Clearance Dilemma

Here's something simple that would improve clearance.

There is a short aqua straight track section (looks like about 6 inches in length) at the lower end of your aqua S-curve that leads onto the bridge. Remove that aqua section to move the entire aqua S-curve downwards in your diagram and insert that same straight aqua section at the top of the aqua S-curve. Similarly, on the yellow S-curve, remove the short yellow straight track section at the top of your diagram and put it at the bottom of the yellow S-curve leading onto the bridge. Those changes will move the two S-curves further apart and will increase the clearance. Lay the tracks and check the actual clearance with locomotives and cars before you finalize the track locations.

MELGAR

Thanks, I’ll try that.

You want to get away from sharp curves close to the straight track.  Maybe something like this. Don't know how much room you have, but the broader the curve the better.

Dave, you've helped so many with your SCARM skills, I'm not sure that I have anything to add.  The only thing that I can think of is some kind of reverse easement with flex-track, where the curve radius starts at O72, but gets really broad (i.e., almost tangent) as the tracks gradually blend together until they get within 5" of each other.  Scale articulateds are demanding beasts.  Good luck, please post back and let us know what you came up with!

Ron, thanks. That’s pretty much the way I had it, but this is the area I’m worried about with a large engine meeting another from the opposite direction. This isn’t for me, so I guess he’ll just have to set it to see.

Dave,

I;m not sure what track system you are using, but since the bridge is 40" with 4.5" spacing I used AtlasO track.

After the first curve it's 5.45" and after the second curve section it is 6" for the rest of the way.  You can extend the diagonal section to get tho the width.  You cab reduce the parallel curve section diameter equally (must maintain the 4.5" radii difference) on either or both ends.  The reduction does not have to be the same.

You can increase the straight track coming off the bridge equally if you have clearance problems.

Jan