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Post by IronMan on Apr 16, 2004 7:09:30 GMT -5
Hello Guys,
Could someone help me out, I would like to know what size to make some wooden ties for the 1.5" scale. If there is a size or if people just make approximations that looks good?
Thank you.
IronMan ;D
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Post by atlantic442 on Apr 16, 2004 12:40:25 GMT -5
2X2 douglas fir pressure treated or soaked in oil is what I am using. That is what is being used in most of the parks around heard.
Atlantic442
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Post by IronMan on Apr 16, 2004 19:28:11 GMT -5
Thanks Atalantic,
But I think it is smaller than that for what I need, I have Al. rails I bought and want to use that has a display, or stand while I am not working on the loco. I was thinking more along the lines of 3/4 " or 1" square max. If I can not find anything anywhere it will have to be the old, try it and see how it looks ! Once again thanks.
Regards,
IronMan
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Post by Carl Helquist on Apr 18, 2004 0:08:42 GMT -5
Your question got me thinking (look out), so I dug out a copy of "Elements of Railroad Engineering" (1947) that I was lucky enough to find at a library book sale. In that book a minimum recommended tie width was given as 9 inches and a minimum thickness of 7 inches. I had also noticed recently that some of the landscape timbers used around our house are old railroad ties judging by the spike marks. Not being one to stay inside to attend to practical matters when an impractical matter is shouting for attention, I wandered out into the dark and the snow with a measuring tape. (Well, it was only spitting, but yes it was snow. Sure it can snow in Arizona in April; when you are at 7000 feet elevation.) Those ties measured at 8 inches wide and 9 feet long. They are partially buried so I don't know how thick they are. Using 1.5 inch/foot scale or 1:8, one inch wide ties would scale up to 8 inches in width, and 13.5 inches long would scale up to 9 feet long. Maricopa Live Steamers uses 2X4 lumber (1.5 inch wide) about 14 inches in length which gives a track with good appearance. They use the entire 2X4 stood on edge. Once the track is ballasted the extra depth of the tie is not visually apparent and the extra wood makes for stable track. I hope this verbose and meandering reply serves some useful purpose. Or any purpose, useful or not!
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Post by GoldenSpike53 on May 5, 2004 11:30:55 GMT -5
At Sacramento Valley Live Steamers, we use 2x2 ties (1½ x 1½ measure). However, we recently had someone donate some ties made from pressure treated wood that measured 1½ x 2. The track does look very good and authentic at that scale.
If you are wanting a working stand, I've seen many made from angle iron welded with cross pieces to maintain the gauge. However, if you also want it to double as a display track, then that probably wouldn't work.
Good luck!
Dale Dennis
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