Trackage

[muniman]

I am setting up a single-line track around the periphery of  a room, using 54" diameter curves.  What is a safe distance between the straight track and the wall so that the engine does not smack the wall?   For that matter, what are ALL the safe distances for ALL curved tracks?  Or, where can I obtain these specs?

Thanks

Muniman

[lionelsoni]

There is no hard and fast rule, just rules of thumb that vary depending on whom you ask, and trial and error.  You could test every toy train ever made; and tomorrow some manufacturer will come out with a new piece that will hit your wall.

That said, let me suggest to you an alternative to single-radius curves, that is, spiral curves, which are what prototype railroads use.  The railroads use them to avoid a sudden jerk going into or out of a curve.  But they also allow you to put toy-train track closer to the wall than you could otherwise.  Start and end the curve with a long radius; and use a shorter radius in the middle.  For example, I have a shelf track whose center is only 2 3/4 inches from the wall.  The corners are O72-O27-O72.  The idea is to let the long-radius sections ease the train away from the wall so that, by the time it comes to the middle of the curve, it can turn more sharply without hitting the wall.  The whole curve is much smaller than if I had used O72 throughout, but it looks much gentler than it really is.

[Demay]

That is a great idea Bob.  As I understand it, it is a pretty smart way to lay track on a platform-type layout as well; it makes for smoother, more natural curves. 

Do you have any photos of your shelf layout?  It would be beneficial to see how it looks.

Thanks,

Joe

[wsdimenna]

"What is a safe distance between the straight track and the wall so that the engine does not smack the wall"   a 1/2 inch from outside edge of track ties

this is for a clean straight section against wall. If you have a curve against the wall, the larger the radius the closer to the wall.  As a suggestion I would stay away from 027 unless you are doing postwar only.