Fish belly rail

Michael Osborne

Western Thunderer
image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg With the thought about the track display I remembered I bought a pack of fish belly rail from Ambis many years ago. So I dug them out and set about making up a short length of rail in which to display a wagon or two. I made up the first piece as per instructions but I was not very happy with the top part of the rail. I don't blame Ambis for my poor workmanship. So I had another go with the top part replaced with a short length of phosphor bronze 4mm scale rail found from 40 years ago. Never throw anything away. Once soldered on I filed the top surface flat. I think it will need a bit more work with the files but it was less work and I think it will look better.
 

john lewsey

Western Thunderer
Hi Mike I've never heard of fish belly rail although looking at yours I've seen it in paintings was it cast iron rail
John
 

Michael Osborne

Western Thunderer
John, yes it was made from cast iron. The parts from Ambis were produced from an article in the Railway Magazine in 1949 by John Birks & Peter Coxon called The Mansfeild & Pinxton Railway. There is still some at Cromford Wharf in the workshop from that railway.
 

Osgood

Western Thunderer
Just stumbled across an article describing fish belly rail.

The Stockton & Darlington used a variety of different sizes -
28lb, 33lb, 35lb wrought iron and 57.5lb cast iron, in 4ft lengths.
Liverpool & Manchester used 15ft lengths of 35lb rail.
 
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