04-23-2014, 04:16 PM
Matt, I have seen pictures of ho rail with joint bars installed and I really like the looks of them. I don't know what brand they were but for people modeling roads that have jointed rail they are great. The Kiski Junction Railroad in Schenley had 100, 130, 132, and 115 pound rail when I first started there. The 115 was newer rail and was all the standard 39 foot. The 130 that was there varied in length with very little being 39 foot. Most of it had been cropped. Jointed rail tends to get bent at the rail ends so when they take it from the main they would cut 18 inches off either end and then it was a 36 foot section, and it went to branch lines. They would crop it one more time in its life so it would be 33 foot often relaid on sidings to industries and branch lines. The joints are staggered, but more random than you would think, they run different as the rail curves so you will have joints that don't have much stagger at all. Be sure to post some pictures.
Charlie
Charlie