I use Code 100 across the board. It's inexpensive, readily available and expedient, plus, when the trains are running, no one notices the size of the rail, anyway. I know when I was a working railroader, I was not nearly as concerned with the size of the rail the railroad used as to whether the wheels stayed on it.
I have always considered Code 148 to be a good compromise for a durable (read "portable") layout. It's not so large as to be outlandish in appearance, yet accepts both scale and hi-rail flanges. "Compromise" - where have I heard that before? Bob Nicholson --- In [email protected], "Scale S Only" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi Bob and all -- > > Another consideration when choosing the rail size is the size of the > railroad. Large rail on a small pike looks out of proportion (at least to > me), because big rail implies big curves, not branchline meanders. Era of > the railroad also plays a part -- older trains generally were smaller and > could run on lighter rail. > > So -- I would recommend code 83 for a small "branchline" type operation or > code 100 for an average mainline stiuation, or for really heavy duty modern > stuff (or the PRR big main) with large curves, Code 125. > > I model 1957 with big steam and early diesel, along with narrow gauge. My > std gauge mains are code 100, ng main is code 70. Sidings are code 83, > code 70 and code 55, depending upon gauge and use. > > Have fun! > Bill Winans > > > > Dear Bob, > My layout was started before Tomalco code 100 flex track or > Shinahara switches. I wanted to model a branchline so I was not as > tied to code 100 rail. I followed the lead of Jerry Viemeister and > started with code 70 NS rail. Jerry's theory was smaller rail made > the trains stand out just a bit more. It cost less per foot to lay > and was much easier to file than code 100 for switches. On one siding > I now have code 55. I used the small Railcraft spikes every 4th tie. > Now when I look at my track work some 30 years later, I wonder how my > eyes allowed me to do such fine work. > Don > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
