Need help with rail codes

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I"m going to be adding to my layout and I need to be sure that the new turnouts and track is compatible with what I already have.
The turnouts I have are Atlas Snap Switches. I’m almost positive there was no code number printed on the blister pack. I just bought what was on the dealer’s shelf.

Is there a code that would be considered “standard?”

Am I correct in thinking the code refers to rail height?

Am I correct in thinking code 83 can’t be mixed with code 100 unless you have transition track?

Somebody please 'splain this to me. Thanks ! [%-)][%-)]

2

I would bet the off the shelf Atlas is code 100. You are correct, this deals with rail height. From a prototypical stand point code 83 is standard, or I should say to scale with what you see on the real railroad. Many, many, many, modelers use code 100, it has been around forever and is trusted and reliable. Many modelers also use code 83. There are also those that mix different rail height when going from mainline, to siding, to stub end spur. ( code 83, code 70, code 55) The heavy rail is used on the main, the lightest on the spur. Transistion joiners are commonly used to go from one height to the next.

3

eng22
Thanks for the info. I’m sure you’re right about code 100. Can I do my yard and ladders by just using a rail joiner that transitions from 100 to 83?
That would be so cool if I could.[:p]

4

The ‘code’ is the height of the rail in thousandths of an inch. So code 100 is .100 in high. Code 83 is .083 in high, etc. Atlas sells transition joiners. Another way is to put a regular metal joiner on the code 100, then take a pair of pliers and cru***he other half of the joiner flat, then solder the smaller rail onto the joiner.

Dave H.

5

if you use that method, file down any bump that may appear where the two rails meet (after the solder’s dry, of course![:)])

MICRO-ENGINERING also sells transition joiners.

6

I built a layout with code 100 flextrack and added in Two Walthers’ #8 double slip switches, which are only available in code 83 rail (Shinohara does not offer a code 100 version of this slip switch). The Slip switches were mounted on card stock (painted gray to match the ballast color) which raised the height of the code 83 rail to that of the code 100 rail. The 83/100 rail joints were soldered together using code 100 joiners.

7

Standard HO track is code 100 - anything not marked otherwise is that size.

You can mix and match rail sizes - in fact, the ability to use multiple sizes for the approriate trackage is one reason to go to the other sizes. You just have to make sure that where two sizes of rail meet the inside edge and the top of the rail are smooth with no “step”. There are several ways to achieve this:

  • Line up and butt-solder the two pieces
  • File down the larger size to create a “shelf” for the smaller size to rest on, soldering the pieces together
  • Use a shim inside the joiner
  • Use a transition joiner
    []Use premanufactured “transition” track.[]

Any of those will work. I generally use the Peco or Atlas transition joiners, which have a cutout in the middle to allow the joiner to be bent upward, alinging the railheads.

8

To all: Thanks for the info. I don’t have any way to accurately measure my track, but, to these poor eyes, the rail seems to be about 3/32 or 7/64 high.
Code 100?

9

One way to tell is that code 100 track usually has black ties, while code 83 usually has brown (or concrete) ties.

10

Code 100 rail is 0.100 inches tall and in HO scale is the equivelent of about 155 pound per yard rail. This rail is very heavy, even by today’s standards.

Code 83 rail is 0.083 inches tall and in HO scale is the equivalent of rail around 132 pounds per yard. This is typical of most modern railroad mainlines.

Code 70 rail is 0.070 inches tall and in HO scale is the equivalent of rail around 100 pounds per yard. Although slightly small, this would be a good representation of the typical 110 pound per yard mainline of the 1940s or modern sidings.

Code 55 rail is 0.055 inches tall and in HO scale is the equivalent of rail around 80 pounds per yard. This rail is pretty small and would only be used on some spurs or pre-1900 mainlines.

11

http://www.nmra.org/standards/rp-15_1.html
This link explains things very well.

12

The mainline I will be modeling is made of mostly 110# rail and code 70 is just about perfect. However, several branchlines off of the mainline consisted of 90# rail. Code 70 is a little too big and code 55 is a little too small. Does anyone make a code 65 rail?