... normal mild steel. 'Real' rail is normally an austenitic manganese steel, containing 11-14% manganese. Also new rail is soft, but is given increased surface hardness by the traffic that passes over it. These factors make the rail more 'silver' than mild steel, which is quite grey in colour. What a miserable day it is. I have just come in from hauling logs up the slope from my woodland with a tractor and trailer. Sliding all over the place- the rain has made the pathways very slippery. I now feel qualified to go to Yellowknife next winter and get a job as an Ice Road Trucker.... Regards Brian Lewis Carrs -- C+ L Finescale. http://www.finescale.org.uk posted: 15 Mar 2008 23:00 from: Paul Boyd Interesting! I know that on BH, the head is bigger than the foot (and I've just checked some of my track to make sure I have it right!), but I must admit that I went by the shape rather than the ...

... coupled axles is three times the load on the lightest axles. To avoid the unloading effect, the Continentals used equalisation between the rear carrying axle and trailing coupled axle as well as the driving axles. I think it was Churchward who did away with equalisation when he realised his 4-6 -0s did not need it, unfortunately, those who came later did not question it for Pacifics hence their adhesion was as poor as it was. For me there are always important lessions from the real thing- if we have a slippery loco, check for a "light" axle before simply adding more weight. Equal loading is easier with (correctly designed!!!) compensation than with springing, but don't take it for granted. We don't all have to get 14 coahes up a 1:70 gradient, but I know a few good modellers who have been embarrassed when they have taken their prize loco to "guest" on a large layout. In fact, I might be one of them... What news the track Andrew? ...