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How Close to the Edge?

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  • Member since
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Posted by BroadwayLion on Saturday, August 24, 2019 9:04 AM

Mister Mikado

What about that soft ping pong table netting?  Mount a running length of it just below the track edge all around the layout.  -Rob

 

 

That is exactly whaty they are doing in New York City. Putting netting under the elevated trains. Not that the trains would fall off, but enough tie plates, bolts lengths of steel and stuff like that fall off to damage parked cars ore even to impale moving cars.

 

ROARING !!!

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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Posted by BATMAN on Friday, August 23, 2019 11:54 AM

SeeYou190

 

 
BATMAN
Okay, so after 12 years of no accidents <SNIP> I put guards across the four-foot span.

 

.

That is an impressive record with such a dangerous looking drop.

.

-Kevin

.

 

Yep! Stupid is as stupid does.HmmLaugh

I didn't want to get the Flying Fickle Finger Of Fate award but I see I was too late.Laugh

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by Mister Mikado on Friday, August 23, 2019 11:44 AM

What about that soft ping pong table netting?  Mount a running length of it just below the track edge all around the layout.  -Rob

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, August 23, 2019 5:59 AM

BATMAN
Okay, so after 12 years of no accidents <SNIP> I put guards across the four-foot span.

.

That is an impressive record with such a dangerous looking drop.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, August 22, 2019 7:32 AM

BATMAN
Fate is fickle.

You earned this.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by BATMAN on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 5:08 PM

Okay, so after 12 years of no accidents, I could not sleep knowing my Royal Hudsons would be the ones taking the plunge if anything was to do it, so I put guards across the four-foot span and now I can sleep once again.

Before

After

  

Fate is fickle.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 4:08 PM

Eric White

 

 
rrinker
Down by a river? Down at the end, right by a corner?      What, no Yes fans here?

 

Seasons will pass you by

I get up, I get down

Eric

 

(to constantly work on something under the layout)

And Roundabout fits Canadian Canyons very well - in and around the lake, mountains come out of the sky...

Hmm, now there'd be a fantasy layout, based off of one of Roger Dean's paintings.

                                    --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 11:33 AM

carl425
superelevation can help keep stuff off the floor as well.

.

That is really a good idea.

.

Seems basic, but I never thought of it.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by carl425 on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 11:19 AM

Assuming you've got a curve so you can justify it, superelevation can help keep stuff off the floor as well.

I have the right to remain silent.  By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.

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Posted by rrebell on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 10:30 AM

3" is a pretty safe number, never had a problem with that which is what I used and I tested new track at slot car speeds (really the only reason to use those speeds for most of us unless you model Bullet trains).

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Posted by BRAKIE on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 9:06 AM

MisterBeasley

Work very diligently to have as close to perfect trackwork as possible, and have well-adjusted wheelsets, trucks and couplers.

 

 

That's  99.9%  of derailment free operation. The other .1% is human error. IMHO it's better to have some space beween the track and the edge to account for that human error.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 8:52 AM

Steering back on-topic...

If my track is near the edge, I try to create some sort of barrier to prevent trains from going over the edge, either by landscape or a wall using hardbard (yard).

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by Eric White on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 4:47 PM

rrinker
Down by a river? Down at the end, right by a corner?      What, no Yes fans here?

Seasons will pass you by

I get up, I get down

Eric

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Posted by trwroute on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 12:39 PM

Mine measures 1-1/4 inch from track center line to the edge.

Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 12:35 PM

Work very diligently to have as close to perfect trackwork as possible, and have well-adjusted wheelsets, trucks and couplers.

 

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by Medina1128 on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 12:28 PM

riogrande5761

No, then they would be "Down on the corner, out in the street... Willy and the poor boys are playin'..."

 

 
rrinker

Down by a river?

Down at the end, right by a corner?

 

 

 What, no Yes fans here?

 

                             --Randy

 

 

The lines you were quoting reminded me a bit of Creedence Clearwater Revival.

 

 

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Posted by kenben on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 11:30 AM

Big YES fan here! Iʻve seen most of the biggies in the 60ʻs 70ʻs and 80ʻs. Including the Beatles. So it appears today model RailRoaders (RR) and also Rock & Rollers (RR) as well. Maybe Iʻll name my new layout the R&R Railroad. Or the RRRR.

Thanks for the Closer to the Edge answers.

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Posted by joe323 on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 10:29 AM

Also I put two clear push pins at the end of my staging track to prevent someone from driving a train off the edge and into the abyss.

Joe Staten Island West 

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Posted by BroadwayLion on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 10:15 AM

LION has been known to run close to the edge.

 

Here the LION added more to the table for this part of the line.

click on da photo for a close up

 

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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Posted by York1 on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 10:12 AM

Completely off this topic, but when we were  kids with an old Lionel set, it didn't matter how far from the edge.

We'd crank that old locomotive up to full speed, and half the time it would hit the curve, derail and run off the table, crashing to the concrete basement floor.

No problem.  We'd pick it up, put in on the track, and off it would go.  They were built for boys like us.

York1 John       

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 10:07 AM

I still have all those recordings, on their original release vinyl..........

I like to keep track back at least 3-4", as much for appearance as for safety.

Sheldon

    

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Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 9:59 AM

riogrande5761

 

 
rrinker

Down by a river?

Down at the end, right by a corner?

 

 

 What, no Yes fans here?

 

                             --Randy

 

 

The lines you were quoting reminded me a bit of Creedence Clearwater Revival.

 

 

 I will be sure to put a small group playing instruments on a street corner somewhere on my layout. To see how many people get it. 

 Couldn't be more different than Yes, but I like Creedence too. Fogerty puts on a heck of a show, too. 

                                                --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by UNCLEBUTCH on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 9:53 AM

 Due to the fact that I don't use a track plan,I have ran into this problem a few times. Useally I just add some more surface, another plus for useing foam. I still have a few spots that are >1in <. Never had an issue, But I never run at more then half trottle, if that.

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Posted by Doughless on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 9:25 AM

My shortline based layouts have never wound through mountains or had peninsulas, which I assume would be the most likely place to need little clearence from the edge.

I like scenery between the edge and the track, so about 4 to 6 inches of space is about right for me. 

- Douglas

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 7:26 AM

rrinker

Down by a river?

Down at the end, right by a corner?

 

 

 What, no Yes fans here?

 

                             --Randy

 

The lines you were quoting reminded me a bit of Creedence Clearwater Revival.

 

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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    January 2017
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 5:50 AM

The modular guys I associate with when I have the time have the outside track centre 3” from the edge.

.

Wow, they are a brave group. I am certain I would not feel comfortable with my equipment on a modular layout that close to the edge.

.

Good job fixing the big stem locomotive.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by richhotrain on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 4:29 AM

kenben

So I canÊ»t seem to find any minimum measurement (distance) from track enter to edge of layout in HO scale. Is 3" min standard? Can 2" work with out problems? 

"You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do you, punk?" 

dirty-harry.jpg

Oh well, Dirty Harry wasn't much help, but he did ask one good question. Do you feel lucky?

I don't, so I make sure that I either have at least 3 inches from the edge or else I install some sort of edge guard.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by doctorwayne on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 1:06 AM

rrinker
Too light? Oh, a Rush fan then - well, that's my second favorite.

Nah, not them either.  Maybe more appropriate, for this thread at least, could be Dylan's "It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry" or perhaps Greta Van Fleet's "Meet on the ledge".

Wayne

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Posted by "JaBear" on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 12:17 AM
The modular guys I associate with when I have the time have the outside track centre 3” from the edge.  By coincidence, the only dive to the floor, which was caused by little sticky fingers, was taken by my 2-10-2, seen in this shot after having tested my abilities in carrying out locomotive repairs. She runs well in spite of my efforts.
 
IMG_1157 by Bear, on Flickr
 
I should also add that the modular group were regular show exhibitors.
Cheers, the Bear, (Going for the One!)Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by wvg_ca on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 12:12 AM

i suppose it's a matter of personal taste ...

in my case i leave enough room for a loco or rolling stock to lay down sideways, and still stay on the layout .. if i didn't have the room, i would use some thing like clear plexi as a guide to keep it on the table., and off the floor , it's a long way down for little parts, lol, as 'insurance' it's pretty cheap ..

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