136LB rail vs. 115lb rail...does it matter in the sim?

[xxuntitledxx]

Hi all,

This thought came to me today and I was wondering if this has any bearing in route building. I have been using the tracks from Steven's Pass that are marked as "136lb rail". I also was looking at the rail from the Hanover Sub route and that is "115lb rail". From the looks of the profile nothing is different from the heavier vs. the lighter. Does the sim actually look at the weight of the rail in the physics/simulation or is that more for reference? If i was to put them both together would the 115lb rail take on the characteristics of the 136lb rail or vice versa? Just trying to figure things out to make things on my route look as accurate as I can.

Also on that note, since I'm trying not to mix Track Rules and the likes, would it make sense to copy the tracks to my own route folder and make a custom Track Rule file for the "combined" track? Looking for thoughts on that.

As always thanks in advance!

Ken

[buzz456]

Extreme rivet counting. Suggest counseling by a railroad shrink who might understand why this might be something of interest to anyone other that you. (humor I hope)

[xxuntitledxx]

LOL Buzz

I was just wondering if it made any difference and why Hi-Iron Simulations marked it as "115lb" and G-Trax marked it as "136lb" when it looks like they used almost the same model and the only variation is texture and color. I guess the sim doesn't care what the "lb per yard" or whatever it is?

[ENR3005]

Hi all,

This thought came to me today and I was wondering if this has any bearing in route building. I have been using the tracks from Steven's Pass that are marked as "136lb rail". I also was looking at the rail from the Hanover Sub route and that is "115lb rail". From the looks of the profile nothing is different from the heavier vs. the lighter. Does the sim actually look at the weight of the rail in the physics/simulation or is that more for reference? If i was to put them both together would the 115lb rail take on the characteristics of the 136lb rail or vice versa? Just trying to figure things out to make things on my route look as accurate as I can.

Also on that note, since I'm trying not to mix Track Rules and the likes, would it make sense to copy the tracks to my own route folder and make a custom Track Rule file for the "combined" track? Looking for thoughts on that.

As always thanks in advance!

Ken

Not much difference unless you zoom in to an extreme level in the sim with those weights. I debated this long ago and abandoned worrying about it as most lines have a mix of rail, the mainline may be 115lb for the most part but many have heavier stretches of rail here and there. Now if you throw in 65 to 100lb rail for a branchline or a spur, that's a whole different story, which is available with some freeware and payware routes out there. It all comes down to what you are trying to represent.

[kris120]

Have you ever seen a bent rail ?
The physics in TS :

2023-09-18_21_06_43.jpg

[mindenjohn]

Kris in his pic demonstrates that if the locomotive and freight cars were only a foot tall they would have remained stable and not toppled i.e. in the end it's all about perspective This is true in reality and it's true in our fantasy world called TSC - it's not real you know (although, ironically, we strive for realism).

Back in my HO modelling days when I was exhibiting my railroad there was always a know it all who would ask something like - is that the right *&^%$* for that era, location etc. My answer then was - it maybe, it might not be but it's my railroad and it suits me - and in fictitious routes, locations etc. it's the same now. On the dollar bill I believe it says "We trust in God", well here "We trust in G-Trax, HIS etc"