The NMRA association disagrees with the the use of any but code 100 on module mains due to flange and reliability issuses. I have had lots of trouble with old “toy” train cars…bachmann, tyco, lifelike, on code 83 until the wheels were replaced with metal proto2000’s. They would derail close to 20% going through atlas #6 turnouts even with kadee #5 in draft boxes. With steel wheels they almost never come off. I only use code 100 now in mains and don’t have problems with plastic wheels even in #4 except for one that has an S curve coming out of it (a no no) and even good stuff comes off there a lot. I am replacing all my 83 with 100 and using the 83 for new sidings as I expand. I run my trains a lot around in loops, not point to point, and reliability is import to me as I am not always there to hand of god them back on the tracks. It can get expensive dropping stuff 40 inches to the floor due to derailments…
This is only true in HO scale. In HO, code 83 is close to 132 lbs. per yard rail, which is typical for most railroad mainlines.
Never seen or heard code 83 N or Z track? Isn’t it obvious we are talking about HO track?
Well if we’re not limiting the discussion to prefab track we could be talking S scale. I’m using code 100 Shinora for the mainline and thought I hand lay some code 83 on the sidings.[:)][:)]
Enjoy
Paul
I also have never heard or seen code 83 track for S either. I thought all S gauge was pretty much a hand laying of rails. The question was about track, not rails.
If we’re picking nits, the question was about the meaning of the term “Code”, which applies to rail height.
Incidentally, S scale track is available premade. I don’t recall the rail height of the stuff I saw, but I’d think Code 100 would look really good under S scale models, and Code 83 would be sensible for sidings.
I did a quick check of Walthers and it shows S gauge track avalible, but it appears to be the tin plate type used with old Marx train sets. If you find a site that has S gauge track in scale I would be interested as I like to keep track of such things.
Glad to help:
http://www.americanmodels.com/misc/track.html
This stuff tempts me more every day. Mrs. Nose keeps pointing out the cost differential comparred to HO, though.
Thx for info, it’s code 148 I see. You know, lots of hotwheel, matchbox, and ertyl stuff is 1/64 which would make a really cool s gauge scene. Only problem I see is paying $8 for 3 feet of track. ouch.
True. That’s where handlaying starts to look good, especially if Code 100 makes good branchline track in S.
Actually, the original Atlas sectional track for N scale is code 83, but it represents rail vastly havier than any ever used for prototype railroads. In N even code 55 scales out to something over 155 lbs. per yard, which is the heaviest rail ever used on a prototype, mainline railroad.
But you all are overcomplicating an easy question that I answered. The orginal question was code 83 v 100 and what are eaches benifit. I answered that in the obvious context of HO scale. So tell me, what is the benefit of code 83 N scale track v code 100 N scale? Does that make sence? Does someone working in handlaid S scale need to ask a question like the original? Heck, we haven’t heard from the TT bunch, or the people who handlay code 100 and 83 in O scale. Any of you TTers or O boys care to comment on the original question?