A question for European modelers on track & rail size

[Rommel]

I was just wondering if HO scale trains made by companies in Europe need any special consideration for rail size /code ? Fleischmann,Trix,Roco, are a few Train & rolling stock makers Im hoping the wheels should roll across atlas track OK but want the hear what some more experience might suggest.

Thanks

[bsteel4065]

Hi

Yes all HO models will run on HO track from Atlas, Peco, etc. HO is 1/87th or 3.5mm to one foot. HO track is 4' 8 1/2" in this scale. Wheelsets will run on this track.

The only oddball is british OO gauge. This is a strange british development where the scale of the models are 4mm to one foot (as opposed to 3.5mm to one foot in HO) but the track is HO scale. (4' 8 1/2" in 1/87). So british OO scale will run on HO track.

Hope this helps! 

[Rommel]

Thank you very much for that reply But Im not sure I made myself clear or if Im asking the right question...LOL I know the width will work but Im wondering if the Depth will. OR

Is there a certain height of rail that should be used for euro train models and their wheel sets? Is their a preferred code (code 83 or code 100) that allows the wheel to freely move over track and thru turnouts, I though I may have read once the a taller rail was needed for them Im hoping my code 83 track and turnouts will be fine.   a lot of the rail available is labeled to be modeled after american prototype whats the differance if any between eruo and usa if anyone knows.

Thanks again!

Gordon

[wjstix]

Older European (1980's or earlier) equipment (like Rivarossi) generally needed code 100 rail to work due to deep flanges on the equipment. Pretty much anything made for the US market in the last 10-15 years has been useable with code 83 or even code 70. I'd assume the same would be true for more recent European stuff made for sale there??

Are you going to be modelling a European railway, or are you interested in getting US-type equipment to use on your US layout or ?? Any particular company you have in mind (Roco, Hornby, etc)??

[Rommel]

Im doing a HO scale train layout in my basement and combining my FOW
(flames of War 15mm wargame) stuff into it. The models make great flat
car loads and the figures work
awesome to.

Im modeling a rail line to the island of Sylt (often called Germany's
aircraft carrier) which services a airfield and a seehund sub base
(midget two man submarines) the sub base was on another island but
wanted to include it anyway. The island is connected by this cool
causeway
called the "Hindenburg damm" which is a great focal point to model.

Ive got a good amount of equipment now I was a NKP fan but decided to sell all my stuff and switch over a lot of different makers and most used so the age of it is all over but by no means antique...LOL

[Rommel]

Oh I just recalled I do have one older piece by rivarossi. the anzio anne rail gun set, engine some cars and the huge gun. that might have the bigger flanges you mentioned????

[MisterBeasley]

I've got a couple of old Rivarossi engines that won't even run on Code 100 track.  The flanges are too deep.

For rolling stock like the rail gun, I suspect that you can replace the wheelsets without a lot of trouble.  It's certainly easy enough to do that with American (and now, of course, Chinese) made rolling stock over the last 50 years.  If the car has plastic wheels, you'll find that upgrading to modern metal wheel sets will help reduce friction when you're pulling it.

[rxanand]

There can be severe problems with some European two-rail rolling stock. Even now many European locomotives do not run properly on code 83. Most of the Roco stuff runs fine (although they definitely do not have RP25 wheels). Trix is really bad however. I recently bought a Trix diesel and found to my surprise that the locomotive's flanges brush against the ties. Not too much but enough to make a loud noise. This is, incidentally,a very new model (Trix Hercules). I am really disappointed since no replacement wheels are available for locomotives. Looks like I am going to have to turn down the flanges with a file myself.

[DrW]

Maerklin's standard wheelsets for 3-rail AC and their replacements wheelsets for 2-rail DC also have flanges that are too large for code 83 rails.  If you want to replace them with RP25s, consider that they have shorter axles than the US standard.  You can get correct wheelsets from NWSL or Jay-Bee.  At least, that was the case for the Santa Fe "Streamliner" coach that I bought because it is shorter than the scale 85', but still looks reasonable.  The main part of the shell is actually made from aluminum, and has a beautiful shine to it.  Unfortunately, both ends plus the doors are made from gray/silver plastic that does not fit too well colorwise.

JW

[twhite]

Rommel: 

After several visits to Europe, I became enamoured of German, Austrian, Swiss and Italian railways, and purchased some locomotives and rolling stock from several European manufacturers.  Despite their deeper NEM flanges, they run very smoothly on my Code 100 mainline rail.  I model the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, and every now and then I turn them into the Alps and run my European trains very happily. 

I have heard that the deeper NEM flanges of European model trains will not run smoothly on Atlas Code 83 rail, however on code 100, there is absolutely no problem. 

Hope this helps.

Tom     

[Rommel]

Im switching over from a US prototype (NKP) to euro railroading (reichbahn)so it looks like my 83 track and turn outs wont be usable. Who makes code 100 turnouts and rail that isnt to pricy but is good quality? Atlas? Walthers?

 

[modelmaker51]

Code 100 is what they use mostly in Europe.

Atlas code 100 track and switches would be the least expensive (although if you can find it, ModelPower track is about $1.89/3ft and it looks better than the Atlas). Peco code 100 would be next in line.

[wedudler]

 It depends how deep you get into details. E.g. European track looks other than US-style track.

http://www.fremo.org/fremo87/index_en.htm gives a link to some information for 1:87.

Wolfgang