Track width

When laying 00 track side by side,what is the distance between the sleepers for this scale. Thanks for any help.

Reply to
Paul
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Incorrect question, since sleeper lengths vary. Correct question: hwat is the center - to - center spacing (which maty be measured as right raikl to riaght rial spacing, which is easier.)

Answer:

a) use the prototype's measurements, reduced to your scale. NB that minimum spacing will be under 2" in OO for most protoypes.

Or:

b) use spacing that experience has shown will work.

2" is a widely used minimum, eg, on straight track. The spacing is widened on curves, the rule being that the sharper the curve, the wider the spacing; and the longer the rolling stock, the wider the spacing. Some reasonable figures - use the higher figure if you run long carriages and long wheelbase steame locos (assuming they will actually go round the curves):

18" radius or less: 2-1/2" or more

24" radius: 2-3/8 to 2-1/2"

30" radius: 2-1/4 to 2-3/8"

36" radius: 2-1/8 to 2-1/4"

60" radius and up: 2" to 2-1/8"

If space is very tight, experiment.

NB that railways often restricted rolling stock to safe radii, or had opertaing rules that minimised the chance of cars sideswiping each other, etc. You could do that too. You could have a rule, "When a train is in McDuff's curve, no opposing train may pass on the other track," for example.

HTH&HF

Reply to
Wolf Kirchmeir

"Paul" wrote

If you put two Peco Streamline point of the same hand together to create a crossover, this will give you the notionally correct spacing between two running tracks, but be aware that in reality the 'six foot' varies and can be significantly different in freight yards and sidings.

John.

Reply to
John Turner

Whatever you can get away with. I use 2in. centre to centre, or 7/8in. between sleeper ends. You may need more on curves, depending on the overhang of your rolling stock.

Reply to
MartinS

minimum spacing will be under 2" in OO for most protoypes.

You cannot scale down prototype measurements because in model form, we use curves which are far sharper and consequently, must have centre-to-centres wider apart to prevent side swiping or collisions with overhangs.

is in McDuff's curve, no opposing train may pass on the other track," for example.

I am not aware that such layouts are permissible on passenger carrying railways in the UK. Applied to a model layout, it would make the layout incredibly inflexible and 'toy like' to operate. Better to fix the problem (track spacing) than the symptoms (coliding trains).

Graham Plowman MROL Magazine

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Reply to
gppsoftware

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