BEGINNERS QUESTION ON TRACKS

[Anonymous]

I am totaly new to this hobby and consider my self the novice's novice. This forum has been a big help in learing some of the basics. I am confused about one thing. What is meant by the various track code? ie code 100 track.

Paul F[:)]

[Anonymous]

I am totaly new to this hobby and consider my self the novice's novice. This forum has been a big help in learing some of the basics. I am confused about one thing. What is meant by the various track code? ie code 100 track.

Paul F[:)]

[rogerhensley]

code 100 is 100 thousands high (.100). code 83 is .083 and code 70 would be .070. It is the height of the rail. It is a little mode of course as the rail needs to conform in the other directions (width) as well.

Welcome to the hobby.
For more newcomer information, you might try the NMRA web site in the Beginner Pages at: http://www.nmra.org/beginner

Roger

[rogerhensley]

code 100 is 100 thousands high (.100). code 83 is .083 and code 70 would be .070. It is the height of the rail. It is a little mode of course as the rail needs to conform in the other directions (width) as well.

Welcome to the hobby.
For more newcomer information, you might try the NMRA web site in the Beginner Pages at: http://www.nmra.org/beginner

Roger

[Jacktal]

I'm relatively new to this hobby also but what I understand is that the track code is the actual rail height from the tie in thousands of an inch.Code 100 is .100 in. high and when properly layed will accept any type of wheel while code 83 (.083 in.) is more "scale" but may occasionally require that wheels with deeper flanges be replaced on some equipment so they don't bump against the ties and cause derailments.
I suggest that you visit NMRA's and Rick Blanchard's "Da Trains" websites,these are great learning tools.

[Jacktal]

I'm relatively new to this hobby also but what I understand is that the track code is the actual rail height from the tie in thousands of an inch.Code 100 is .100 in. high and when properly layed will accept any type of wheel while code 83 (.083 in.) is more "scale" but may occasionally require that wheels with deeper flanges be replaced on some equipment so they don't bump against the ties and cause derailments.
I suggest that you visit NMRA's and Rick Blanchard's "Da Trains" websites,these are great learning tools.

[Anonymous]

Hi Paul
The different codes of track also represent prototype rail weight per foot of rail. Code 83 is the equivilent of the most comman mainline rail in North America which is (I think) 129 lbs per foot. Code 100 would be the equivilent of the extra heavy rail used in ultra high traffic areas and weighs (I'm guessing again) 162 lbs per foot.
I know that Canadian Pacific uses the heavier rail on some of it's mainlines (I looked many years ago).
I'll probably get some flak for saying this, but in HO scale, the only differance that I could see was the price (code 83 is higher), at least in Canada anyway.
Tim

[Anonymous]

Hi Paul
The different codes of track also represent prototype rail weight per foot of rail. Code 83 is the equivilent of the most comman mainline rail in North America which is (I think) 129 lbs per foot. Code 100 would be the equivilent of the extra heavy rail used in ultra high traffic areas and weighs (I'm guessing again) 162 lbs per foot.
I know that Canadian Pacific uses the heavier rail on some of it's mainlines (I looked many years ago).
I'll probably get some flak for saying this, but in HO scale, the only differance that I could see was the price (code 83 is higher), at least in Canada anyway.
Tim

[Anonymous]

This has been discussed and stormed over on this board more than once. Use the search engine near the top of the page to check it out. This is like a FAQ or a FAS (Frequently Argued Subject)

[Anonymous]

This has been discussed and stormed over on this board more than once. Use the search engine near the top of the page to check it out. This is like a FAQ or a FAS (Frequently Argued Subject)