I am about to order Walthers 2308 street lights. I’m not sure how many I will need because I do not know the amount of spacing between each one. I have a main road going into town and 2 short cross streets that dead end into tracks. ( actually the road will cross over in a future expansion.)
Thanks
John
John -
I see that this is post #1 for you. Welcome to the forum.
How many street lights? The city I grew up in had two or three street lights per block. The city where I’m living now has a street light every two blocks or so. I don’t think there is a standard to follow. In general, commercial areas will have more lighting than residential areas.
It is your town that you are building. Choose what looks good to you, and fits within your funding. If you don’t like the results, you can always add or subtract lights later.
This is one of the neat things about this hobby - a layout is a world that you build and control, shaped by your life, personality, and prefrances.
Just make it look good and you will be fine. Actual street light spacing is dependent on height of pole, mast arm length, bulb and reflector types and most importantly how much a city wants to spend on lighting.
We are going to see big changes in street lighting as more LED lights are used and then even more changes when Plasma lighting hits the strees.
I wonder how Plasma lighting will change the model train industry.
John [#welcome] to the forum. The guys and gals here are mainly “O” people. If I’m not mistaken, the Walthers 2308 lights are “HO”. (Just want to make sure they are the correct size for your layout.)
That being said…Before you order, I would place ‘dummy’ markers along the street and take a look at the aesthetics. It is your world. So, if it looks good, it is right. If your object is to actually illuminate the street, you may have to add a light or two later. As far as the “rule-of-thumb”, I don’t think there is one. It all depends on the type of street and the desired effect.
On the street where I live, there are three lights per block. On my layout, which is a mix between Scale and Traditional accessories, I have two per block.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Thanks Traindaddy,
Unfortunatley due to space constraints, I have O-27 runnig around HO scenery. Now I know this sounds bad but I do manage to keep everything in perspective. My sons, now 21 & 24 never complained that the Lionel Gateman could eat our Kentucky Fried buliding. Of couse he sits on the other side of the tracks gaurding the Industrial park so his size never comes into question with our small city. My old train board had these wooden light poles from dept 56. They stood about 5 1/2 inches tall which seemd a perfect fit. However they have worn out and I cannot find them any more. We completed a new board this year and I would like to try these teardrop lights from Walthers, but you bring up a good point. Anything under 5 inches tall would not look good. I am trying to get the dimesnions on these lights, they only size everyone mentions on thier sites is HO. An acutal size would be helpful.
John
John Here’s a thought. Try a post on the Model Railroaders Forum. Ask the specific question about the actual dimensions. Someone there should have those lights on their layout and I am sure that they will be only too glad to measure them for you.