Scale Autorack height?

Well, when you're building the tunnels, why not make them so they have sufficient clearance for any of the so called "scale" cars, then you'll certainly be covered.

Here's the dimensions of a real modern bi-level Auto Rack.

BNSF Railway BI-LEVEL AUTO RACK

Looks like the real prototype Auto Rack is 19 feet tall from the rails, that equates to 4.75" high in 1:48 scale.  Gargraves track on a 1/4" roadbed is 3/4" tall, so that puts a true scale Auto Rack at 5.5" total height above the surface.  I'd probably use 6" as my minimum tunnel clearance.

I was overthinking it - 6" would work for sure. I have these stack cars (tallest thing I own) but I don't think they are quite scale (Railking). Totally using Gargraves track on cork roadbed so your numbers are accurate.

And yes that is a hole in the wall. lol

Sounds about right.

The autorack heights from different manufacturers differ.

So make the clearance as high as you can. I use between 7 to 9 inches from top of track.

I use 6 inches minimum vertical clearance on everything. I had a N5 cabin car chimney and antenna hit the under side of an overpass.

@Rollsington posted:

Hello - I saw a couple of threads for Lionel auto racks. How about a scale auto rack? I do not own but would like to one day have some of the Atlas models.

The Lionel autoracks are the same height as the new Atlas multi-max autoracks.  However, the Atlas well cars with two 53' high cube containers are almost a centimeter taller than the autoracks.

The MTH tunnel portals are to low, I had to raise my portals and they may not clear scale autoracks.

The autorack in the picture is from MTH scale.  If a car will not fit I use the 2nd main that does not have a tunnel.

MTH Premier Autoracks ride abnormally high.

I saw them running on a layout at a Train Show and they seemed unusual. I later found out from the MTH website that even though MTH calls them a “Scale Freight Car” they are listed as measuring 20 1/8" long and 5 1/16" high.

Typical scale autoracks should measure close to 23 1/2” long and 4 3/4” high, in O-Scale.
That could explain why they seemed unusual to me as MTH autoracks are shorter, in length and taller, in height, compared to a scale autorack.

I am guessing that they use the same 3-rail, roller-bearing trucks, as the rest of the Premier freight cars, while real autoracks run on smaller, wheels (maybe 28”) that gives them the low-rider look.

These are just my opinion,

Naveen Rajan

@Rollsington posted:

Hello - I saw a couple of threads for Lionel auto racks. How about a scale auto rack? I do not own but would like to one day have some of the Atlas models. I am building a tunnel portal and want the height to be just right.

Please and thank you!

Lionel Auto Carriers are very close to scale. I have converted a few to 2-rail, using Atlas, 70-ton trucks. The following photos show Atlas, Multi-Max Auto Carrier, on the left next to the Lionel, Auto Rack.

The following photos were taken a few months ago at an Amtrak, station. I was standing a few feet, away from a passing unit train, of over 100 auto racks. Assuming the station, platform height was 8" above the Top Of Rail, notice how close to the rail, the bottom of these cars were. MTH's own artwork shows their Premier car, sitting much higher.

These are just my opinion,

Naveen Rajan

A typical auto rack today is 19 feet high, which is 4 3/4” high in O scale. There may be a few special cars higher than this, but not in common auto rack service. There are bi level cars, which run on 70 ton trucks with 33” wheels, and tri level cars, which run on 55 ton trucks with 28” wheels. The Tri level racks are built on flush deck cars where the coupler draft gear sits on top of the  flat car deck. There is a ramp to get the autos over the end sill and down on to the A deck.  The B deck is hinges for about 10 feet at both of the car to give the cars to room to get onto the A deck.  The first and last cars onto the A deck sit on the ramp and the hinge deck comes down filling the space above the hood and trunk.  With the hinge deck down, it is straight shot through the B deck. The C deck is rigid and straight all the way through. A Tri level car can load 15 to 18 cars up to 65” tall.  A bi level can load 10 to 12 vehicles up to about 90” tall. Both the A and B decks are ridged and straight through on the bi level.