mailine east and west ?

[Anonymous]

I am thinking of a two track mainline arond the room (Ho)
Do most modellers make the trains go east and west (Opposite )
OR have both go the same direction
Thank you
Rich

[Javern]

opposite, its quite a sight at eye level to see two thundering trains meet head on

[AntonioFP45]

Rich,

You can go in any direction. North/South and East/West mainlines still exist today.

I like double track mainlines but the majority of the main lines in the U.S outside of metropolitan areas are single track. But so what, it's your railroad!

Double track lines usually ran opposite direction, but based on traffic schedules, dispatchers could easily have two trains running in the same direction when conditions were safe and trains were blocked many miles apart.

For example, years back you could find a hot-shot passenger train running on the 2nd line to overtake and pass a slower freight. Afterwards the passenger train would then switch back on to it's normal main line. Miles ahead a stopped train that was on the 2nd track coming in the opposite direction could then proceed with the green signal.

Today, with single track mainlines, trains run in both directions. Railroads have very long "passing tracks" so that trains can pass each other in either direction. Union Pacific does it to Amtrak all the time! (yes, pun intended!)

Go ahead and have fun.

Cheers and High Greens!

Don't worry about being so picky. Railroads operated with safety in mind