Question about track

[WVRR]

How do you tell the different codes in track...I keep hearing and reading about Code 100, code 80, code 55, but what is the acual difference and how can you tell from a piece of track what the code is? Any help out there would help me out drastically.

 

[Roger Hensley]

The code refers primarily to the height of the rail. Yes, to the footprint, too, but it is the height that you see expressed in thousands of an inch. Code 100 is .100, code 80 is .080 and code 55 would be .055 inch.

Roger

 

[Tyson Rayles]

And to most model railroaders (not all) the smaller the code the more realilistic the track looks. However if you have some older stuff (applies to n-scale in particular) it may not run on the smaller track is they tended to have oversized flanges.

 

[alkcnw]

Your right Tyson, same thing in HO. I found especially the steamers. I had to turn most of the flanges down on my older HO steamers when I went from code 100 to 83.

 

[rockislandmike]

I seriously considered this when I started developing my layout. I thought code 55 would be way too short, and while code 83 is more accurate, code 100 is only 0.02 inches taller, and a *LOT* easier to find in the city. So . . . . . .

 

[60103]

Rail Codes

WVRR:
It's not just the OLD stuff that objects to the lower rail. Our operating group has a couple of recent President's Choice sets (for the rest of the world, I think they're AHM or Rivarossi) that bump down the code 70 and, if the ties are spaced right, sit up on the flanges and don't move at all.

I don't have a micrometer, so the only way I can tell rail sizes is by comparing to one that I know.

 

[alkcnw]

Rivarossi is known for that. If you notice thier newest adds they specify which code track they will run on.

 

[Floyd]

Bough a bunch of stuff and included was a new box of code 70 NS HO Track. Can this be used interchageably with other track?

 

[Russ Bellinis]

The code 70 can interchange with other track, you just need to use some sort of adaptor to join the code 70 to larger or smaller rail. It is quite common to see different size rail on the prototype. Usually the mainline will have larger/heavier rail than the yard, and some industrial spurs may have lighter rail yet. Code 100 is oversize for anything but the heaviest rail used on heavy duty mainline tracks. Code 83 is probably a good scale size for mainlines, and code 70 would look good for industry sidings and spurs.

 

[60103]

Floyd: as mentioned earlier in this thread, some equipment will object to code 70 track. Try your cars on a stretch of it. Cars can easily have their wheels changed; locos are a different matter.