S Scale Layout Design Guidelines

texasdon Feb 17, 2004

  1. texasdon

    texasdon E-Mail Bounces

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    I am preparing to design a small S Scale layout for a spare bedroom in my home. I intend to use a space about 12'x14' with four axle diesels and 40-50' cars. Can anyone provide guidelines for things like center to center clearance on parallel tracks, minimum curve radius, minimum overhead clearance, etc? Thanks.
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Don-

    I'm very interested in anything that surfaces here. I have a space of about 10' by 14'. Plus may be able to expand into a closet area to gain a little more. Also wondering about a double deck. Or is the space too small?

    :D

    Boxcab E50
     
  3. rsn48

    rsn48 TrainBoard Member

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    The specks are in Armstrongs Track Planning For Realistic Operations.

    Inner track center spacings, 24 is 3 1/4; 36 is 3 1/8; 42 is 2 7/8; tangent is 2 3/4.

    Helix (there are more measurements than I am quoting):

    for 2 % grade, 30 inch curve at 4" seperation which is minimum S scale.

    4 3/4 seperation between grades is recommended.
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Am sure glad you mentioned this book. I'd forgotten I had a copy. After quickly tearing the house apart, it's been located!

    :D

    Boxcab E50
     
  5. texasdon

    texasdon E-Mail Bounces

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    Like Boxcab, I forgot that I have Armstrongs book in my files. I even know where it is. I want to avoid the complexities of a helix, but I think that using the length of a curve for elevation changes, I can get the 5" separation with reasonable grades for some sort of glorified over and under figure 8 arrangement, mostly to provide some longer running time.
     

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