Width of cars..

[Wes Whitmore]

I'm contemplating mounting a portal on a bit of an angle other than 90 degrees to the track, which will reduce the width of cars I can send through it.  It's on a straight section so there shouldn't be any turning overhang.  Are there many "wide" cars that are wider than MTH realtrax?  It's 3" wide.  Height will probably be my other issue, depending on the width.  Thanks for the help.

Wes

[fifedog]

Unless you really get a "jones" for double-stack trains, you should be allright.  On my layout, my scale-sized cabooses tend to be the low-clearance prognosticators (their smoke-jacks have been known to catch on a low tunnel portal).  Be wary of flatcar loads like CAT equipment or military tanks, when it comes to wide loads.  Always best to have a test train (auto rack,vista dome, hicube boxcar,etc) on hand to check clearances.

[CSXect]

Some of lionels S gauge cars were O sized bodies on S gauge  trucks and therefore were wider than they should have been K-line also made this mistake porportion wise, but being you are talking about O sized trains I would compare by measuring the rolling stock you have and build portal to the dimensions of the widest car you have.

[lionelsoni]

Prototype equipment is 10 feet 8 inches wide, which works out to 2 2/3 inches in 1/48 O scale.  Some models have a stray lantern or grabiron sticking out a little farther; and crane cars usually have cranks on the sides; but otherwise you're unlikely to find anything wider.  I use 2 7/8 inches for my yard tracks with no problem.

[BDT in Minnesota]

I have a 225 Prewar steamer that is 'Resting' on a shelf above my computer... I measured the valve gear eccentrics on that old iron horse, and came up with a shade under 3" for width......A Prewar 225E measured about 2 7/8" plus...  Might want to keep an eye on some of the steamers..... If the valve gear starts working loose, they can flop around a little also...

[Wes Whitmore]

Thats for all of the really good info.  I don't own anything wider than 3" yet, and I'm not going for anything less than 3.5".  It looks like all be OK for the majority of the stuff out there.

Thanks guys,
Wes

[DennisB-1]

I can't imagine a scenerio where you would have a tunnel portal at other than a right angle to the track. Can you explain why you want to do that?

[Wes Whitmore]

It's not absolutely necesarry that I do it that way.  I have a bridge above the portal and I was hoping to have the bridge and portal be parallel with one another, but I can just move the portal further from the bridge and run it perpendicular with the track.  I think I have the room to do so.

Thanks,
Wes

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine a scenerio where you would have a tunnel portal at other than a right angle to the track. Can you explain why you want to do that?

I see this alot on model and real RRs. Typically it happens where the terrain isn't perpendicular to the track. I've seen a couple model RRs where they forced all portals to be perpendicular and the terrain just didn't flow properly. If you are going to force all portals to be perpendicular to the track, make sure your scenery flows so it doesn't look out of place.

[Wes Whitmore]

Noted.  I'll check it today and see how it comes out.

[traindaddy1]

  Always best to have a test train (auto rack,vista dome, hicube boxcar,etc) on hand to check clearances.

And don't forget engines like the NH 2350 that require a little more room on turns.

[DennisB-1]

I can't imagine a scenerio where you would have a tunnel portal at other than a right angle to the track. Can you explain why you want to do that?

I see this alot on model and real RRs. Typically it happens where the terrain isn't perpendicular to the track. I've seen a couple model RRs where they forced all portals to be perpendicular and the terrain just didn't flow properly. If you are going to force all portals to be perpendicular to the track, make sure your scenery flows so it doesn't look out of place.

I have never seen that on a real railroad. If the hillside crosses the tracks at an angle, the portal is set back perpendicular to the track with a retaining wall on the high side.

[Wes Whitmore]

  Always best to have a test train (auto rack,vista dome, hicube boxcar,etc) on hand to check clearances.

And don't forget engines like the NH 2350 that require a little more room on turns.

I should just go ahead and get that articlating loco that I have been wanting, to test all of my corners out!  I think Buckeye needs to get one so I can borrow it for a week!

Wes

[Wes Whitmore]

I can't imagine a scenerio where you would have a tunnel portal at other than a right angle to the track. Can you explain why you want to do that?

I see this alot on model and real RRs. Typically it happens where the terrain isn't perpendicular to the track. I've seen a couple model RRs where they forced all portals to be perpendicular and the terrain just didn't flow properly. If you are going to force all portals to be perpendicular to the track, make sure your scenery flows so it doesn't look out of place.

I have never seen that on a real railroad. If the hillside crosses the tracks at an angle, the portal is set back perpindicular to the track with a retaining wall on the high side.

I wouldn't have the issue at all if I didn't want to squeeze a mountain in just so I can get my scenery on two levels.  Instead of the mountain, if I left the scenery on the ground and used a curved tressel bridge, it would solve the issue, but what fun would that be?

Wes

[palallin]

I can't imagine a scenerio where you would have a tunnel portal at other than a right angle to the track. Can you explain why you want to do that?

I see this alot on model and real RRs. Typically it happens where the terrain isn't perpendicular to the track. I've seen a couple model RRs where they forced all portals to be perpendicular and the terrain just didn't flow properly. If you are going to force all portals to be perpendicular to the track, make sure your scenery flows so it doesn't look out of place.

I have never seen that on a real railroad. If the hillside crosses the tracks at an angle, the portal is set back perpindicular to the track with a retaining wall on the high side.

 

I don't have a link handy, but I have seen it in a number of pics.