I've had been debating which code of track to use on my future layout, currently having code 100 for everything. Having the BNSF sumas sub only a couple blocks away, I walked over and measured the rail height at about 8" tall. The atlas flex track I use is supposed to be .100" tall, but I have found the chinese(new) track to be a little smaller I think about .093", while the old stuff from the USA is .100" According to my math and the real rail size, proper rail would be .091 to be to scale. Near this location there is a short siding-I believe it's a run-around-which also has full size rails. The nearby spur to the propane fill station is a smaller track. I can see the transition joint, but it is in the "no trespassing" and mostly fenced area so I can't measure that rail. I see no reason why code 100 mainlines and code 83 spurs and sidings wouldn't be acceptable....even this poses some problems because to use the signal system I want to use, I need to have insulated joiners at these transition points...
If you end each rail section with a PC board tie you will get an insulated gap. I did this. You can see here the tracks connected via a feeder wire, one wire for both rails. BTW, this is H0n3 with code 55. Wolfgang
Divide and conquer. You can have the transition joint and a separate insulated joint near each other. I doubt if the location of the transition joint AND isolation gap both need to be less than, say, 1/2" from a given place, so just make the less important of them 1/2" one side or the other of the critical point (or if equally vital put them each 1/4" on either side).
I like the idea of using a piece of circuit board, that I can do. I'm also welcoming some arguement regarding the rail size issue. It's been said that code 100 is grossly oversize, and I have to dissagree with that according to my measurements...
Code 100: .100" tall x 87 (HO Scale) is equivalent to a prototype rail about 8.7" tall. 155 pound Rail is exactly 8 inches tall, so Code 100 would be in the neighborhood of 170lb + which is definately non-prototypical. (155 is the largest rail available, to the best of my knowledge) Code 83: .083" tall x 87 (HO Scale) is equivalent to a prototype rail about 7-1/4" tall. 136 and 140 lb rail are 7-5/16" tall... very close. Code 70: .070" tall x 87 (HO Scale) is equivalent to a prototype rail about 6" tall which would be spot on for 105lb rail (and New York Central's 105DY Dudley rail). Code 55: .055" tall x 87 (HO Scale) is equivalent to a prototype rail about 4.78" tall which would be close to a 70lb or 75lb rail on a prototype. Theoretically, a Code 59 rail would be equivalent to a prototype 85lb. rail
I would say that this is 140# rail, maybe as I was eyeballing with the tape beside the rail... less than 8". The 7" + is for sure though. This is on the Sumas sub which interchanges with Canada and sees some heavy traffic at times, anywhere from 2-6 loco's usually with grain lumber and container stacks of garbage...
I agree with G&OM 3207 on the rail size. I use code 83 on my main lines and also in my yard. Then code 70 every where else on the layout.
