How far apart should I place my tracks for a double track mainline?
Thanks,
Jarrell
Assuming you are asking about HO, straight runs can be 2 inches center to center. If you want to operate 85 foot passenger cars around curves less than 36", 3 inches center to center spacing should be your minimum. Smaller cars or rolling stock may require only a 2-1/2" spacing.
Jarrell,
The crucial thing is how long your longest locomotive or rolling stock car will be and how tight your curves are. The tighter the curve, the more you have to increase the CTC spacing between tracks to accommodate for swing out. On straight track it isn’t quite aa crucial.
Leon has given you a good scale, although I would only put 2" CTC spacing in a yard. 2-3/8" to 2-1/2" on the mainline straight portions would be my comfort level. The NMRA site (http://www.nmra.org) would give you more specifics on this topic. With that said, even before nailing or gluing anything down permantly, it’s still wise to set up a “test track” to test out your CTC spacing, using your longest cars - just to be sure! [:)]
Tom
Here the specific page on the NMRA’s site http://www.nmra.org/standards/s-8.html centers on curves vary depending on radius and equipment. While setting up a test is a good idea, you also want to allow for future purchases as well. Unless your space is tight, I would use the biggest figure for the radius curve you have.
Enjoy
Paul
On my small layout, which is a dogbone style, the only place I’ll use the doubletrack is on the ‘narrow’ part. The single line will go through the tunnel on one end…
and then into the doubletrack…
I’ll lose the runaround track you see in the above photo and the tunout will have to be moved closer to left. The mainline will then come out of the tunnel, skirt the turnout and THEN move over closer to the other line. Would this be about the only way I could do it? I hate losing the runaround track but I think, as was suggested here in an earlier post, that it would look better and be easier to scenick with the mainlines closer.
Right now I’m working on the incline shown in the back, trying to get it right also.
Thanks,
Jarrell
Here are a few ideas i got form looking at the pics just my .02 i wont get hurt if you dont like them
#1 if you want a runaround that bad when you move the main put the runround on the top side of the main unlike it is now at the bottem
i have been reading you posts and know your haveing trouble carveing the foam how about this
#2 were you have you 2% inclines crumpal up old news paper and plaster cloth it for your hills i did this on my last layout (unless its suposd to be a rockcut than it wont work )
#3 were your loging kamp is you could make a small hill with a log flum going up and stoping off the the layout to give the idea that logging is going on up hill.
but also run it past the kamp down the hill and into a pond next to the mill. and just use the train to deliver people and supplys to the kamp. you could buld a bridge to carry the flum over the tracks for the loging kamp
(sorry about any miss spelling not my strong point)
I appreciate the advice, guys. Hey, the log flume might be an interesting feature when I get to that stage… thanks.
I’ve started moving the track, the ‘upper’ track, over and I think I’ll put it about 3 inches away. Doing this brings things to a halt while I readjust things like turnouts etc. I really do need to start at square one with the track, replace the sectional track as much as I can etc.
Again, thanks for the suggestions!
Jarrell
Jarrell
The pictures look good. At least you’re laying track, I’ve just got the walls up for my trainroom. Now that warm weather has arrived I’m outside more and the trains will have to wait. I’ve got a 1967 Plymouth that I show. Too many hobbies not enough time. Keep up the good work.
Wayne
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