How come the ties on HO track are black?

[pmrossetti]

Aren't rr ties wood, brown?

 

[CBCNSfan]

I don't know for sure but maybe for a Creosote look.

Cheers
Willis

 

[Artieiii]

I have some older Atlas track in my collection with brown ties but I don't remember if it is code 100 or code 83.
-Art

 

[LoudMusic]

I believe there is also track available with gray 'concrete' ties as well. The black ones are typically cheaper, likely because they're cheaper to produce.

 

[pmrossetti]

no brown tie tracks?

 

[LoudMusic]

Artieiii pointed out he has Atlas brown tie tracks. I've seen them available online and in stores. Once upon a time I read a comparison of different brands' track measurements. They listed the differences between, for example:

Atlas code 100 black ties
Atlas code 83 black ties
Atlas code 83 brown ties
Peco code 100 gray ties
Peco code 100 brown ties
Peco code 83 brown ties

I believe they had millimeter measurements for all dimensions of 20+ different flextrack products. It was pretty cool.

 

[pmrossetti]

Ahhhhhhh

found it Atlas code 83 is brown ties!!! yea!!!

why aren't all ties brown?? i've never seen black ties on a RR.

 

[Rotorranch]

Fresh tie are coated with creosote, which turns the ties a blackish-brown color. As the ties weather, they tend to turn a grayish color. I've never seen really brown ties on the real tracks.

A pile of new ties:

A section of 1:1 scale "Snap Track":

1:1 scale Snap Switch:

Steel ties:

Most folks will paint their track anyway... rusty rails, and whatever looks good to them for the ties. After ballasting, you won't see much of the ties anyway. Use what looks good to you, black, gray or brown.

Rotor

 

[LoudMusic]

Lots of things are the wrong color in our hobby

 

[Motley]

I prefer the black ties. After you ballast and weather the rails, it looks very close to the prototype.

I think the Atlas brown ties are too light colored.

This is walthers code 83 flex.

 

[ICG/SOU]

There is a 1:1 plastics company called Integrico that makes 1:1 plastic RR ties (and they are black) out of post industrial waste plastics.

 

[LoudMusic]

That's crazy cool. I'm not sure I've seen plastic ties 'out in the wild'. Thanks for sharing!

 

[paradigm81]

I've seen folks paint the ties brown. But me personally a little dust on the black ties and they look like the ones on the ground. sort of. lol