I would like to create a couple of dirt roads on my layout. What should be the approximate width of a two lane country road in O gauge?
Bob
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Do you mean dirt or gravel? A dirt road would usually be only one lane. A state maintained gravel road would be the same as a paved road with 8 foot lanes.
I think that’s going to be subjective to the county road commissioner in office and his ability to do his job; or in most cases – lack of. Lol. Around here they are slightly less than the maximum width of the tires on your vehicle with ruts that are just a tad deeper than your tires can handle. Don’t forget to add in some washed out ditches, mud holes that are the size of small ponds, and a few tree branches low enough to take the head off a turtle.
1/4 inch on layout = 1 footin real life in O Scale, so for an 8 foot wide 1 lane dirt road you would need 2 inches wide on your layout. For 10 feet, 2 1/2 inches on the layout, for 12 feet, 3 inches on the layout.
Depends slso if public tertiary or private driveway or simply a cut for logging etc. After that its about how much room you have, and making it look like it fits proportionally for the scene you are doing. The color and characteristics of road will be dependent on the area you model
dirt-gravel
roads
Bill D
dirt-gravel
roads
Bill D
Thank you all for your help. This sure is a great place to get help!
Bob
Bob
quote:Originally posted by bobbycakes:
Thank you all for your help. This sure is a great place to complicate things!
Bob
Fixed it! LOL!
How wide would depend on the era (year) and the use of the road.
Paved rural two lane highways and roads in the early-mid 1950s (and earlier) were around 24-26 ft wide. City streets (paved) would have been 26ft from curb to curb.
Lesser paved highways, especially in more rural settings would have been 20-24 ft.
Dirt or gravel roads, as already suggested, would often depend on the ability of the local elected official responsible for road construction and maintenance.
A typical road intended for motor vehicle traffic that had frequent two way "meetings" (regardless of the size of the individual vehicles) was designed at least 20 ft wide (to accommodate two 8 ft wide dump trucks or freight trucks, not just sedans and pick up trucks).
Lesser traveled one lane roads would likely have been 10-12 ft wide dirt (or partial gravel) roads. Some "private" roads would have been a marginal 8 ft wide...roads to logging or coal operations or a farmer's barn or even the homestead. The oil lease roads on our place were just ruts with a little gravel tossed in the mud holes.
Paved rural two lane highways and roads in the early-mid 1950s (and earlier) were around 24-26 ft wide. City streets (paved) would have been 26ft from curb to curb.
Lesser paved highways, especially in more rural settings would have been 20-24 ft.
Dirt or gravel roads, as already suggested, would often depend on the ability of the local elected official responsible for road construction and maintenance.
A typical road intended for motor vehicle traffic that had frequent two way "meetings" (regardless of the size of the individual vehicles) was designed at least 20 ft wide (to accommodate two 8 ft wide dump trucks or freight trucks, not just sedans and pick up trucks).
Lesser traveled one lane roads would likely have been 10-12 ft wide dirt (or partial gravel) roads. Some "private" roads would have been a marginal 8 ft wide...roads to logging or coal operations or a farmer's barn or even the homestead. The oil lease roads on our place were just ruts with a little gravel tossed in the mud holes.
Measure the width of the vehicles you will put on the dirt road, add 1/4" clearance for each side, and that's what you expect for a single lane country dirt road. Obviously times 2 for a double lane. Also use your vehicles to determine the spacing and width of wheel ruts.
