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!
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Chris
I am working on it now call myself or Steve Eastman. He has a video on YouTube
Joe Gozzo
Thanks guys.
Here’s a great tutorial.
https://www.tinplatetimes.com/...eRailTrack/track.htm
Still lots of work and lots of cutting. Buy a Dremel Sawmax. It will be well worth it.
George
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...
@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
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.
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@Chris Lonero posted: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.
Great job Chris! Finished my last piece this morning I had to make 2ea 21-1/2" long straights.
Joe Gozzo
Thanks Joe. I haven’t even thought about the straights yet. I’m going to get all the curves done first and the straights will hopefully fall into place.
@Chris Lonero posted:Thanks Joe. I haven’t even thought about the straights yet. I’m going to get all the curves done first and the straights will hopefully fall into place.
That's what I did
Chris,
For my straight section, I needed 51-1/2" for each side. So, I made one 30" and one 21-1/2" section and put together.
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Came out great Joe! 👍
Has any one made a 5 rail switch?
Charlie
@Choo Choo Charlie posted:Has any one made a 5 rail switch?
Charlie
That is making my head hurt. Trying to imagine that.
I saw the title for this thread and thought "It can't be five rails on some roadbed, definitely has to be a 5 track mainline". Wasn't expecting this looks... different but still cool
My home layout has two 5 rail loops and I have a portable layout with two 5 rail loops. A couple of my buddies have 5 rail portables and out layouts can connect together to create a longer one.
Steve
@Choo Choo Charlie posted:Has any one made a 5 rail switch?
Charlie
Someone mocked one up on paper. I don't know if a prototype was ever built. I have only found one O gauge switch and one standard gauge switch that work with all my tinplate. I can't imagine making a 5 rail switch that would operate acceptably though.
George
@George S posted:Someone mocked one up on paper. I don't know if a prototype was ever built. I have only found one O gauge switch and one standard gauge switch that work with all my tinplate. I can't imagine making a 5 rail switch that would operate acceptably though.
George
I have the "book" on how to make them but have no intentions of trying it.
Steve
Has anyone ever tried this with 42" curve? I'm getting ready to redo my layout, and no room for 72" curves, I wish! Sign me up for buying some too! 4 thumbs and Psoriatic arthritis to boot!
Could someone make 5 rail ties, so that the std and the O ties would not have to be intermingled?
I would think a switch would be possible if you followed a model similar to the merkur design
https://www.blik-en-speelgoed....-625-mm/#description
@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
@Trainbear posted:Has anyone ever tried this with 42" curve? I'm getting ready to redo my layout, and no room for 72" curves, I wish! Sign me up for buying some too! 4 thumbs and Psoriatic arthritis to boot!
My layouts have 42” and 57” 5 rail loops.
Steve
@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted: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