For clearance purposes, do the Bay Windows on cabooses make them the WIDEST piece of equipment ?
namron,
What an interesting question! I’ve never measured the width of the cars. Typically, the concerns are with the longer cars on tight curves, where the overhang of the end of the car is the limiting factor for clearances in or near curves.
Now you’ve done it. I’ll have to go measure a bunch of rolling stock for width. Actually, most of mine should fit the “C” template, of which the NMRA gauge is a close approximation.
Mark C.
Mark,
I have “Fudged” just too many times on the NMRA “C” template. for side clearance.
The widest thing I have encounted is a Centerline track cleaning car. They are so wide that they won’t go through some bridges.
Most bay window cabooses have a ‘narrow’ body, with the bay sticking out from it, Also being very short, a caboose really has little overhang at the center. Most equipment is about 10’ 4" - 11’ 0" wide. Anything else would be a ‘high/wide’ load.
Jim Bernier
Agreed. The question of width is a question of emphasis. In terms of sticking out, I would suspect any steam locomotive with a four-wheel trailing truck would have more overhang on curves.
My wedge plow with operating wings is my widest piece of equiptment.
Dave
I went out and looked last night and saw the same thing. The corners of my longer cars have MUCH tighter clearance going into a tunnel than my bay window does. Physical width, I have some covered hoppers that are wider than my bay window.
This might be a question best answered by those who work with the “REAL” stuff. It might be best asked on the Trains Mag side. It is one of those enigmas no one really thinks of except when asked. B.