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For you guys that have built your own 5 rail track I’m looking for what options I might have to putting my own together and what I might need. I did have Gargraves 5 rail on the loop for a time but it was a major “PITA” to work with and didn’t look good when it was done! 🤬 I ripped all that out and went with USA standard gauge track 72” radius if I remember correctly.  I would still like be able to use that with whatever other pieces I need for the the rest of the track if possible.   Any help so I can pull this off “Without” trying to bend my own curves would be much appreciated! 

Last edited by Chris Lonero
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@SGMA1 posted:

I have been told Menards 0 gauge track is a good starting point for making five rail track.  I have been pushing my business partner Chris to stamp out some 0 gauge ties for at least two years, but other projects have been getting on the way! Someday...

I used Menards track with your track Kirk. However, I think the better way to go would be to use USA Track rails for all five rails. The bottom of the Menards track has a wider profile than USA Track, which causes some minor problems with insulators. The only thing we can't currently get from you is the O gauge ties. 

George

@SGMA1 posted:

I have been told Menards 0 gauge track is a good starting point for making five rail track.  I have been pushing my business partner Chris to stamp out some 0 gauge ties for at least two years, but other projects have been getting on the way! Someday...

Hi Kirk.  I ordered a couple of pieces of 0-72 from Menards just to experiment to see how it goes. I'll keep you guys posted as to what I find when I get the materials.

Chris and I actually have the metal we need to stamp 0 gauge ties on hand, but we haven’t been able to use Joe Mania’s press with our tooling to stamp them out because of the pandemic.  Hopefully we’ll have a vaccine by the end of the year, and will be able to move forward with Joe.  (Our supply of rails is getting low too, all of the shops that can use our tooling to roll new rail are closed!  This is getting bad!)

Kirk

Kirk,

Perhaps this has been asked before, however, I am wondering if there will ever be a time when you actually sell 5 rail track?  I'm sure that I am not the only one who has 4 additional thumbs on each hand besides the ones that God gave me when it comes to this kind of project.  Do you suppose there would be a market for it?  I am planning to build a new layout in my new train room and I know I would be  interested.

Greg

Northwoods Flyer 

Last edited by Greg J. Turinetti

Well here is the first piece of many to finish and I’ll have to add one more tie when I get some more track.  The Menards 0-72 worked our pretty good and the track is really not bad for the price.  It would be more convenient to just have new ties to just drop the rails in but it’s doable to disassemble the Menards track. 

F79D3887-2E40-48B7-B94A-9BD1E16B8914

Great job Chris! Finished my last piece this morning I had to make 2ea 21-1/2" long straights.

Joe Gozzo

@RoyBoy posted:

Could someone make 5 rail ties, so that the std and the O ties would not have to be intermingled?

Probably not practical. If a STD tie was punched for tabs to lock down 5 different rails you would take all the strength out of the tie. A more doable option might be to make STD sized ties punched for O spacing. You could then alternate the ties. It would make a more aesthetically looking set up.

Steve

I have the "book" on how to make them but have no intentions of trying it.

Steve

Below is the link to Rich (Dick) Reichard's website on which you can find a variety of fabrication plans (books) for sale on switches including 5-rail as well as such essentials as rail benders as well as his contact information.

http://tcaetrain.org/articles/...ce-Ordering-Form.pdf

Bob Nelson

Last edited by navy.seal

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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