Hand-Layed Tie Size

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@HudsonORailRoader posted:

I see that there are different sized ties availalbe for hand laying 2-rail. First, there is tie length...8.5' or 9.0' scale length.

Then, there are different tie width and height...7"x9" and 4"x9".

What is the criteria for choosing these options? When is 8.5' / 9.0' used? When is 7'x9" / 4"x9" used?

Thanks for your help. I'm looking at building a shelf railroad that can later be added to a larger layout. This would be my first endeavor into O scale hand-layed.

Standard railroad ties (by far the most common) measure 7” x 9” x 8.5’.

Many modelers in O using 1.25" (OW5) track gauge use 9 foot long ties to make the spacing between the rail and end of tie look more normal.

Rarely (shortlines, old or light industrial) other dimensions are used such as: 7 x 8 x 8.5’  and 6 x 8 x 8.5’.

The dimensions are almost universal with some exception of railroad ties used on unballasted bridges, which are longer and sometimes thicker.

Bridge tie dimensions are no less than 8 x 9 x 10’

What era are you modeling?

The "four inch" ties are used to reduce the amount of ballast you will have to put down.

Four inch ties can also be used under PC board ties, if you build you track and turnouts in jigs. It fills in the space under the PC board tie.

In places where I did hand-lay the track I used the 9' ties for the reason Jim Scorse pointed out. Also, Atlas uses 9' ties so those ties may come into play for track you might use in the future. If you intend to use ME on other parts of the layout in the future, it might be worth asking what those tie lengths are. I think they are 9'.

I think the Kappler ties are basswood.  The ties I received from Lou Cross were pine.  I suggest pine and Right-O-Way is the successor to Lou Cross's business.  I used 9' ties per Jim Scorse's reason.

Ed

Kappler lumber that matched Atlas track ties.

@Ed Kelly posted:

I think the Kappler ties are basswood.

Pretty sure that they are sugar pine; at least the leftover bags that I had were that wood and not bass wood; coloration and texture are quite different.

The "four inch" ties are used to reduce the amount of ballast you will have to put down.

@Tom Dempsey posted:

What era are you modeling?

Late 40s to early 50s.