Track rail weight

[NW Mailing List]

For your era, 39’ is correct. Caveats are shorter lengths to keep the stagger correct in curves, and longer sections (78’) were used at road crossings and some bridges / tunnels to reduce maintenance (i.e., to prevent a joint from showing up in the middle of a grade crossing).  You might find 33’ rail in older sidings. This was a standard length in the mid-twenties. 

This is according to Railway Engineering Maintenance Cyclopedia published in 1938. No boots on the ground experience (other than the HVSRR back in the day). 

Matt Goodman
Columbus, Ohio, US.

> On Apr 12, 2023, at 1:43 AM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> Thank you all for the answers about rail weight. I ordered code 83. The best Walther's turnouts look fantastic.
> I also bought brass track bars for rail joints.  
> 
> Is 39ft rail length accurate?
> 
> Mike Rector
> 
> On Tue, Apr 11, 2023, 9:58 PM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>> wrote:
>> 140lb seems to be gaining some popularity.
>> 
>> Ed Bell
>> 
>> Sent from my antique LG K10, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
>> 
>> ------ Original message------
>> From: NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List
>> Date: Tue, Apr 11, 2023 8:58 PM
>> To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>;
>> Cc: NW Mailing List;
>> Subject:Re: Track rail weight
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -Dave: N&W had a 10-mile section of 155 lb. PS rail located on the Kenova District (I think, track chart not handy). It was removed in the late 1980s after the number-dummies concluded that the extra weight (and cost) didn't offer that much of a benefit.  Remember that 131 lb. rail had a major defect -- head and web separations.  By adding an extra lb. of steel at the head/web connection,  the now 132 lb. rail reduced the derailments especially on curves.  H. Bundy
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