What code is your track?

[twcenterprises]

I am using all 4 sizes for display and demonstration purposes. I would lay some code 40 if it was available in HO scale.

Brad

[Anonymous]

it's all code 100 (ho scale) most of it is Atlas but some of the switches and curves are life-like (which happens to be #100 even though it's not specified by L-L)
Atlas flex-track is the greatest thing ever --my layout would not be possible w/o it.

[trainboyH16-44]

Code 100, but I would really like code 83 and 70, but that's not going to happen for a while...

[loathar]

Atlas 83 with Central Valley semi hand layed curve switches as needed.
(CVMW.com if you want to check em out)

[Anonymous]

Handlaying 83 and maybe 55 in the mining area.

[ac4400fan]

All code 100 83 in the bridge

[cmurray]

Mine is 100% hand-laid code 70 (including turnouts). It was done before code 83 became available.

[BentnoseWillie]

I currently have code 83 and code 70 on my module, with a few inches of code 100 at either end to connect to other modules. My next modules will be similarly built, with some code 55 added into the mix.

When I finally build my home layout, it'll have code 83 and code 70 as well, with code 55 if the next modules work well with that size.

[colvinbackshop]

Code 100...
EVERYTHING will run on it, it's readily available and the least expensive.
Even though the profile is not prototypical, once it is weathered and ballasted...it looks good too.

[ereimer]

no layout yet , but i have some peco and shinohara code 83 and some atlas code 100 (for staging tracks)

[Anonymous]

Mix of Code 100 & 83. Thinking about Getting me a bunch of Code 70 and 55 Though.

James

[Anonymous]

What good would it do to have different type tracks?

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LSIModeler

What good would it do to have different type tracks?

Simple; it lets you model the variations in rail sizes on a real railroad.

In HO, code 100 scales out to 160 lb/yard rail - larger than any rail used in North America (I think the biggest rail used here was 155 lb/yard, and not much of that). Code 83 scales out to about 135 lb/yard (modern mainlines use this); Code 70 is about 100 lb/yard; Code 55 is around 75 lb/yard; and Code 40 is around 40 lb/yard.

For instance, on my module I used Code 83 on the main (where my prototype uses 115 and 135 lb/yard); Code 70 stands in for the 100 to 90 lb/yard rail they use on secondary trackage. On the next module I'll add code 55 for the 75 to 60 lb/yard rail that is still around in some really old track. I'll also use stubs of code 100 at the ends so that I can connect to other modules in my group.

I've yet to see a piece of equipment that can't run on code 83, and only once has anything had a problem on the code 70, and that was a passenger engine that shouldn't have been on the pulpwood track anyway [:P]

[AntonioFP45]

Have switched over to 83.

HO Layout will be 83, with 70 on lightly used industrial sidings.

I used to be a code 100 fan until I saw photos of modelers that have Code 83 on their mainlines and code 70 or 55 for sidings. To me it these tracks look so much more realistic.

I especially like the Peco Code 83 (Man! It's expensive). Like everything else, I'll buy one or two at a time as I'm a big believer in that you get what you pay for.

[cwclark]

i use code 100 only..it lasts forever even after years and years of brightboy cleaning and after it's weathered you can't tell the difference between code 100 and the other codes...chuck

[howmus]

I have switched all but about 2' of my mainline to code 83. The other 2' is code 70 that I kept from when my entire yard was hand-laid code 70. My logging scene is hand-laid code 70 over 20 years old. The smaller code rail looks so much better than code 100 especially since I model 1925.

[RedLeader]

100% - Atlas code 100

[Train 284]

I like to use use code 100 because of the realistic appeal it has to me and because of its robust nature.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by colvinbackshop

Code 100...Even though the profile is not prototypical, once it is weathered and ballasted...it looks good too.

One consolation regarding Code 100:

The Pennsylvania Railroad used the heavy 155-pound-per yard rail on certain mainlines (the NEC?). Appearance-wise Code 100 is pretty close to it. If I'm not mistaken, Pennsy was the only one that used this thick rail.[;)]

[wjstix]

I voted for Code 83 - Walthers turnouts with a mix of Wathers and Atlas flextrack - but technically I do have a section of code 100 Bachmann track (the kind with the built in roadbed) that I used from staging to the layout, but it's not really part of the layout per se.

[rexhea]

Code 83 all the way. Atlas flex, Walthers turnouts with a few Atlas.

REX

[nbrodar]

Atlas code 100. It's cheap, widely avalable, and lasts forever. I've got track that's been laid on 5 different layouts.

Nick