly code 70 to make the track stronger.
By the 90s, however, Simpson became an unreliable source. Switched to BK Enterprises for turnout kits (for standard, narrow, and dual-guage), and while not as pretty as Simpson’s, they were well made. BK will build virtually any turnout/crossing arrangement such as dual-gauge to custom order if you can wait several months or more.
While code 55 is not hard to work with, I’d reserve it for special situations (narrow gauge, lightly used spurs, etc.) that can be viewed (and easily accessed) close up. This is only more true for code 40. I’d only use code 100 if I wanted “bullet proof” track in hidden areas (but why use it now when code 83 is available). Nevertheless, I’ve had little durability/strength issues with hand-laid code 70 spiked every fifth tie or so (closer in critical areas like rail joints and turnouts.
Gsetter said it.
If you are going to hand lay rail go code 70, 55. I believe the Class I pre-war standard (steam era) was 90 lb. rail. Turnouts are crucial (where most derailments occur) and I’d suggest hand laying kits for these:
http://www.troutcreekeng.com/bkho.html
goes faster - saves time for track laying.
less derailments - 100% NMRA
realistic frogs
continuous point rails
power routing or DCC wiring
One thing nobody has mentioned, so I will:
Specialwork (also known as puzzle track) is frequently laid with heavier rail and components than the adjacent ‘plain jane’ trackage. I recall seeing 155# rail connecting double slip switches in a major terminal throat used by railroads laid with 115# rail in the boondocks. This is handy, since it’s easier to build such trackwork with larger section rails that aren’t as easy to overcut, kink or otherwise mess up.
Also, recent UP practice seems to be favoring mainline weight rail for the main tracks and turnouts in new industrial areas. 132# for the new work, 100# for an older industrial branch on the opposite side of the main.
Incidentally, code 100 is overscale, even for 155# rail, in HO. Prototype 155# scales to .093 inch - code 93, if anyone wants to produce it.
Chuck (who handlays all of his turnouts and specialwork, no jigs, no kits, good results)
I’m with Chuck. I don’t use kits either, just a couple three-point gauges and an NMRA gauge.
I have a small HO yard done with code 55 and I used the Micro-Engineering micro spikes and don’t have any problem running equipment over it. For code 70 or 83 I use the small spikes.
I’ve found that code 55 is more prone to kinking because it bends so easily. It’s actually easier for me to get a smooth curve with 83 or 70.
Much of the new rail laid by UP & BNSF is ‘coal rail’: Generally 136-144 lb rail with a wider ‘web’ to handle the heavy coal trains. Back in the late 60’s, many railroads had 112-115 lb rail. The CB&Q line between Chicago and St Paul was being upgraded to 125-132 CWR, but many lines were not that heavy even in the steam era. The SOO was laying 112 CWR on the main lines in the 80’s. They took old jointed 85-90 lb rail and welded it into CWR for branch lines. The GB&W was all 90 lb rail and quite nice back then - the trains did a good 45 mph over the line.
Jim
For spiking, the Micro Engineering smallest spikes will take you down to code 55 in HO as long as you have RP25 code 110 wheels (the standard for most since the '70s) or smaller. Proto:87 stores (proto87stores.com) sells scale size spikes, tie plates, and other items that allow you to spike even code 40 rail should you so desire.
yours in handlaid track
Fred W
83