HO code 100 for O scale track

Micro engineering makes code 100 flex in O if you want to go that route. With Old pullman down for the count you will most likely have to make the switches yourself.

You might want to check with Lou Cross of Right O Way. I believe he has castings for code 100 switches.

Yeah Lou has code .100 points, frogs and such.  Give him a call....559-665-1001.

Can ROW items be used for P48?

Yes they can although he might have both 1.25 std and proto 48. Protocraft has the P48 available on their website towards the bottom after the trucks , wheels etc.

http://www.proto48.org/webcat2009.pdf

Geoff,

You could certainly space HO rails at 1 1/4", but where I think you might run into trouble is with the depth of the flanges on your "O" scale wheels. I would guess the wheel flanges would hit the ties. If it did work, I would think it would be a lot more prone to derailments and such. I also think it would look a bit odd!

Simon

In a pinch I have stripped the ties off of HO flex track and used it.  Works fine.

Ken

Code 100 will work just fine. I have attached a couple of photos of a display base that used code 100 rail and ties from SMR Trains. SMR also has very nice code 100 #6 stub switches for sale. Check out the SMR website for photos of the switches.

As an interested by-stander I ask: What prototype weight does Code 100 rail best depict in O scale?

Andre

Andre,

code 100 rail in O scale is approximately 75lb/yd, code 148 is 132-136#, code 138 is 112-130#, code 125 is 90-100#, and code 83 is 52#.

John

Thanks John.

75# is very small rail by today's standards.  In fact, for mainline use, that would equate back into the 1890's and 1900's.  However, I suspect that similar sized rail could still be found in many yards/industrial tracks in the 1950's and possibly the 1960's?

Andre

Geoff,

If you make the effort to handlay your track, do yourself a big favor...sell your Atlas HO flextrack and purchase a bundle of RoW code 100 rail.  The RoW rail is shaped identical to prototype rail.  I would be happy to mail you a short piece for your inspection...contact me off list.

The NMRA website has good info on rail under Resources > Standards and Conformance > Standards & RPs > RP-15.1 Rail

Thanks,

Matt

All this talk of code 100 reminded me I have a bunch of it in the basement. If anyone needs any, contact me at me email. Looking to sell it cheaply.

depth of flanges is nothing to toss off lightly with code 100 track.

we have a section of hand spiked code 125 track on a spur. the flanges from stock wheelsets on Atlas freight cars do hit the inside spike heads.

Probable causes:

- incorrect rail profile

- incorrect wheel flanges

- incorrect spikes

- lousy workmanship

Matt

It have code 125 with ME medium spikes, and Atlas wheels clear with no problem, so as Matt suggests there may be an issue with the specifics involved in that example.

Bob

 I have to agree with Matt and Bob, I am running Atlas wheels on code 100 and have no issues at all.  I have friends who are also doing the same.  I would take up the track and try to rebuild it there is no reason why the wheels should be hitting the spike heads unless they are three rail wheels.

Ken

OK I take back something I said in my last post.  I took one of my son's three rail cars and put them on my code 125 main and the wheel flanges did not hit the spike heads.  You really have some poorly driven spikes or something.

Ken

using Matt's menu of probable causes:

The workmanship is just fine, thank you.

It is ME code 125 rail, I'd say it's correct

The wheel profiles are not correct: duh.

The spike heads may be oversized for the installation.

imagine all that analysis of the situation, sight unseen.

PPR,

 I wasn't trying to be overly critical.  I hope you guys can find the problem.  I just wanted to make the point if you are bumping the spikes with code 125 there are more problems than wheel flange.

Ken

I know I had to do a little bit of grinding in the flangeways on the frogs as I was getting just a slight bump and I am using code .148. 

 Thanks everyone for the feedback and links. I will go ahead with the code 100.

 I was surprised to learn that code 100 is equal to 75 lb., as I would have 

 guessed it to be larger. No big deal though since I plan to model a branchline.

 The layout is still in the benchwork stage now, but knowing what rail to use

 is one less thing to think about.

  Thanks

        Geoff

The matter of possible wheel flange bump was mentioned, especially in the frog area. This is a close up of my code 125 frog, and there is never any interferrence. I have no experience with the cast type frogs however.

Bob

Bob,

your spikes appear to have a lower profile head than the spikes on our spur, which from memory have a taller, more rounded head. something for me to look at.

nice work you have there.

Yeah in the cast frogs there is a small issue but was easily resolved with my friend Dremel.  Just a bit of grinding was needed in there.  Nice work on that frog, it looks very good.

Old Goat,

Beautiful photos/comparison test.

Thank you!

Dan Weinhold

far as I know, the only difference in O scale and HO scale code 100 is the web base and head width.

I agree Ken, the gauge is not really noticeable...but you set down some P48 wheel sets next to standard O and the difference is huge.  That is probablly the best photo I have seen next to the one on Protocrafts site showing just how much of a difference there is.  The smaller spike is also very attractive.

I hear you...I'm at the same point right now.  It will be a nice project down the road.