Prototype track lengths

[Anonymous]

Can someone tell how long prototype track sections were in the 1950's and 60's in North America?
Thanks
Jack

[tstage]

Jack,

I figured it up one time and it came out to be something like 5-3/4", or slightly less than a 6" section of track. I don't remember if it pertained specifically to that time period or not.

Tom

[Anonymous]

Somewhere in the deep, dark recesses of my mind where the monsters live I seem to recall that rail sections were 39 feet, which is just a bit shorter than an HO 40 foot boxcar. Like I say, that is a vague recollection, so it may very well be hogwash!

Cheers,

Ed

[alstom]

I believe that they were near 40 feet.

[Leon Silverman]

The 39' track length was used to accomodate transporting the rails in 40 foot gondolas.

[scubaterry]

I love this forum. I have been wondering for awhile about track section lengths. Uptowntrain thanks for asking. This is why I read this forum several times a day most days. 39 ft makes sense. Now I can cut and stack spare rails along the track alittle more prototypically.

[oleirish]

[:D][:D][}:)][}:)]A good modeler would go to the nearest rail road and measure the sections[}:)][;)]
JIM

[BR60103]

Unfortunately, Jim, some of don't have a 1950's railroad handy.

[dehusman]

Prototype rails were 39 ft long. But they weren't "track sections" (with one exception). The rails were just laid and there was no attempt to line up the joints, as a matter of fact the joints were required to be staggered so no two joints were across from each other.

The one exception is that at a derailment the railroad would replace badly damaged track with "panels" that were basically 39 ft pieces of sectional track. Later they would come in and staggered the joints by relaying one side of the rails.

Dave H.

[jkeaton]

"A good modeler would go to the nearest rail road and measure the sections"

Actually, a good modeler wouldn't do that - a good modeler knows that trespassing on railway tracks is illegal (and too often dangerous too). A good modeler would go to his nearest railway museum, perhaps, and ask there, or get their permission to measure a length of rail.

If we want to retain the right to watch trains, then we HAVE to respect railway property.

Jim