parallel track spacing

[tomtrainman]

 I'M JUST GETTING STARTED WITH G GAUGE TRAINS. WHATS THE MINIMUM SPACING BETWEEN PARELLEL TRACKS FOR G GAUGE. I'M STARTING A OUTDOOR LAYOUT. MOST OF IT WILL BE ELEVATED. I WANT TO CONSTRUCT THE TRACK SUPPORT WIDE ENOUGH TO ACCOMADATE TWO TRACKS SIDE BY SIDE.I'M PLANNING 8FT MIN RADIOUS CURVES.
  I WANT TO BE SURE THE TRACK SUPPORT AREA IS WIDE ENOUGH TO ALLOW TWO TRACKS ,BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO WIDER THAN NECESSARY.
   I'M A LONG TIME O GAUGE LAYOUT BUILDER. DECIDED TO TRY OUTDOOR.
       THANKS FOR ANY INPUT.  TOMTRAINMAN.

[markperr]

As a rule I give myself about 8" center to center on straight runs.  Curves is a whole different beast and will vary based upon your rolling stock.   Obviously, a forty foot box car will have far less inner hang than say, a heavyweight passenger car.  Knowing what you are running on which track and how much the cars hang over between them is helpful.  If you are planning 8' minimum radius curves (that's 16' diameter), then the eight inch spacing may work just fine for you in the curves, however, if you meant to say 8' diameter (which is 4' radius) then I would recommend a 10' diameter on the outside track.  That should be sufficient for pretty much anything to pass alongside anything else in the curve.

 

Mark

[dwbeckett]

 

The above is 11.5 / 10 / 9 ft diameter, the car's are aristo baggage and aristo smoth side coach hope this helps

[ttrigg]

Tom:
I will have to agree with Mark on this one.  8" ctc on the straight-aways, the curves are an entirely different playground.  If you do have sufficient ground space to do the 8 ft radius (16 ft diameter) then you will probably be able to keep the spacing to 8~10 inches.  This is mostly depending on the type of car you are going to be running.  I would suggest that you acquire a pair of the largest cars you are going to use, then do a "compatibility run" to see how much space is needed to avoid an overhang / innerhang collision.

[tomtrainman]

   THANKS FOR THE INPUT. AFTER MEASURING  AND MAKING SURE OF AVAIBLE SPACE. I.VE DECIDED TO GO WITH 10' DIAMITER AS MY TIGHTEST. AND 2ND LINE OUTSIDE OF THAT.
                                                                                THANKS AGAIN   TOM

[dwbeckett]

Tom, I should be able to post some new pictures of installed 10/11.5 Diam. track in the next week or so. My spacing averages 9 inchs on the curves and 8 inch's on the straights. BTY I am only using Aristo wide (10'diam) switch's and if you add a complete section of 11.5 your spacing will be about 8.5"  on the parrell straight section.I will include a shot with the rest of the pictures.  

This is what the 11.5/10 ft diam looks like

[two tone]

Hi tomtrainman, All of the replys have said about 40ft box cars One of the main things to think about is if you are running a 4-8-0 loco IE a Bachmann consolidation the over hang at the front needs more clearance on curves than a box car. I speak from finding out the hard way loco jammed up against a passing train ans stripped the gears. Always allow a little extra space between curves. Use the biggest curve track you can fit in   Enjoy the building and running of trains.

[spikejones52002]

Laying straight track is the easest. place a section of track along side each other and place any piece of equiptment on each. If you like what your see as seperation use it.

Yes as soon as you place a curve into your layout you start pulling your hair out.

You have to consider over and under hang. You also have to allow when you run a Challanger or Big Boy for there outcroping.

Also if you track is not perfectly level and solid. You have equiptment sway to consider.

Also you might want to consider easyment curves. The last portion of your curve is twice the radius of your curve. Flex track is great for that portion.