I’m brand new to using track that had a “code,” and I was wondering what it is. And how can you tell what code track is out of the box?
You might want to look on the underside of the track, sometimes the code is printed on the ties. Kevin
Code is the height of the rail only in hundredths of an inch. Code 100=.100", code 83=.083", code 70=.070". This measurement does not include the tie height which can vary between manufacturers. You can measure the rail with a micrometer or dial indicator. (or look on the bottom)
Different code rail is used to more realistically represent heavy rail mainlines and lighter rail branchlines and sidings.
Well… Theres the code of the west,and Morse code…ans code of Omerta.[:P]
Actually the codes represent different weights of rail. with 100 being the heaviest and so on down. The codes are all a litle heavier than the scale they would suggest. The lighter codes give a more realistic look to the rail but one has to be careful in laying it.Rail joiners are available that allow one to change codes say from mainline where you might use code 100 to a siding where you might use code 70. BILL
Caliper.
David B
Doh![D)] Dial caliper. Thanks for the correction. (hadn’t had my coffee yet.)
They are actually called a Dial Calipers.
Loathar you are right. You can use a Dial Indiacator. Just zero them out and place the part underneath it. I have several of them at work. So you are correct. Below is a DIAL INDIACATOR. Always listen to a real machinist.
Yep. Got em all too. Just a case of wixing my mords…[:D]
Loather is right. In the model train world, the code measures the rail height. However, different manufacturers vary other measurements such as the width and thickness of the web (bottom) of the rail for the same code rail. That’s why some manufacturers’ rail joiners don’t always work well with other manufactuers’ rails.
Code is associated with prototype rails which are described in pounds. A code 100 rail in HO scale means one thing and the same rail in O scale means another in terms of the prototype rail weight represented.
Mark
I can’t beleive that I am the first to catch/correct this, code is measured in THOUSANDTHS of an inch, not HUNDREDTHS, if it were HUNDREDTHS code 70 would be almost 3/4 of an inch tall and code 100 WOULD be an inch tall.
Doug
Talk about overlooking the obvious!
And it took a 3-Railer to point it out[(-D]
Doug
challenger3980 -Like I said, I hadn’t had my coffee yet.[:-^] At least I got the decimal in the right place.
It’s Okay Loathar, I’m not perfect either[swg], I was surprized though that Mike being a machinist missed it.
Doug
Code is the size of the rail. Code 100 is very thick and unpopular, while code 83 is smaller and is most popular.