How close to the edge of the layout is your track?

My last layout had almost all the track at least a ft. away from the edge. I had one siding that was only about two inches from the edge. I was running a K-line scale Berkshire and forgot to close a switch. It went through the switch and hit the bumper at the end of the track. Off it went onto the cement floor. It took about four months for them to fix it and a lot of money. Don

Mine will be (if I ever get in gear) about 1.5" I plan to add plexiglass sides.

I have always built a wooden fence around the edge of my layouts to keep things in. THe fence consists of wooden dowels and 1/2 screen door trim. On this particular layout the upper level has a cast iron fence to keep things from flying off.

I think the plexiglass or fencing will be helpful for me.

George S posted:

I'm setting up a new temporary layout. I setup some benchwork and laid some track. However, I am ending up with track very close to the edge of the benchwork. How close to the edge is your track? What do you do when you get close to the edge?

George

Run trains and drink beer...jk

My layout is on the floor and hugs the base board.

Mine is a little over 3" end of tie to edge of table on the straight sides. Closest I have gotten so far. Grandson likes to run the layout vehicles around in that space.

Those dowel fences look nice. So does the sectional fence on top.

On one of my layouts (4'X11'), I run Fastrack to within 1/8" of the edge of the table.   This is not as close as you might think, due to the large Fastrack plastic roadbed.   Never had a train go off the edge of the layout, Fastrack is very reliable, my only derailments have been on turnouts (due to excessive speed) .

willygee posted:

George S posted:

I'm setting up a new temporary layout. I setup some benchwork and laid some track. However, I am ending up with track very close to the edge of the benchwork. How close to the edge is your track? What do you do when you get close to the edge?

George

Run trains and drink beer...jk

My layout is on the floor and hugs the base board.

Great video! Is that 2 rail O scale with MTH engines? 

Floor layouts are great. I have had several over the last few years. I'm doing this in a basement with a concrete floor and wanted to keep it off the ground. 

Mine is 1 1/2 inches from the edge with no barrier, I like to live dangerously. 

Paul

Ken-Oscale posted:

On one of my layouts (4'X11'), I run Fastrack to within 1/8" of the edge of the table.   This is not as close as you might think, due to the large Fastrack plastic roadbed.   Never had a train go off the edge of the layout, Fastrack is very reliable, my only derailments have been on turnouts (due to excessive speed) .

I did this before and knocked a piece of rolling stock off. Luckily it landed on carpet and didn't break, and lucky it wasn't an engine. I felt the risk was leaving trains parked near the edge where it could be bumped.

scale rail posted:

My last layout had almost all the track at least a ft. away from the edge. I had one siding that was only about two inches from the edge. I was running a K-line scale Berkshire and forgot to close a switch. It went through the switch and hit the bumper at the end of the track. Off it went onto the cement floor. It took about four months for them to fix it and a lot of money. Don

Yes, that is what I want to avoid. Thanks for sharing.

George S posted:

willygee posted:

George S posted:

I'm setting up a new temporary layout. I setup some benchwork and laid some track. However, I am ending up with track very close to the edge of the benchwork. How close to the edge is your track? What do you do when you get close to the edge?

George

Run trains and drink beer...jk

My layout is on the floor and hugs the base board.

Great video! Is that 2 rail O scale with MTH engines? 

Floor layouts are great. I have had several over the last few years. I'm doing this in a basement with a concrete floor and wanted to keep it off the ground. 

That's a good question, but I also like to live dangerously, therefore, my track is 1 to 2 inches from the edge, wide radius curves helps my in keeping my trains from derailing.  It's got a 1-1/2 in border board...

On another forum, a subject similar to this one came up.  One of the members extolled the virtues of keeping track away from the edges of the layout for two reasons.  One, the obvious, the Earth is flat philosophy.  The second had to do with scenic realism.  Why not have some ground along the edge of your layout that would allow for rail fans to congregate.  

Along my yard, the ties (Atlas 0 3-rail) of one track touch the edge of the layout.  They will move in slightly when I add the fascia.

It was the only way to have a third track for storage.  I will probably add a curb to the top of the fascia.

Most places around my layout the center rail is 2" from the edge. The fascia forms a lip to catch the trains if they derail.

I've got it all- track close to the edge, steep downgrade, curve. Did I miss anything????

Going to add a piece of plexiglass when the scenery is completed.

nothing has found the floor yet........

Close

John H posted:

Close

Like the carpet central in the second photo. Something to keep the kids occupied?

How close? VERY close!

Good idea? NO! But, space is at a premium. It usually is.

Had two close calls, one caused by my cat! The other, far more serious, was caused by a loose rod on a 3rd Rail 4-8-4. Nearly lost that one!

Still haven't come up with a safety guard/fence so I'll sleep better.

RSJB18 posted:

I've got it all- track close to the edge, steep downgrade, curve. Did I miss anything????

Going to add a piece of plexiglass when the scenery is completed.

nothing has found the floor yet........

Ah, but Murphy hasn't visited your layout yet.....LOL

Pretty close:

Peter

Living on the edge. Never had anything go down.

V

Vary close.

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Most places around my layout the center rail is 2" from the edge. The fascia forms a lip to catch the trains if they derail.

That's a heck of a layout you got there.

My outer loop is 3 & 1/2 inches from the edge of my 8x20 layout.  After suffering serious damage to a Lionel GP 9 which ran through a switch and crashed on the cement floor 39 inches below I installed plexiglass around the perimeter 25 years ago.  I have not lost an engine since.  Due to age and people bumping into it there are a lot of cracks here and there and I'd like to replace it with something a little more pleasing to the eye.  I particularly like the look of the cast iron fencing on the layout pictures posted by Jim Mcgehee.  

Jim McGehee posted:

I have always built a wooden fence around the edge of my layouts to keep things in. THe fence consists of wooden dowels and 1/2 screen door trim. On this particular layout the upper level has a cast iron fence to keep things from flying off.

Jim,

      Where did you find that cast iron fencing around your layout?   It looks great and I'd love to get a hold of some.

Jim McGehee posted:

I have always built a wooden fence around the edge of my layouts to keep things in. THe fence consists of wooden dowels and 1/2 screen door trim. On this particular layout the upper level has a cast iron fence to keep things from flying off.

How is the cast iron fencing held in place? It looks like it is just resting on the edge.

Does anyone bank the track in the curves? When I installed  my tube track I put wedge shaped wood blocks under the ties to provide the bank angle. Can't say if it helps or not but thought it might help change the direction of  the momentum of the train from possibly shooting  off the rails in those "Murphy" moments. No catastrophes so far.

I have my outside track about one inch from the edge of the table. I have tried using a fence or wood panel siding but one or two of my engines keep hitting it. My problem is I am limited in space for my layout so I have to stay close to the edge for more track area. Just keep the engines at a decent rate of speed and no real issues, don't do rocket sled speed or you are asking for a wreck!

Lee Fritz

jackiejr posted:

Does anyone bank the track in the curves? When I installed  my tube track I put wedge shaped wood blocks under the ties to provide the bank angle. Can't say if it helps or not but thought it might help change the direction of  the momentum of the train from possibly shooting  off the rails in those "Murphy" moments. No catastrophes so far.

I think they call those super-elevated curves. I have not tried them.

My layout is built in accordance with this track standard. The roadbed is 1" from the edge. I use the 3rd rail as my measuring datum to allow for different brands of track. For example, Lionel's Fastrack is wider than Real Trax.

It really depends on what you can realistically anticipate as to required clearance. At the club, most of the track is at least 4" away from the edge of the benchwork, save two spots -- an approach to a skewed bridge and the curved trestle.

Most of the O scale 2-rail modular groups I've seen set the outermost track 6" from the edge while most of the O gauge 3-rail modular groups seem to go with 3.5" or 4" from the edge. What really governs things is [again] clearance requirements.

I used super elevation when i was running my GG1s and EP5s under wire many years ago.  The layout I am currently building will do the same.  

I raised the outer rail almost 1/4" on the O72 curves.  On the straight sections leading up to the curves I tapered the super elevation gradually down to zero.  I never had any tracking issues and was able to run high speed throughout the layout.  

First thing that came to mind........

I am going with about 5 inches to the edge with Plexi.......

Dan Padova posted:

RSJB18 posted:

I've got it all- track close to the edge, steep downgrade, curve. Did I miss anything????

Going to add a piece of plexiglass when the scenery is completed.

nothing has found the floor yet........

Ah, but Murphy hasn't visited your layout yet.....LOL

Now you jinxed me)

DennyM posted:

That's a heck of a layout you got there.

Thanks Denny. I have a construction topic that I update on the last day of every month, called My Dream/Nightmare Layout. I also post daily progress on what What Did You Do on Your Layout Today?

My track is 3" from edge to center rail.  It'll provide enough to add something to the edge on the straights for scenic looks, and on the curve a nice show.  I thought about doing super elevation, and want to, but not sure how best to transition in and out with how I'm laying my track.  I'll have no ballast to hide the spacers in, just Atlas right on cork on green felt.