How much distance should I have between the tracks running side my side? Is 1.5" enough or what. I'm not really sure. I'm planning on running coal, grain, and double-stack intermodal container trains on my layout as well as the usual boxcar traffic. Locomotives will be primarily modern CP Rail stuff... SD-40-2, SD-90 and the like. How much space between tracks? D6
1.5" should be quite sufficient. I'm going on 1.3" track centers (distance between two Atlas Standard Custom-Line turnouts on a crossover). If you do the math, you will figure out that your track centers (at 1.5") are a scale 20 feet apart (1.5/12 * 160). Mine are 17'4" apart. Most railroads today have track centers somewhere around 16 feet or so, give or take a few feet. Keep in mind that yard tracks can be closer (mine are 1.125" apart), and also tighter radius curves (my tightest mailine is 19.5") may need more space. ------------------ Corey Lynch Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society, NEB&W RR http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W
What era to do you model? For almost a century, the standard distance between tracks per AAR standards was 13 feet from centerline to centerline. UP is now using 20 foot centers for new construction however, which permits off-track maintenance of way equipment to be left between tracks.
From his post, he is modeling modern era CP rail (says he's running intermodal, SD40-2s, SD90MACs). And yes, UP is the first to start widening its track centers, not only for equipment storage, but so that a derailment may only block one track. Most Class 1s today (including CP) have at least a 16 foot centers in double-track areas. ------------------ Corey Lynch Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society, NEB&W RR http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W
Ok, what about EXTRA LONG equipment, like 89' autoracks? Will that scale 16' be sufficient? Is that on center, BTW? Center of tie to center of tie, or between the tie inside edges?
Hello Hemi . . . Welcome to Trainboard, and to the N scale forum I have to say that I am not very technical when it comes to track spacing. I just put down one track, curve some more flex track to match, put a long locomotive and long car on the tracks, and move the free track until the clearance looks ok, and far enough apart to stand no chance of fouling, no matter what equipment I run.
Hemi, Welcome to Trainboard! Now to answer your questions. Yes, you measure the distance between two tracks on their centerlines, midway between the two rails (usually where the hole is for a spike is almost dead on). Also, 16' will be sufficient at a large enough radius (real RRs have no problems!). If you have tigter radii (tighter than 16" I would say), then I suggest you check the clearance like Alan does.
Don't forget to check the spacing outside the rails for clearance with telephone poles, crossing gates and the such. I thought I was fine till I started running a GG-1 and a 2-8-8-2 Mallet. The pilots are long and like to swing out on tight curves, plus the Mallet cylinders stick out further which made them clip tunnel entrances and crossing gates. ....Eddie
Thanks guys, for the welcome. I Think I will try that. Anyone know where I can get CC's old autoracks? I don't wanna pay 20 bucks a pop for 'em, if at all possible. Ebay is not a place to go, unfortunately. They all fetch high bids, like the new Kato's..
Well, other than eBay, I picked up a couple at a train show for 14 bucks, but they are very hard to find. It always makes me mad when I see an Ntrack layout at the show that has 40 of these cars on it and I have 5. Your best bet is really eBay, sorry to say.
Welcome Hemi, Alan and the others are correct advising you on track centers. You will have no problems running if you do check for all clearences while laying track. Also in your yards, leave enough room to slip your fingers down between adjacent cars so you can pick one up, or re-rail it without knocking others over. If it can derail, IT WILL sometime when you least expect it. Scale and Prototype is all well and good, but you wont notice the slightly wider spacing, and the ease of "repairs" will be rewarding. Enjoy.
