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       The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum Forum Index -> Locomotives
IndianaRog

G scale track, what are the dimensions

Looking to see if my newly acquired Bassett-Lowke Birmingham Dribbler might possibly run on G Scale track.

If anyone has a piece of that track, could you give me the width between the outside edge of the two rails??

Thanks in advance,
Rog
GUTMACH

Well, the track gauge for 'G' scale is 45mm, don't know what the dimensions would be for measuring outside of the rails.


Wayde
made-in-england

You may want to avois LDGB with its deeper flanges and sharper curves..

You may be bettet using finescale G1..
Roly Williams

Track gauge is measured on the INSIDE edges of the rails. The outside edges vary with the thickness of the rails.
IndianaRog

Roly Williams wrote:
Track gauge is measured on the INSIDE edges of the rails. The outside edges vary with the thickness of the rails.


Thanks guys, especially Roly...I know zero about track gauges and measurements, but now I think about it, since the flanges on wheels are to the INSIDE of the track, I obviously need to be concerned with inside to inside measure.  

Wayde, I take it for G scale that measure is 45 mm.  When I measure from inside to inside of wheel flanges on the Dribbler, it is about 63 mm., so G scale looks like a no go.

Any suggestions for a commercially available track that would accomodate such a wide wheelbase???

Rog
made-in-england

what are the back to back measurements of the wheels?
pauly

I dont think dribblers where ever made to actually go on tracks, they are just floor toys.

you could carve some cruves in some wood at the right width though and use that as track
tmuir

Pauly is right they weren't made to run on tracks and I'm pretty sure the dribblers are some odd size  that track isn't readily made for.
Of course you can buy brass rail and make your own track to fit the dribbler though. But it is a lot of work.
IndianaRog

made-in-england wrote:
what are the back to back measurements of the wheels?


Not sure I understand what you are asking...the 63 mm measure noted is from the INSIDE of one flange's edge to the INSIDE of the other.  I hope I am saying it right  

This photo shows where I took the 63 mm measurement.  I want to find a track that will fit if such a thing exists...



thanks,
Rog
Roly Williams

Gauge 3 = 2.5" = 64mm, which is probably what you want:

http://www.mainlinethurnby.org.uk/steamon64.htm
IndianaRog

Excellent...seems Gauge 3 track (64 mm) might be just what I'm looking for.  Any idea of sources where this can be bought??

I know the dribblers were intended for floor running, but we have 4 dogs including a golden retriever and dog hair regularly gets wound around my Old Smoky conversion whenever I run it on the carpet.  I DO vacuum first, but dog hair is pervasive stuff!

I just want to make a simple oval I can set up and take down to run the dribbler.

Rog
johnreid

The other option is to lay your own track.
Roly Williams

Googling for "gauge 3 track" I found these people. There may be others.
http://www.grsuk.com/
IndianaRog

Thanks Roly, I just googled and discovered the same source...thank you.

Of course, before I buy track I probably ought to put the little dribbler up on some blocks to be sure it even runs!

cheers,
Rog
Roly Williams

IndianaRog wrote:
Thanks Roly, I just googled and discovered the same source...thank you.

Of course, before I buy track I probably ought to put the little dribbler up on some blocks to be sure it even runs!

cheers,
Rog

Good thinking.  
Sandman

Good luck with the quest Roger.

I look forward to seeing the dribbler in action.
Les

I 'googled' G Scale Track and got this lot.

http://www.google.com/search?q=G+...p;sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GCNV_en
Titan

And coincidentally Gauge 3 is approximately the standard gauge equivalent of Mamod narrow gauge scale wise!
alan2525

Titan wrote:
And coincidentally Gauge 3 is approximately the standard gauge equivalent of Mamod narrow gauge scale wise!


It's interesting to compare standard gauge to the little 16mm scale 2.0ft gauge locos, I cut out some hardwood 16mm scale standard gauge sleepers and some 2ft gauge too, to use as building materials on the railway. It's surprising just how large it looks in comparison!
Graham-Jilly

hornby rocket track is the same I think
johnreid

OOOOOO, Roger needs to buy a Rocket
Les

Graham-Jilly wrote:
hornby rocket track is the same I think


Hornby Rocket track is 90mm and therefore too wide.  
johnreid

WEll, Roger should get a Rocket anyhow
Graham-Jilly

Les wrote:
Graham-Jilly wrote:
hornby rocket track is the same I think


Hornby Rocket track is 90mm and therefore too wide.  

I bought one 3 months ago and still not turned up or I would have know    
Keith S

Roger, John's suggestion to lay your own track is not outlandish. Many model railroaders lay their own rails. Rail is readily available from hobby stores, and sleepers, and nails, it's easy to do, if a little time-consuming, if I had a "dribbler", I would do it. Don't rule it out.
johnreid

Keith is right, my las HO layout had 5 scale miles of track, all hand laid code 83, it was worth it for both the look and the satisfaction of a job well done. I guess that if I still had the layout I would not have gotten into the Steam Hobby so I guess the demise of the layout was a blessing in disguise.
IndianaRog

I think I'm going to give the "make it yourself with rails approach" a go...but first I need to get this engine running on blocks...no need for track if she's a non runner, but I doubt that, pretty simple design!
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