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Distance between parallel tracks

raising4daughtersraising4daughtersOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Are there any rules/guidelines for an appropriate distance between tracks running side by side. I lost a lot of space for my layout and am now relegated to a 4' X 12' rectangular space with an adjacent 2' X 10' connected at 90-degrees to form an L. The 2' X 10' will be my yard.

For the 4x12, I'm not plannining anything creative. I'd actually like to do 3 concentric ovals....42" curves, 34", and 27" curve (I'm using O27 tubular track). I run all semi-scale stuff, and all are rated for 31" or 27" curves.

It all fits on RR Track in theory but don't know if it'll work in reality.

I attached a BMP file with most of the action-packed layout. If someone knows how to make it a pdf, please let me know.

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J JanOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
The problem is not with parallel tracks but with the curves. The tighter the curve the greater the spacing needs to be because of engine, passenger car, and long freight car overhang in the curves and the lead-in to the curves.

Most track systems (Atlas, Lionel and MTH) plan for this and over curves in the appropriate radii. Atlas offers 27", 36", 45", 54", 63", 72", 81", 90", 99", and 108" diameter curves which gives 4.5" spacings between tracks, both parallel and in curves.

As long as you pick the smaller, O-27-size, cars and engines you'll be okay. Just don't run out and buy the Lionmaster reduced size engines without checking the minimum radius.

Jan.
iakobosiakobosOGR Forum Member
Based on my experiences with designing O-27 in RR Tracks I see one area of concern. The top left switch that leads from the outer loop to the yard is probably too close to the curve of the first inner loop. Nose over from your engines is very likely to hit the solenoid housing.

Also, at the top of the layout is that open space or against a wall?
raising4daughtersraising4daughtersOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Thanks iakobos, good points all.

There is a wall against the back of the layout but I'm not strictly limited to 4' depth. I chose 4' because that would be easiest with standard 4x8 plywood sheets. I could go 4.5' with more wood, but would prefer not to.

I'll move around the switch in the upper left.

The reverse loop had me concerned, too. That might have to go.

The other unstated problem is that my O27 switches are old PW 1121's with a larger footprint than the 1122's that are available in RR Track. I'm going to have to make some adjustments in the inner loop's yard.
iakobosiakobosOGR Forum Member
quote:
Originally posted by raising4daughters:

There is a wall against the back of the layout but I'm not strictly limited to 4' depth.
You may be OK. I think you'll need a minimum of 1 1/2" from the wall to the outside rail closest to the wall. When you start laying track I'd advise to start there and double check your engines coming off the curves for clearance.
quote:
The reverse loop had me concerned, too. That might have to go.
I'd say leave the reverse loop but both switches that make the S coming off it should probably go. However, you could add an additional right hand switch next to the one in the top center and then another on the bottom left to let you reverse in either direction. See what you think in the attachment.

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RussellRussellOGR Forum Member

corp5382;

Again, it really depends on what you want to run.

Scale Steam engines and 72' passenger cars are among the worst combinations.

A scale Big Boy has insane boiler swing out on O-72 and can't even take O-54 curves much less O-42.

Adding a few inches of straight on the outer loop sides before starting the curve helps avoid the issue of close curves.

 

I suggest you get a curve of each size, set them up side by side and test by hand with your longest units. one on inner curve, one on outer, then swap them. If you have over 1/4" gap at the closest point I'd expect you are OK.

corvetttecorvettteOGR Forum Member

I just got off the phone with Dean at Lionel.  I posed the question to him about distances between straight parallel tracks.

 

My question to him was more towards leaning to "will I have a signal interference between two tracks running parallel that are different blocks".

 

His answer was, "if you run your tracks 3 to 4 inches (outer track to outer track) apart, you will have no problem with a signal interference".

 

We also talked about me, using my widest item that will be running on the tracks and leaving as little room as p

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