Hi,
I want to put some rails in a yard next to some spare ties. How long were the rail sections generally?
Kevin
39 feet long. Sized to fit in a 40’ freight car. Today longer sections are used.
I found this on http://www.railwaystation.com/1942/02.html From a 1942 book on RRs: 24. What is the standard length of rail? The present standard length of rail is 39 feet. Some railroads use 45-foot rails; some use 60-foot rails at street crossings. A few years ago the standard length was 33 ft., and before that it was 30 ft.
Hi,
Thanks for the quick responses. Now to start cutting up some old track and then rust it up a bit.
Kevin
If the ties are “spares” the rail will not be very rusty as, presumiably, it will be "spare rail… that is both rail and ties will be available to be put into the track in maintemance work.
If the ties are scrap then the rails may also be scrap and not only rusty but chopped into shorter lengths ready for removal.
Hope this helps [8D]
Spare rail (on racks, or neatly laid out on a couple of ties) may come in non-standard lengths - always shorter than standard. Recycled rails are frequently shortened to remove the battered ends, then used on less important low speed trackage where the odd lengths and frequent joints aren’t likely to cause problems.
You might consider cutting a couple of 39 scale foot panels of flex or snap track, and stacking them next to the MOW department’s storage shed. The prototype uses them for quick-fix emergency repairs. (Unlike our models, derailed prototype cars tear up the track.)
Serviceable spare rail is frequently coated with preservative. It is seldom left to rust. Unserviceable rail wouldn’t be left to rust, either. It would be off to the scrap merchant in pretty rapid order.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Chuck…
You’re too used to the efficient Japanese!
Different scene in the UK. Lots more stuff standing/laying around… and we have improved!
Rail only rusts so far before the rust forms its own protective coat to the steel below (that’s how I explain not washing my van… that and joy riders don’t steal dirty vehicles - usually—). Things have to stand around a long time beyond that original surface rust to get bad. Also, modern steel, especially rail, is designed to do this and slow its own deterioration… because changing rail is expensive.
Don’t forget only the head of in-use rail gets cleaned/polished by the rolling wheels… all the rest just stands there.
If you can find an old fence line with bare rails as posts you will see how little the rail has rusted in most cases.
On tiny detail that would make stored good rail look right is to drill the bolt holes for the rail bar (fishplate) bolys in the ends… or one end if the rail has been chopped and they haven’t got round to drilling the holes yet.
Then there should be a pile or skip of off cuts somewhere…
Also scrap railbars (and bolts) plates, spikes and other bits. New ones would be in boxes, kegs on pallets or -modern- in 1 ton web bags.
The details are endless!