ID this rail?

Discuss park gauge trains and large scale miniature railways having track gauges from 8" to 24" gauge and designed at scales of 2" to the foot or greater - whether modeled for personal use, or purpose built for amusement park operation or private railroading.

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Glenn Brooks
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ID this rail?

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Hello all,

I recently acquired a quantity of rail from an estate. 3000’ of this unusual light rail was included in the purchase. Iam trying to identify origin and what it has been used for. We have some similar rail down in Phoenix, with MLS. It has been suggested this profile was originally used with MTC G-12
Train sets.


Dims are: 2” tall, 2 1/4” base, 3/4” head, 5/32” web thickness.

This rail is generally same dimensions as 12# rail, but about half the weight…

Anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks
Glenn
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Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

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Bill Shields
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Re: ID this rail?

Post by Bill Shields »

Rusty?
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
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NP317
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Re: ID this rail?

Post by NP317 »

Use it for storage, sidings and passing tracks.
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0351
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Re: ID this rail?

Post by 0351 »

My guess it’s factory G16/G12 rail.
It had a slightly narrower railhead than 12lb.
Glenn, few months back you you had mentioned some 8lb rail that need pulled up, is this the rail what you were talking about ?
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Erskine Tramway
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Re: ID this rail?

Post by Erskine Tramway »

It's called 'sub-purlin' rail. It's intended purpose was as part of roof framing in (usually) steel buildings. In the late '50s, early '60s there were a couple clubs in suburban Chicago using it for rail.

Mike
Former Locomotive Engineer and Designer, Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works, Inc. and Riverside & Great Northern Railway 1962-77
BN RR Locomotive Engineer 1977-2014, Retired
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Glenn Brooks
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Re: ID this rail?

Post by Glenn Brooks »

0351 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 20, 2022 11:43 pm My guess it’s factory G16/G12 rail.
It had a slightly narrower railhead than 12lb.
Glenn, few months back you you had mentioned some 8lb rail that need pulled up, is this the rail what you were talking about ?
Yes, this was included in a purchase of 8# rail from an estate. They had used this rail with the 8# rail in trackage.

Mike, thanks for the info.

Glenn
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Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
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STRR
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Re: ID this rail?

Post by STRR »

Glenn,

I have to agree with Mike as I have 8, 10, and 12 lb rail profiles and that one is thinner than the 10 lb I have. With that skinny web, I wonder how much weight it could safely handle?

Good Luck.
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Trainman4602
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Re: ID this rail?

Post by Trainman4602 »

This is not Railroad Rail at all. It is an industrial shape that is used on the underside of steel trusses to build a dropped ceiling. I had some of this stuff years ago. although it looks similar to rail it is not used for that purpose it can be but as you can see the rail head is sharp not radius like actual rail. At one time I had 15,000 feet of 8 pound sold it all.
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Greg_Lewis
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Re: ID this rail?

Post by Greg_Lewis »

Glenn, please check your private messages. Thanks.
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Glenn Brooks
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Re: ID this rail?

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Hi,Greg,
Thanks. Saw your pm. Sent you a quick update via PM.

Glenn
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Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
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