track code

[dennismacro]

i starting a shelf style Ho setup.what code looks best for my track.i'm going with atlas.i'm looking for realizium.thanks

 

[JeffShultz]

With Atlas track you will want Code 83 for the best appearance. The number in the "Code" indicates how many thousandths of an inch tall the rail is - so while Code 83 is .083 inches tall, Code 100 is .10 inches - which equates to the very heaviest rail in use on mainline railroads. Code 83 is still pretty tall as compared to the prototype, but it's a nice compromise between looks and reliability. Other options would include Code 70 and Code 55.

 

[UP2CSX]

What era are you modeling? Mainline or branchline? If you want realism in track code size, those are the two questions you need to answer. If it's early 20th century steam, code 50 is the most realistic. If it's later era steam or branchlines, code 70 will look good although code 50 would still be appropriate for branchlines. If it's anything from the steam transition era to modern times, code 83 on the main and code 70 on sidings will look great although some industrial spurs will look even better with code 50. As you can see, there's no one answer that fits all if you're trying get maximum reality in trackage.