A problem no one has mentioned that I will just throw out there is that of bumping your trains with your belly, arms, shirt , elbows etc. The closer you are to the edge, the higher probability an accident could happen.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Operating a 2 foot wide shelf layout where space is at a premium and which is 7 feet off the floor with engines costing $400.00, I put 6" between the track and the edge and only straight line runs are allowed that close. As the road is narrow gauge, nothing runs fast so derailments, if they occur, are usually skidders along the rails with no upsets or tip overs.
No curves unless they are moving towards the center of the shelf. No switches within 6" of the edge unless they turn into the center of the shelf from a straightaway.
All this space allows for scenery for foreground photography in front of all trackage. As the backdrop touches the rear of the shelf, I will run track to within 1" of the backdrop if needed.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
Hi!
Lots of excellent advice so far, and I do agree pretty much.
On the straightaways, I would have the track about a "train height" away from the edge. Now if this is where wondering hands/shoulders/guts might touch, I would double the distance.
For curves, I would maybe double the distance (twice the height of the train cars). Yes, I realize you aren't running Lionel like we did in the '50s, but the curved track may allow a derailed car to be spun out a distance.
Lots of really nice pics in this thread, my congratulations to the builders!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
FreeMo uses 4" as a minimum between the edge of the layout and track centerline (but more space wouldn't hurt; it gives photos some foreground to work with).
Industrial tracks near the edge of the layout, where cars will be spotted, might be knocked by bellies, loose clothing, even necklaces if someone has to do work behind those tracks...(not saying it's bad, but beware).
Track next to a wall is a different story, put it as close as you want; more space, more scenery (though there have been many articles on disguising this distance to make it seem deeper than it is).
Depends on if you are more interested in scenery, or squeezing in as much operation as possible. Do whatcha like; you will go nuts trying to make everyone happy, but if it runs well, most shortcomings will probably be overlooked as operators are focused on running trains, not the scenery.
Cheers!
http://delray1967.shutterfly.com/pictures/5
SEMI Free-Mo@groups.io
The design points I am wrestling with are maintaining a reachable distance to the back of the layout, using radii that are large enough for long cars, and allowing as much room as possible in the middle for farms and a town. (The final point is to keep my wife happy, as she is really excited to do the structures and scenery.) As I said before, a multi-dimensional puzzle, both on and off the track.
It depends on what you want, widest possible curves with the longest main line, or do you want something that looks realistic and natural, and that you don't have to doctor up a lot if you have imagery in mind. For example, if you are pretty sure you won't be taking photos and entering contests, say, then you won't mind the shadows the lighting will cast on the close walls; run 'em close to the walls. If you don't want to have to do a lot of cloning and cleaning of your images in post production, and can afford to lose about 2-4" outside your main and between your closest vertical surfaces, you won't find obvious shadows rearing themselves up onto your backdrop or plain walls. If you insert your own background using photo shop, then this problem is moot.
Crandell
RideOnRoad It sounds like the real issue is the risk of something falling to the floor. If this is the case, I can get away with a smaller distance to the edge on the back side of my layout, assuming it is next to the wall or backdrop, correct?
It sounds like the real issue is the risk of something falling to the floor. If this is the case, I can get away with a smaller distance to the edge on the back side of my layout, assuming it is next to the wall or backdrop, correct?
No you are not, now you have to consider scenery. Probably you want some between your tracks and the backdrop. Staying away 4" from the wall ain't that bad. However trains in a tunnel can be as close to the wall as clearance allows. As always trackplanning is about finding a balance. A slightly smaller radius or a slightly narrower aisle might be sufficient to solve a space problem.
SmilePaul
Paul
I have a removable plexi glass fence around mine. Tracks are close to the edge as it is only a 4'x6' HO layout.
One thing to think about. When pulling a train, things mostly tip over from going too fast and derailing. However, if you are backing or have a pusher loco, then things keep getting pushed, as the loco hasn't gone off the track, think accordion style. A passenger train can derail and the full length of the car go to one side of the track.
You can design your terrain and scenery to keep the train from taking the plunge, put up a clear fence or be willing to take some risks.
Good luck,
I intend to put a low plexiglass fence at the edge of this module.
As Ah-nold might say, don't be a baby! Live dangerously.
For N scale, you should be able to get even closer to the edge, I'd think. On the other hand, if you're modelling the NYC and running jet-powered RDCs, all bets are off.
Wayne
I am coming to the realization that planning for a correctly constructed layout is really solving a multi-dimensional puzzle.
The minimum you should consider is what you need to prevent your train from plunging to the floor, in case of a derailment.
If you want to add scenery, you need at least 4"
Take a look at this picture, showing a modules of my mini-modular layout:
I did a lot of experimenting before building my layout and found 3" from the centerline was fine, also just enough area to add a siding if needed later, best of both worlds!
In HO, I put in 6" in one section of my layout because I read that recommendatioin somewhere. Way too much, except for keeping away little hands from reaching tracks. I feel 3-4" in HO and 1.5-2" in N measured from the ballast edge.
Along most of my layout edges, I've got a bit of a border, but not much. One of these days, I'll get around to putting some HO-scaled chain link fence along my most dangerous precipice, but it's a siding that doesn't see much traffic and I've never had a problem there.
If you have a track running around a layout edge that's an inside curve, be particularly careful. This is where you're most likely to have a multi-car disaster, as a derailment in the back of the train might cause several cars to "stringline" off the track. They will always go to the inside of the curve.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Call me Mr. Bonehead. Yesterday I was doing something on this part of the layout when along comes my little Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0 pulling a train. It hit the rubber antenna on my throttle and fell on its side. If it wasn't for the amount of space next to the lower track in the photo it would have taken the death plunge to the hearth below. This part goes over the fireplace. On this section I will eventually have some boulders and stuff to prevent it reaching the edge. This time I got lucky.
If you do go close to the edge, at least have some shrubs, trees or rocks to block it from going over the edge.
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Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
About the height of the locomotive rolled onto its side, slid down from the rails, across the ballast, and where it might come to rest. Generally, we would need about two inches from the bottom edge of the ballast and be reasonably safe without a catching fence or hedgerow or something. But it's always a crap shoot, particularly when oncoming trains are involved and at least one of them is moving at speeds above 60 scale mph. Things get launched in such collisions.
As I plan for my next layout, I am curious what folks consider to be the minimum distance between the edge of the layout and the track, assuming n-scale.