IBLS Track Standard

From IBLS
Jump to navigation Jump to search


Gauge

Correct way to measure gauge
ScaleRatioStandard GaugeNotes
001:6716.5 mm
0.650 inch
Hornby produced.Generally regarded as the smallest scale for live steam.
O1:4532 mm
1.260 inch
Popularly used for the small scale live steam.
No. 11:3245 mm
1.772 inch
Popularly used for the small scale live steam. Corresponds to NEM 1 or NMRA #I.
No. 3
1⁄2 inch
1:22.663.5 mm
2 1⁄2 inch
The smallest scale able to pull real passengers. Was one of the first popular live steam gauges, developed in England in the early 1900s. In terms of model railway operation, Gauge '3' is the largest (standard gauge) scenic railway modelling scale, using a scale of 13.5mm to the foot. The Gauge '3' Society represents this aspect of 2½ inch gauge railway modelling with both electric and live steam operation. Gauge '3' corresponds to NEM II scale, also known as 'Spur II' in Germany.

The National 2.5 inch Association continues to support live steam passenger hauling in 2.5 inch gauge using MES Tracks. They use a 'scale' appropriate to the original prototype modelling both standard and narrow gauge locomotives to run on 2.5 inch track.

3/4 inch1:163 1⁄2 inch
89 mm
A worldwide garden railroad scale. Corresponds to NEM III and NMRA 3/4".
1 inch1:124 3⁄4 inch
121 mm
North America specific scale corresponding to NMRA 1" scale. 1:12 is one of the most popular backyard railway scales.
1 inch1:115 inch
127 mm
Used outside North America. Corresponds to NEM V. One of the most popular garden railway scales.
1.5 inch1:87 1⁄4 inch
184 mm
Used in North-Eastern USA, Canada and the world outside North America. Corresponds to NEM VII.
1.5 inch1:87 1⁄2 inch
190.5 mm
Used in North America outside of New England and Eastern Canada.
1.6 inch1:7.57 1⁄4, 7 1⁄2 inch
190.5 mm
1.6in=1ft. Used in the USA, often finer-scale.
2 inch1:67 1⁄4, 7 1⁄2, 9, 10, 12, 14 inch
Narrow gauge for 7 1⁄4 and 7 1⁄2 inch gauge.
2.5 inch1:57 1⁄4, 7 1⁄2, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15 inch
Narrow gauge for 7 1⁄4 and 7 1⁄2 inch gauge.
3 inch1:412, 14, 15 inch
3.75 inch1:3.1257 1⁄4, 7 1⁄2 inch
Narrow gauge for 7 1⁄4 and 7 1⁄2 inch gauge.
4 inch1:315, 16 inch
5 inch1:2.415, 16, 18 inch
6 inch1:218 inch

Special thanks to Glenn Brooks, who provided information for 2 inch scale and above.

Rail Gap

See Rail expansion.

Background

From http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,2249399

Date: 08/08/10 08:05

Many thanks to Mike ONeill of Parker, CO for providing some general info on Live Steam track gauges. In the United States and Canada, no one could ever come together and "standardize" on what certain scale gauges should really be, which was unfortunate. Some examples: The standard gauges as adopted by the NMRA years ago for the small live steam railroads are--- 2 1/2 inch (1/2" scale); 3 1/2 inch (3/4" scale), and 4 3/4 inch (1" scale)... In the UK and Canada, 5 inch gauge represents 1" scale...

In the Western U.S. the gauge for 1 1/2" scale is 7 1/2 inch gauge. In the Eastern U.S. the gauge for this same scale is 7 1/4 inches. The same in Canada. Neither gauge is truly correct for the scale involved. For the absolute "purist", the gauge for 1 1/2 inch scale works out to 7 1/16 inches.

This is really a shame because Live Steamers in different parts of the country are "restricted" on whose tracks they can visit and run on. Many years ago, one of the older GGLS members in Oakland, CA built an absolute stunning model of a STEAM locomotive as well as a Steeple-cab locomotive that drew power from either Overhead wire or outside 3rd rail (a 'la SN) and a large beautifully constructed wood caboose. His name was Louis Lawrence and he resided in West Oakland. However. he could ONLY operate his beautiful creations in his own backyard. Why ?? Because for some strange reason he built them with a track gauge of 6 3/8 inches.

The track gauge on Erich Thomsen's "Redwood Valley Railroad" was originally 12 inches before he enlarged it to the current 15 inches.

Anyway, even with early-day intervention by some of the IBLS secretaries, the gauge drama still lingers on. If you are a Live Steam hobbyist, you RUN where you can.

Cheers.
KEN SHATTOCK
Secretary
North American Region
International Brotherhood of Live Steamers

Model Rail Types

This is a survey of historic and existing rail form factors and their suppliers. If you have data to contribute to this survey please contact Daris Nevil.

  • Buddy-L Rail
    • For 3/4 inch scale - 5/8 inch high - steel, rolled by Bethlehem Steel Co
  • Cannonball Rail
    • For 1-1/2 inch scale - "Standard" - 1 inch high, 7/16 inch wide head, 1/8 inch wide web, 3/4 inch wide foot, length 10 foot, aluminum
    • For 1-1/2 inch scale - "West Coast" - 1 inch high, 1/2 inch wide head, 15/16 inch wide foot, length 10 foot, aluminum
  • Culp Rail
    • Peter Nuskey, a machinist in Pennsylvania, has been offering Culp Rail (a 1/8 scale aluminum model of Pennsylvania Railroad’s 115lb steel rail) for over 40 years, as of 2012.
    • 1-1/2 inch scale rail 0.825 inch high – 10 foot lengths – 6061T6 Aluminum
    • 3/4 inch scale rail 0.625 inch high – 10 foot lengths
    • LGB rail 0.335 inch high – 10 foot lengths
  • L S Rail
    • Aluminum 6063-T5, 1.5 Scale LS Rail, 10 foot lengths
  • Real Trains
    • For 1 inch scale - 0.500 inch high, 0.234 inch wide head, 0.457 inch wide foot - 6061T6 Aluminum
    • For 1-1/2 inch scale - 0.891 inch high, 0.369 inch wide head, 0.750 inch wide foot - 6061T6 Aluminum
    • For 3" scale - 1.500 inch high, 0.600 inch wide head, 1.200 inch wide foot - 6061T6 Aluminum
  • RMI Railworks
    • For 1-1/2 inch scale - 1 inch high - 6061T6 aluminum and steel
  • West Coast
    • 1 inch high, 1/2 inch wide head, 15/16 inch wide foot
  • George Pruitt's "Groovy Rail"
    • Does not require fasteners
  • Live Steamer Parts LLC
    • For 1 inch scale - 5/8 inch tall 5/8 inch foot, with 1/4 inch railhead, 8-1/2 foot lengths
  • Grand Scale Rail
Glenn Brooks wrote:
Regarding rail, over the past 100 years, 8# (8 pound) rail was common during the early 1900’s, but has largely been replaced with 12# rail. Nowadays 6 kg rail (13.2#) is the most prevalent size rail produced by rail suppliers.

Tie Spacing

See Also:

Rail Profiles

ASCE Rail Profile for 10020 rail

Supplementary Information

Turnouts

Grades

From Large-scale Model Railroading, page 52:

On curves, there is more resistance or drag to the train. For this reason, grades should be reduced when a curve is involed. Using prototype figures as a guideline, we find that our grades should be reduced as follows:
  • 1/2 percent on a 125 foot radius
  • 3/4 percent on a 75 foot radius
  • 1 percent on a 60 foot radius
  • 1-1/4 percent on a 50 foot radius
  • 1-1/2 percent on a 40 foot radius

Elevated Track

See Elevated Track.

Bibliography

  • "Mini-Rail News - Track Standards", Lewis Soibelman, Live Steam Magazine, Mar 1991

References