Hi to you all - this is my first posting, so please bear with me! I'm in the process of finalising plans for my 0N30 layout, and was wondering what were the lengths of the track laid on North American short lines? I plan to notch the running surface of my track (Peco Streamline) at typical lengths to give a representative "clickety-clack" as the train proceeds. Well that's the intention... Thanks for any input.
Welcome! I believe that it varies by railroad and time period, but 39' (12 meters) became the standard. Since narrow gauges typically used rail from before the 40' car era, it probably would be a bit shorter...16', 20', or thereabouts. I took photos of an ex-NKP branchline that still has approx 80lb rail from 1913. It appears in my photos to be 20'-24' in length. 80lb rail would be code 100 in O scale...so if you are using Streamline Code 100 track...then I'd notch it every 5-6" (or every 15cm). If you are going to that effort, Grandt Line offers dummy fish plates (rail joiners) that would help to create the look of real track by gluing them on at every notch. Please share more about your plans! Michael Edit: from checking again...maybe more like 30'...
Thank you Michael - that helps a lot. I am just awaiting delivery of my 1st loco - Bachmann's outside framed 4-4-0. and am going to build a shelf layout round my back terrace which will give me an L-shape 20ft x 15in into a 6ftx 2ft end. I just hope the track will survive because temperatures in the summer get to 120f, fortunately the sun will only be on it during the morning! I shan't worry about the dummy fishplates - but track cleaning will be the biggest job as we get a lot of dust and when it does rain it's quite often dirty. I'll take photos once I start construction. Until then cheers. Tony
Tony- Welcome aboard! For track cleaning, my suggestion- The first train to be run each operating session should push a track cleaning car around your layout. Boxcab E50
