cisalpin

Going back to our chart it would appear that 25kg/m rail roughly equates to 55lb/yard rail ne'st pas ? So code 100 should fit the bill nicely.

No sniggering at the back - here is the test piece I've been working on today. I located some 6mm x 2mm walnut stripwood at my local model shop and cut it into 45mm lengths. I then drilled it in four places and used Hornby track pins as my Tirefonds. (The hardboard nails turned out to be too large). This test piece is just glued up with 2 part epoxy but when I come to make the real thing I think I will put a copper clad sleeper every 4th position and solder the code 125 nickel silver rail to it. The tirefonds or track screws are purely cosmetic. Woodland Scenics coarse ballast looks about right, may be a tad too small ?

3D printed Tirefonds. Now that would be an extravagance given that only the top part is visible. I am currently experimenting with code 125 rail - which works out just under 6 inches deep in the real world - and hardboard nails as the screws because they have quite a chunky head. Photo coming shortly..... In answer to Pacific231G my aim would be to build a small station on the Vivarais or maybe the Lozzere as I have a penchant for railcars, especially the De Dion ND.

So I've now found a chart, albeit showing American dimensions vs weights. Hopefully I can study this and work out something suitable for the new layout ! https://www.txholdings.com/rail_chart.php

Interesting comments. I have since found this posting from "Steve" on National Preservation.com website: I don't know the reason for the question but the weight of rail used will probably be determined by the availability of second hand rail in many cases. 35, 50 & 60 lb to BS 11 will be fairly common. The ORR give recommended maximum axle weights in RSP5, as follows: 56 The weight of rail to be used should be appropriate for the maximum weight (ie axle loading) and the speed of the trains prescribed in the approval or any subsequent direction issued by HMRI. If a mixture of locomotive types and rolling stock is used, the track should be suited to the longest and heaviest stock. Experience has shown the following weights of rail to be suitable for light railways operating at a maximum of 25 mph. Suitable rail weights for light railways 30 lb/yd 4 to 6 tons 35 lb/yd 5 to 7 tons 40 lb/yd 6 to 8 tons 45 lb/yd 7 to 9 tons 50 lb/yd 8 to 10 tons 55 lb/yd 9 to 11 tons 60 lb/yd 11 to 13 tons 65 lb/yd 13 to 15 tons 70 lb/yd 15 to 17 tons It is also dependent on sleeper spacing. Although it does not say, I think that these are all based on a spacing of 2'-6" centres

OK, so I'm hoping to build some Om track to the correct gauge (23mm) and I've studied various photo's but nowhere can I find a definitive answer to whether the track should be spiked or have smaller versions of main line chairs. I'm guessing that rail weight up to xxkg/m is spiked and over that figure chairs are used ?? If so, what are the relative weights and what would be the dimensions of these rail sections in 7mm:ft. I was hoping to use code 100 rail only because I have loads of it. thanks cisalpin