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Track ties???

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  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Palm Bay, Florida
  • 38 posts
Track ties???
Posted by Sp1d3y on Thursday, March 24, 2011 4:06 PM

Ugh... Well I am so glad to have found a forum to ask all these questions and I have to say I am so excited to be back out in the yard and have the trains running again. It's been a long time.  I need some ideas where to get track ties or any suggestions of what to use in place of them.  I acquired some track from an old friend and the ties have fallen off the rails.  It looks like I have a giant pile of rails waiting. 

My other question is, for any of the rails that have been misshaped of the years, how do I get them back to the shape that they were, easily?

 

J

  • Member since
    September 2009
  • From: Sunny West Coast of Florida
  • 448 posts
Posted by IRB Souther Engineer on Thursday, March 24, 2011 5:27 PM

Do you know what code (size) the rail is?

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: North, San Diego Co., CA
  • 3,092 posts
Posted by ttrigg on Thursday, March 24, 2011 11:58 PM

IRB Souther Engineer

Do you know what code (size) the rail is?

As IRB asks, if you can tell us the code, we can recommend type of ties (wood or plastic) which rail bender to use to restore original curvatures. Generally you will want to slightly straighten it a bit, then re-establish the curve. (i.e. if it was a 4 ft curve, run it through the rail bender a bit backwards to a 5 ft curve, the tighten it back to a 4 ft curve. This will remove any little kinks and twists the rails may have picked up whilw in storage.

Yes, If you have the RIGHT rail bender, you can straighten bent rails. I have done this several times.

Tom Trigg

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: North Coastal San Diego
  • 947 posts
Posted by Greg Elmassian on Friday, March 25, 2011 9:49 PM

If it's Aristocraft track, it has a lifetime warranty, and you can get new ties free.

Easy way to tell is that there are screws underneath that secure(d) the rail to the ties, and the ends of the rails are tapped for small screws. This will narrow it down to USAT or Aristo track... you should be able to find some ties with the manufacturer's name.

Greg

Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.

 Click here for Greg's web site

 

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Palm Bay, Florida
  • 38 posts
Posted by Sp1d3y on Saturday, March 26, 2011 4:03 PM

it looks to all be code 332 i believe.  I'll take a look and separate accordingly to  the manufactures.  Thanks again.

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