H.O. track length??

[johncolley]

Hint: US mfrs settled on 3 feet because even though we tout metric we still cling to the english system (our roots?) Most of the rest of the world IS on the metric system. Inch to metric conversion 39 3/8"= 1 meter= 1,000 mm, 25.4mm=1 inch. Generally speaking a box of 3' lengths of rail is a lot easier to ship than one 5', 6' or whatever long, which is why American mfrs settled on it.

[tatans]

Ruby puttin' down, John makin' a big haul,Cops blocked the show. thanks guys

[jfugate]

My one railroad buddy told me his wife finally said it was her or the trains ... either he get rid of them or she would call it quits!

"That's too bad ..." I said.

"Yeh, I'm gonna miss her." he replied.

[:-^]

[cwclark]

who cares?..ya got to solder a joint eventually....some of you guys must be hen pecked...all i do is show my wife the track and then show her what else is in store for her....and if that don't work, you can go the other route...what do you tell a woman with two black eyes?..you don't tell her noth'in..you done told her twice already!...[:D]...chuck

[Anonymous]

I think the length has something to do with the width between ancient Roman chariot wheels. Oops! That's another myth!

Bob Boudreau

[JBCA]

Because if it was green, we wouldn't know where to stop mowing!

[tatans]

See? I told you I was right. 12 responses and still no answer. No one really know's do they? Probably shipping by USPS didn't result in that length being adopted as most track was (is) bought in hobby shops, I guess the "BECAUSE" factor comes into play here. O.K. what if the track came in 4 foot sections, that's not too hard to handle, saves another foot of joints, etc. etc. So we all assume the reason track is 3 feet in length is because it is. Why is the sky blue Daddy?

[philnrunt]

Mine asked when I switched to Z scale.

[dehusman]

Selector said:
Mine said, "Is that a piece of flex-track down your pants, or are you just glad to see me?"

I hope she didn't think you were narrow gauge.

Dave H.

[selector]

Mine said, "Is that a piece of flex-track down your pants, or are you just glad to see me?"

[Pennsy58]

I tend to agree with the pant leg theory myself. Except for the one time I forgot I was wearing shorts. Got caught.

[dinwitty]

snap track is 9 inches long for a straight.
9, 18, 27, 36, this matches snap track distances should you not clip them or go around curves.

[IRONROOSTER]

They are 39" long so they fit inside a 40" gondola.[:D][:D]

Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

Cause, if they were any longer, you couldn't get them stuffed down your pant legs to sneak them by the wife, and into the train room without her seeing them.[:o)][:D]

[cacole]

Just imagine the trouble you would run into trying to wrap a 6-foot long piece of flex track. Ten or more pieces might be manageable, but I imagine that delivery companies such as UPS would balk at accepting a mailing tube or box 6 feet long and only 2 inches or so around. Track was made in 3 foot lengths before UPS came into existance, so it may have had something to do with US Postal Service regulations at the time, too.

Maybe someone in the shipping business can provide a more definitive answer....

[Virginian]

Shipping and handling.

[Anonymous]

Actually I think more manufacturers sell it in 39" length
which is closer to a meter than a yard

[howmus]

Because three feet equals a yard! I use 'em in my yard....... [:D]

[Blind Bruce]

Since you already know, I won't tell you
BB

[tatans]

Where and why was 3 feet chosen for ho track? and why haven't manufacturers
devised such things as 5 or 6 foot lengths of track, this would be pretty handy for long stretches of track and make for smoother running trains, who says track MUST be in 3 foot increments. Is this one of those commandments that was established for the reason "because" I'm pretty sure I know what the replies will be on this subject.