Seems to me that I’ve read that code 100 rail meant 100 lbs per foot of actual rail. Code 70 would be 70 lbs per foot and so on. Is this the meaning or is it some other measurement. Thanks,
Bill
The code is the hight of the rail in thousandths of inch. The weight of rail represented depends on the scale modeled. See this link:
Bill,
Err, no. I think you’ll find the NMRA standard/recommended practice a good explanation:
http://www.nmra.org/standards/rp-15_1.html
Hope this helps.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
Looks like I had it wrong but it is pounds per yard rather than per foot. I was referring to prototype rail in my question. How scale rail compares, it is oversize as I figured. Code 100, HO scale rail is just a fair representation (to the eye) of the prototype. In reality, HO code 100, by measurement, would be a much higher code number. Being oversized, this is why scale code 70 or code 83 looks even better. Am I reading this correctly or missing the boat? Thanks,
Bill
In the prototype world, the rail is measured in pounds per yard. BUT, code 100 rail is 0.100 inches tall in any scale. Code 100 HO rail is the same height as code 100 N scale rail (if there was such a thing). In HO that would represent something a little over 155 pound rail. I don’t want to think what it would represent in N scale. The last part of you statement was true, code 100 is a bit big for HO, even code 83 is pretty hefty.
Pretty odd to think that code 100 in any scale is the same height. Anyway, thanks for your help with my questions.
Bill
Yeah takes a bit of getting used to, but it is just a measure like any other. I think of it like a wire “gauge”. Doesn’t matter what scale one models the 16 gauge wire used for feeders is the same reguardless.
What you are thinking about is prototype rail weight. Real rail is measured in lbs per yard. Current standards on the UP and BNSF call for 141 lb rail. That would be 141 lbs per yard. A 39 ’ rail would weigh 1833 lbs. actually they don’t order very many 39’ rails anymore, they are mostly 78’ rails, welded into 1/4 mile strings.
Dave H.
The only place I’ve seen prototype rail that comes close to the size of code 100 in HO scale is Santa Fe’s “race track” between Trinidad Colorado and Dodge City Kansas. Unfortunately even that is beginning to come out since the BNSF successfully petitioned to down grade it from class 5 to class 4.
On the other hand code 100 works great in S scale, approx equivalent to 110 lb rail.
Enjoy
Paul