track spacing..two stall engine house

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I’m laying track in a yard and planing a two stall engine house. Is there a standard spacing between track in a yard, more so the track going into an engine house?

2

If you will be using a kit for the engine house, I’d suggest buying it first and doing the measurements between the door openings. For what it’s worth, I’ve got a Model Power engine house. The center-to-center spacing of the two front doors is 2 1/2 inches. It’s the only engine house I’ve got, so that’s the only number I can give you.

3

Interesting topic. By all means measure everything twice, and write it down, before you lay the track. I learned this by laying down a set of diesel service slabs for 19 foot centers. The engine house I later bought had doors at 20 foot centers…Grrrr.! But, I did learn!!! John Colley, Port Townsend, WA

4

Hi!

I took two of the 2 stall kits and kitbashed them to make a double long one. The track centers are 2 1/2 inches and clearances are fine.

Mobilman44

5

Oh, I remember the reason I went with 19 ft centers, I was doing the service tracks first, and had gotten a 3 post-2 tank sanding tower kit cheap at a show, that had pre-drilled post holes at 19 ft centers.Half a year went by before I could get an engine house. Long ago and far away, eh? John Colley, Port Townsend, WA

6

I fully agree with the suggestion that you not make any permanent arrangements until you actually have the model selected. The spacing of the track is strictly determined by the design of the building. Voice of experience here…[banghead]

7

I think its pretty much standard 2 1/2" for most rail buildings. Mine is 2 1/2" on my 3 bay that I have.

But to make sure I would buy the building first before laying any track for it.

8

Yep. Get the building before laying the track. I hand laid all my turntable tracks, using a base profile for the two stall building from a brochure, which was in error. Result, tracks too wide for the doors. So I tore up one track inside the building, and made a curve in it to go inside, and used different tie spacing and look on that track inside. Outside, I made the ground at the curve look like at one time the track had gone straight, but was changed when the company constructed a new building and narrowed it to conserve costs. Works ok, and is kind of neat… but would have wished I’d got it right the first time.

Have fun modeling, Hal