typical coach rake lengths

sparky230

sparky230

Registered
Country flag
Working out platform lengths and Block working lengths for my layout,
All stock is either 4 wheel coaches and stainz locos, or 4 wheel freight and stainz locos and the odd lil hugger.
What would be a typical length that would look right i'm guessing 5 coaches or freight

suggestions?
 
What looks right is simple, it would be the length of your typical train with nothing hanging over the edge! but it also depends on the length of your area for the station to be in if your railway is a 20ft oval then a 6ft platform is going to look a bit oversize?
 
i've got about 12 foot for the station area which needs to a 4 road layout, well 4 platforms into 2 running loops, all on auto matic control ie 1 train comes in parks, one on next platform goes out.

main track loops are about 100 ft long
 
:thinking: I suppose it depends on how many people you imagine will be travelling between A & B !
 
minimans said:
What looks right is simple, it would be the length of your typical train with nothing hanging over the edge! but it also depends on the length of your area for the station to be in if your railway is a 20ft oval then a 6ft platform is going to look a bit oversize?
Click to expand...

wot he said..:)
 
No help from the prototypes, I'm afraid: Austrian ng lines do (and did) run pretty well any length of four wheelers (I've been on the Zillertal on a train of 20+ 4-wheelers, admittedly with a couple of 0-6-2s on the front). The Stainz original locos worked the Mondsee-St Lorenz branch and I can't find pictures of any very long trains there - five coaches including some sort of van* would be about right - most of the time a bizarre dmu was sufficient. Basically, you can get away with whatever takes your fancy and will fit the loops (and whatever your Stainz can take up any hills that you may have).

GH

* Never forget to have a (luggage) van or even two!
 
I would love to say that the length of my stations' platforms match the trains that run through them but as I run a triple headed loco with 6 car streamliner Zephry or Amtrak at times, this would mean a platform of about 25 ft!.
But when I run 'narrow gauge' short trains then it looks fine.

Here is a couple of shots to show the 'inadequate' platform length

This is an old picture as there are now three lines passing the station and the car park beside the station has been redeveloped and now has a diner but it shows the problem of platform length!
248680b769024a10b5b15977175931f2.jpg


A bit precarious for the waiting passengers!!
dbbcd59d35e841b4a494fb412959c943.jpg
 
well since you have 12 ft, then youll need to fit the train to the staion siding
less about proper length of trains (fwiw it seems, since im interested in this typcial length thing too, i often see austrian trains of about 5-6 coachs, similarly in switzerland, just an average-these are always longer than i might run , since my identical model coach purchases run in 2s and 3s for the most part)

and more about what you can feasibly fit -like most of us
as with the commandment to always use broader curves if you can
id make you platforms and sidings as long as you can, obviously provided you have the room

i might suggest a lap siding(s) , which might allow longer-than-siding trains to pass
 
stevedenver said:
id make you platforms and sidings as long as you can, obviously provided you have the room
Click to expand...
I'd echo that. Always a good idea to plan for the future and go for the longest loops, platforms and sidings you can. Chances are you will gradually accumulate more stock and before long what you have decided now will seem inadequate.

Rik
 
If your looking to automate the loops remember to allow a bit of length for dead sections or detection points and then the required clearances beyond these sections.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top