I have inherited a 10’x10’ HO gauge railroad (in pieces). As I assemble this and replace broken/bent rails, I would like to keep track of the rail codes. Is there a simple tool that allows me to do this? Haven’t been able to find such a thing or a source.
Thanks. Rob.
Hi, and welcome to the hobby.
I assume you are referring to “Code” for your rails as in “Code 100”, or “Code 83” etc. This is simply the vertical height in thousandths of an inch of the metal part of the rail (ignore the ties).
So: C-100 would mean you are dealing with a rail that is 100 thousandths high, and c-83 is 83 thou from the top of the rail head to the bottom of its foot. To measure, I use a manual micrometer I inherited years ago. You can cheaply get electronic ones that are easier to use.
Both kinds of micrometers are available from some hobby shops or stores that deal in decent tools.
Have fun, George
The simplest tool for measuring rail code (height) is a micrometer - the code is the rail height in thousandths of an inch. A good quality vernier caliper is a suitable substitute.
The simplest way to keep track of what rail height a particular piece is, is to pick up a couple of cheap samples of sectional track to use for comparison. The heights and bulk of the different codes are distinct enough that this old-line mechanic (who owns a micrometer and once trained as a machinist) can tell them apart by eye.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
It’s really not important to what you are trying to do. The rail code specifies the height of the rail in thousandths of inches (code 100 rail is 0.100" high). Period. There are no specifications for the thickness of the ties, or length of the ties or width of the ties or rail head, or even for the cross section of the rail.
Thus, unless you match the manufacturer of your track, it is not going to match exactly. And for some manufacturers the specs will have varied over the years for the same rail code, too.
For any piece of track you are replacing, unless you replace with both the same manufacturer and rail code, you are likely to have to do some shimming or sanding of the bottom of the ties. What you want to do is ensure the top and inside corner of the rails line up as perfectly as possible at the track joints. And the ties will likely not match perfectly in color or size - that’s what paint is for.
That said, Atlas code 83 track was specifically designed with thicker than normal ties so that Atlas code 100 track and Atlas code 83 track would be at the same height. So if you have all Atlas track, your task is easier. But if you are mixing Atlas code 83 with other makes of code 83, the thicker ties mean a definite mismatch. Also note Atlas code 83 track has brown ties that are a smaller scale size than the black ties on the code 100 track.
The good thing is that prototype track is hardly consistent, either. Ties and rail are constantly being replaced for excess wear - and the amount of wear tolerated depends on how heavily the track is used. New ties may be a different size than the old, and will certainly be a different color. Ba