track

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I’m just wondering if you can use HO code 100 & code 83 track together (ex. mainline code 100 & passing sidings code 83)? If so are there special rail joiners that need to be used or any thing else different to be used to achieve this.
Happy Railroading!!!
Jeff

2

Yes, Wlathers makes an 83 to 100 adapter track.

3

Atlas has 83 to 100 joiners.

4

peco make rail joiners to suit as well!!!

5

Yes, they get mixed all the time. If soldering isn’t an issue, the joiner coming off the code 100 can just be flattened and the code 83 rail soldered on top of it.

6

Have done exactly what you asked. Used 100 to 83 joiners and actually went from corkbed to tabletop so as not to have a road bed in my yard (you will want roadbed on your siding). I used joiners but you can get transition track (check the Walthers Catalog).
Ron K.

7

Quick way to have rail sizes match up with usual prototype practice:

Code 100 on mains and through specialwork. Also in engine terminals used by high axle load locos (think N&W J and A class, which would have crushed the track structure of most railroads.)

Code 83 on mainline passing sidings, yard leads and major yard tracks.

Code 70 on many yard tracks and most industrial sidings.

Code 55 on semi-abandoned sidings that only see one carload a month or so.

Quick transition - put a rail joiner on the larger rail, squash it with pliers until the smaller railhead is at the same height as the larger, then solder the smaller rail to the rail joiner. Also, in transitioning to really tiny rail, there is always one length of medium-height rail in between.

Shimming can be done with almost anything. I personally use posterboard.

8

guy at the local hobby shop said difference between code 83 and 100 is 0.09751 in. or sumting like that. very small.

9

I’ve used the Atlas transition joiners. What a waste of money that was. I removed them and used styrene sheet for shims. It’s easier if you use a section of flextrack attached to the code 100 section. Shim the code 83 track until the joint is level for at least 6 inches. Then, gradually use less shims as you attach the track until your flextrack is at base level. Another option is to scribe a line at the ends of the code 100 track, then sand the roadbed to match the level of the code 83 sections.

10

Thank you all for your help - greatly appreciate it.
Happy Railroading!!!
Jeff