Hand Laid Code 40 Rail

[rreitz]

Hi:

Im hand laying code 40 rail on wooden ties with a PC tie placed every tenth tie. Each code 40 rail is 36" long. Wondering if should lay down and solder the entire 36" rail length or might I have expansion problems in the future? Would it be better to use shorter lengths instead with more gaps in between? The layout is in a spare room so temperature might vary from say 65 degrees to 80 degrees. Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[NVSrr1500]

You can lay the full 36 inch length. The expansion is mostly taken up at the joints. And any block breaks you put in for signals.

What the reasoning for the pc ties every ten? Been hand laying track for decades and only every use pc ties under street trackage and at modual ends or by the lift out.

 

[NVSrr1500]

 

[PMW]

I certainly don't want to hijack the thread but just as a quick aside;
I'm a beginner and definitely don't hand lay track....what's a PC tie? Just curious

 

[migalyto]

what's a PC tie? Just curious

Its a metal tie you use to solder the rails too when building a turnout skeleton. You have to file a gap after construction so there is no short.

See pic below:

 

[rreitz]

You can lay the full 36 inch length. The expansion is mostly taken up at the joints. And any block breaks you put in for signals.

What the reasoning for the pc ties every ten? Been hand laying track for decades and only every use pc ties under street trackage and at modual ends or by the lift out.

I cement the wood ties down first and leave a spot for the PC tie every tenth tie. Soldering the rail to the PC tie is the only way to keep the track in gauge. The rail merely lays on the wood ties in between. In some straight runs I will use Pliobond in place of the PC boards but the curves definitely need them at the spacing indicated.

 

[bcp]

I had lots of variation in tie colors, so all my trackwork is PC.



Bruce

 

[ctclibby]

Hi:

Im hand laying code 40 rail on wooden ties with a PC tie placed every tenth tie. Each code 40 rail is 36" long. Wondering if should lay down and solder the entire 36" rail length or might I have expansion problems in the future? Would it be better to use shorter lengths instead with more gaps in between? The layout is in a spare room so temperature might vary from say 65 degrees to 80 degrees. Thanks for any thoughts.

Late on this one.

Track laying tools from Amazon. That was the easiest pix, Your local LHS or online site probably have. Allows you to spike rails at what ever distance you want. The one with the two round holes on the side work with most curve radii. Comes in different scales. Much faster than soldering every '??' tie. Also, if you use sliced/chopped PC boards for ties, watch out for those double sided boards. I have found that most solder the joints on all curves, then create a joint some distance before/after the curve for expansion.

Later