Track Spacing on a 2-Track Car Float

The 4" center to center spacing would be about right. The inside approach rails on the transfer bridge were about 6'  apart. The transfer bridges served both two and three track car floats. 

The attached photo shows what happens when unloading a car float as the weight moves off the float and onto the transfer bridge. The loco, while on the inside end of the transfer bridge is on reasonably level track, could have used an additional idler or 'reach' car to pull off these last loads. 

Crew members watch carefully for any possible derailment at the landing joint between the car float and transfer bridge, undergoing much stress.

S. Islander

Ed, the closer the better. If you want to see some real car floats,  look up "Harlem Transfer" . This is part of  a huge site dedicated to New York harbor railroads, including track plans, warehouses and industries, motive power and rolling stock. Also has a large area dedicated to different float bridges and car floats. Most of the floats are 3 track but a couple of them are 2 track. 

I operated a float service for many years on my railroad before I changed to a Steel mill I can't find my measurements for the floats the first one was small the second larger (about 14 cars) so the photos you see here are only for ideas or interest.The white object was an elevator then I went to a transverse table much easier I have somewhere a picture of the last float loaded with cars but can't find it sorry. Many changes but we had a lot of fun.

And our floats were always unloaded correctly even though it meant a number of moves we never had a car into the water!

Thanks to all who contributed.  I decided on 4" o.c. so my fingers can get between the cars.

Regards,

Ed

(Pierre) Leroof here.

Ed, I will look for a photo of my former rail  float spacing, hopefully find it and download to share with you.

Hey NEV, thanks for the memories! 

Oh Ed, mine like NEV's was three tracks deep. 

I  did not model a two track float. Sorry.

I don't know if this would help any:  http://members.trainweb.com/be...ttransferbridge.html

Bill N,

What a treasure trove of information!

Thank you,

Ed