On30 code 55 rail?

[Scottl]

I'm looking for a project to keep me busy while I wait for layout space to be finished.  I was inspired to make a little module for my On30 collection (Porters and a few structures)

I have On30 wooden ties and ME spikes.  The question I have is will code 55 rail from N scale be usable for this or will the flanges bump the spikes?  I have lots of code 55 sitting around so it would be handy to use and probably look great as super-light rail.  I can go to the local hobby store and get code 83 rail, but I would prefer something lighter if possible.

Any experience out there? 

[Hawghead]

Scottl

Code 55 rail in O scale is smaller than 30lb. rail and would probably give you issues with the flanges on your equipment especially since models tend to have very oversized flanges.  I'd use code 70 if you have it, which scales out to about 40lb. rail in O scale.

Scott

[ednadolski]

will code 55 rail from N scale be usable for this or will the flanges bump the spikes?

Hard to say for sure w/o knowing the flange size or which ME spikes.   You could try building a small test section just to see how it works out.  If they do bump, you could also consider the P:87 O/S scale spikes which are considerably smaller than the smallest ME’s (and closer to correct size anyways).

Ed

[Scottl]

Thanks both, when I get my things I'll give it a try.  I might order some code 70 to try and I think I have a few pieces of code 83.

Interestingly, ME sells a HO/On30 track gauge for code 55 rail.

[nkalanaga]

HO RP25 wheels will work on hand-spiked code 55 track.  I don't know what wheel standards On30 uses.

N scale MT pizza cutters from the 1970s will run on hand-spiked C55, with ME "small", 1/4 inch. spikes, if one is careful laying it.

[Scottl]

Interesting!  My On30 equipment is Bachmann, I expect wheels will be designed to the same standards as HO.  I have the small ME spikes, so this is worthy of an experiment.

[p51]

As it's been written already, code 55 is very short rail in O scale. I have an older tender from a Bachmann 2-6-0 (which I turned into a water car) that rides over turnout frogs with it's flanges (I really need to swap them out someday) for my code 83 track.
I'd bet code 55 will cause you all kinds of issues in On30. You really would want code 70 at the very least and code 83 for the better operation of stock Bachmann wheels.

[nkalanaga]

A site you might want to look at:
https://www.urbaneagle.com/data/RRrailsizes.html

It doesn't go down to code 55 in O scale - Prototype 25 pound rail is listed as code 57 (0.057 inches).

[narrowminded]

Measure the wheel tread diameter then the flange diameter.  Divide by two and see what you've got.  Atlas and other code 55 will clear about .030" over the molded spikes.  Measure further the flange height and spike head height of your chosen pieces or better yet, spike a piece of rail to a test bed and measure the height.  All can be done with your 4" or 6" typical caliper with no speculating required.

[Scottl]

Thanks, I'll try a test when my supplies arrive.  I had hoped to make use of existing scrap rail.