I think it's called the "6' way"?

[dunnyrail]

I think it's a potential trap, unintended, but people follow the LGB "rules" and then go buy longer cars and then the cars sideswipe.

I find a track to track spacing of a bit over 9" is needed to keep the longest cars from hitting each other, but of course this is 1:29 and 80 foot cars.

I built my layout with clearances for 1:20.3 in terms of height and width... mostly large Mikados are the issue, very few long cars in narrow gauge...

On the 1:29 side, long container cars were the toughest, but I did not try the super long USA Trains auto carriers... they barely make a 10' diameter curve.

Greg

Greg sorry to be pedantic again but is your 9" from Centre of rail, outside rail, inside rail, outside of slepers or inside of sleepers looking at 2 sets of track?

 

[Greg Elmassian]

always center to center, like I stated earlier I believe, and like the real railroads do it...

 

[dunnyrail]

Aha but my memory as you know is bad!

Have to say that does apoear a bit wide, my Centre to Centre on R1/R2 curves is roughly 7.5 inches. This allows for big lumpy LGB Harz 2-102-'s and Pullman Cars. But as you say US Stock is much larger so 9 inches Centre to Centre will clearly work for your needs.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Exactly... we have things like RDC cars:

And the trucks are located away from the ends (to accomodate the doors).... they swing out quite a bit on curves... (80' length)

I think you can probably see that you could sideswipe with 2 trains passing at too narrow of track spacing.

So, many of us try to engineer the track to handle the biggest thing out there, in case someone brings it to your layout.

The idea is to give yourself room when you can, getting it later is tough.

Greg

 

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If you are alone too often,

Your hands may soften.

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