Track Question from a Noob

Can't speak to your track choices. However, for our club On30 line, we used PECO track & switches. Pretty nearly bullet proof.

A Peco and MicroEngineering fan myself; I use Peco turnouts as you cannot beat the cost

Remember that both types of track you're using were designed for HO standard gauge trains, not specifically for On30 narrow gauge. Bachmann uses code 100 track, Kato Unitrack is code 83. Code 83 is closer to the correct 1:87 scale size for most mainline trackage than code 100. Kato Unitrack is also narrower than most other brands of code 83 HO track, so is closer to scale size than most others.

Unless you've accidently damaged the joiners when pulling them apart or putting them together, there should be no problem with electrical connections for Kato track. As with any track, you do need to clean the railheads from time to time, and need several feeders (either the straight track with power connections or the wired track connectors.)

For On30, I have used Peco, Micro-Engineering, and good ole Atlas HO. No problems with any of them. Just depends on the "look" you wish to achieve.

Thanks for all the replies and advice gentlemen. I have scrapped the narrow gauge idea and just put another O gauge loop there instead.

Allen. shouldn't ON30 rail be code 100? since it is O gauge. I used M.E. code 83. Just like every thing ...now I wished I used code 100. Most replies i have received on this topic every one though that the On30 would be more correct with code 83. I cant even imagine how some guys will use code 70! 

JIM S.

jim schleutker posted:

Allen. shouldn't ON30 rail be code 100? since it is O gauge. I used M.E. code 83. Just like every thing ...now I wished I used code 100. Most replies i have received on this topic every one though that the On30 would be more correct with code 83. I cant even imagine how some guys will use code 70! 

JIM S.

On30 isn't O gauge , it is HO gauge track, its gauge is thus based on a 1/87 scaling of prototype 4' 8.5" gauge. In O scale 1/48 scale, HO gauge track is roughly 30" prototype. 

The code of the rail has nothing to do with the gauge, code 100 rail is thicker and taller than code 83, the real problem with using code 83 would be if the wheels on the On30 equipment had deep flanges that would hit the ties from what I recall. Code 100 is roughly analogous to Tinplate Lionel track, its higher rail height will allow deep flanged wheels to use it so almost any equipment can run on it. On30 equipment generally has wheelsets that are pretty much inline with HO scale equipment, so code 83 could work assuming the wheelsets meet NMRA standard flange depths. 

The code of the rail is the actual size of the rail in height.  It has nothing to do with scale.  O scale is (1/48th) or 1/4 inch to the foot.  A doorway in ON30 is the same size as the doorway in O scale, it has nothing to do with code of the rail. BTW if your flanges are hitting the TIES at .070 inches you have some really bad equipment!   Russ

I believe what Jim was asking for was the proper code of rail for On30 seeing that it is O scale in his application.

Ray

"proper code of rail for On30 "  The answer is YES!   

If the narrow gauge line is a stand alone out in the woods line it could be very light rail.  If the NG line on the other hand has an interchange with a common carrier railroad then in that interchange area the rails would necessarily have to match.  Depending on the railroad things like bridge rails or dock rails may be different than the regular NG main.  So the correct answer is really - IT DEPENDS!   

We are modeling Chama to Antonito summer of 1940, all of the rail is code 83 EXCEPT in Antonito which is code 100 and the hidden staging which is also code 100 (cheaper).  Russ

ChiloquinRuss posted:

"proper code of rail for On30 "  The answer is YES!   

If the narrow gauge line is a stand alone out in the woods line it could be very light rail.  If the NG line on the other hand has an interchange with a common carrier railroad then in that interchange area the rails would necessarily have to match.  Depending on the railroad things like bridge rails or dock rails may be different than the regular NG main.  So the correct answer is really - IT DEPENDS!   

We are modeling Chama to Antonito summer of 1940, all of the rail is code 83 EXCEPT in Antonito which is code 100 and the hidden staging which is also code 100 (cheaper).  Russ

Russ, I understand code, gauge and scale.  I recently visited the Roanoke transportation museum and they had a huge display of all the rails in poundage.  Someone said code 83 was about 50 lb. rail and 100 was about 70 lb rail. At the museum what was i guess code 83 looked scary small. So I freaked out. Now.. at my local hobby shop they have a piece of the white pass rail. It,s supposed to be somewhat close to code 83. Which made me feel better. If code 83 is supposed to be actual scale for Standard HO then I think that 100 would be better for O scale. I mean what would be more correct to the eye... of the be holder scale wise...... To much anxiety! my trains look great and run smooth. with code 83.  I'm modeling say 1910 in the hollers of West Virginia.. with old coal hoppers and lumber from Bachmann, and others. with Hieslers and Shays. Thanks for getting back. I love the Spruce Coal co. on youtube.

JIM.