I am wondering if anyone can help me out with a question. I am modeling a coal mine and tipple. Inside there are a number of tracks for moving the coal cars around the mine and tipple. Is the rail used of the same size as the rail on the train track? Example: I’m using n scale code 55 rail. Could I also use this inside the mine and tipple?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Jim
If you are talking about the rail under the mine and tipple that standard gauge rail cars operate on its probably smaller than the main track rail, probably something on the order of 65-90 lb rail, depending on era.
If you are talking about the rail that the narrow gauge mine skips move coal around in or ontop of the mine and tipple or into the shaft, that is way smaller. something on the order of 20-50 lb per foot.
In N scale code 40 would probably be closer to prototype for the standard gauge and the mine trackage would propably be code 20-30 (which isn’t produced commercially.)
dehusman,
Thanks. You have actually answered more than I realized I needed. I had not thought about the size of the rail car track. That is something I am going to add to my plan.
In so far as code 20-30 track, any ideas on that? Would I be able to use a z scale rail to simulate that?
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Jim
I’ve seen referances calling Marklin Z rail code 60 and calling Micro Trains Z rail code 55. I believe the Peco rail is larger (approx code 65) than the Marklin (code 60).
Many years ago I read of someone cutting code 40 rail down to make code 20. And recently I saw on the Net a page about laying custom made code 25 rail, but no source for the rail was given.
Small diameter wire might work for non-operating mine car tracks.
DSchmitt,
Thanks. I’ll have to have a look at it and see how it translates in size in N scale. I’ve had a quick look on the internet to see if I could find anything smaller than code 40 rail and came up empty.
Cheers,
Jim
There is no rail shape stock smaller than code 40 that I know of. Several folks have used vertical rectangular bars that measured 0.030" on one side and smaller on the other. At code 25 (0.025") round wire seems have been used by several. I don’t know that there is any suitable bar stock at that size. At those small sizes, discerning the cross section of the “rail” after it’s installed and weathered is pretty difficult. Also keep in mind flange size is at least 0.020" for most N wheels.
There were several excellent tables on rail sizes in the November 1962 Model Railroader Clinic. One table had vertical heights for ASCE spec rail (rail cross section for a given wieght varied somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer and railroad to railroad). 40lb rail was listed as 3.5" high; 25lb rail was 2.75". Converting to N gives 0.022" (code 22) for 40lb rail; and 0.017" for 25lb rail. Code 40 rail represents about 110lb rail; code 30 equates to 75lb rail - a good size for narrow gauge main line.
Fred W
Just looked at my 50+ year old photos of several coal mines, ranging from a major operation that shipped several thousand tons a day to a marginal operation run by, “Three couples and a dirty dog.” The mine cart tracks ranged in size from 15kg/meter down to 6kg/meter, the latter under hand-pushed 500mm gauge carts that were little more than packing crates on wheels. Rail weight was proportional to the rolling stock using it - that larger mine used carts about the size of luxurious bathtubs, running on 600mm gauge track.
One thing that was a universal constant. The bases of the rails were covered with crusher dust except at switch points. Except where they were on elevated structures or at switch points, ties were invisible. Almost without exception, switches were single-point, about #3. (The kink didn’t seem to bother the short wheelbase 4-wheel carts.)
When I get to the point where I will detail my two collieries, I will probably lay cart tracks by pushing strips of tin can metal into slots in the scenery, leaving just enough exposed to create the impression of the appropriate rail weight. This will also help to simulate one other constant - coal dust is corrosive, so the rails were well rusted. (I once thought I’d try to make the mine cart network at the large colliery operational, but sanity prevailed.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Dave H. is undoubtedly right about the different sizes of rail in real life – but from a practical modeling standpoint, you may not gain that much in appearance for the trouble of going to much smaller rail. This might especially be true for rail under a tipple that is less visible to begin with.
I’ve found that burying the ties a bit (or even completely) and heavily weathering the rail makes it seem smaller. You might try this with Code 55 in a mockup first and see if you like the effect – that may be all you need to do.
Fred,
Thanks. I’ll have to dig out my Nov 62 MR and have a look.
I’m going to have to use something to represent the mine rail. I don’t intend to have anything move on it, I just want to to look right to my eye.
Cheers,
Jim
Chuck,
Thanks. I had a look at some of the reference photos I have that show mine rail and I see it ran from what appears to be full size rail right on down to squared timber.
I got a bit before I have to put down any rail in my mine and in the tipple, so I’m going to play around with a few things and experiment.
Cheers,
Jim
If it’s not going to operate, you can probably suggest rail by using flat wire, which has a rectangular cross-section rather than round.
Dave,
I agree. I am leaning towards laying a small square styrene strip and painting to look rusty.
Cheers,
Jim
There’s one option not mentioned yet. Grandt Line makes a kit for the small “Wentamuck Mine” in HO. It comes with two mine cars and what is effectively some tiny snap track. There are straights and curves, plus 4 turnouts. It’s just plastic, but very nicely done as Grandt stuff is. The track is not available separately AFAIK, but the kit is inexpensive.