Distance between tracks...

[Anonymous]

I will be buliding a new RR with two independent loops. I would like to have both loops run side by side for a time. Is their a general rule as far as spacing between tracks. Part of the area will be on a curve as well. Both trains will be running in opposite directions.
any help would be appreciated.
scott johnson
johnson flats RR

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by sjohnson

I will be buliding a new RR with two independent loops. I would like to have both loops run side by side for a time. Is their a general rule as far as spacing between tracks. Part of the area will be on a curve as well. Both trains will be running in opposite directions.
any help would be appreciated.
scott johnson
johnson flats RR

Hummmm...I think I might like to try this too.

[grandpopswalt]

As far as I know there is no published standard for this spacing. This is yet another example of why some system of STANDARDS would be helpful. So as long as car widths, lengths, and heights are all over the map, I guess you'll have to use the SWAG rule.

Walt

[bman36]

sjohnson,
Welcome to the forum! Boy, lot's of new people lately. This is good. Unfortuneately you will have to do some experimenting here. Place the track side by side and see what looks good versus how much actual spacing you need for your particular equipment. There is no rule here so no one can say you are wrong. All the best! Later eh...Brian.
[#welcome]

[d4fal]

I assume that you want these two tracks to be as close together as possible. In that case, it is only a matter of clearance between your running stock from one track to the other. The tighter the curve, the greater the spacing has to be, since parts of the longer cars will overhang beyond the tracks both inside and outside.

Generally, because I do not know your scale, I will use prototype dimentions here, The track and ties are 8 feet wide, and add another 8 feet of space between the tracks. The smaller your scale, the further this distance has to be for access issues, but if that is not your case, you can go closer to the rule.

If you want the math, I really doubt that, it is rather involved. I never use the formula myself as I use the other method instead. Take the longest rolling stock that you currently have in your inventory, and on a mockup of the curvature that you wi***o use to the inside track and for the outside track, see how much overhang the car has both at the center of the car for the inside clearance and at the corners for the outside clearance. If at all possible, make sure you can place your fingers between these two distances.

I believe that there was a standard written somewhere, but I do not recall where I had seen it. I believe it was in Model Railroader with a story about either NMRA standards or tunnels. Might want to check out http://www.nmra.org/standards/ even though this might not be of too much help.

Judging from the chart there, you would have to decide what standards your pike will adhere to. Class 1a railroads being the highest, also has the most clearance.

[Anonymous]

Hi Scott
The 16mm scale people recomend 6"asa minimum this would be a good measurement for when you win the lotto and get a steam locomotive
Failing that you can sit back knowing that what ever it is is going to have to be pretty big to clip each other no matter what you have some visitor is going to bring something bigger than what you normaly run.
regards John

[vsmith]

I would keep the track "center of track to center of track " dimension no less than 12-14 inches on curves to allow for overhang and no less than 9 to 10 inches on straight sections.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice. It's very helpful. My last Layout was quite small, But I moved to a bigger back yard ( I mean House ) So I want to have trains going in different directions and maybe cross over each other at some points. I have a 50ft by 20ft area. Which is bigger than I had before.
Thanks Again
scott

[bman36]

Scott,
Nice size area to build in. Adding on to my line this year. Finally going to get those trains in through the basement window. Right now mine is 16'x35'. Adding another 30' in length with a patio in the middle. Our guests will be surrounded by trains! Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Where my two tracks run together, the spacing is 8" center to center.

hope this helps.......Chris