Large Scale Central

Center to center track spacing.

Track and Trestles
#1

I stole this photo fair and square from Bob. It is from his TrainOps 2014. This shows why you should allow for a foot to be placed between tracks, in places where it is difficult or awkward to reach your rolling stock, when designing your layout. Ya just never know…

#2

Steve, in that position it looks like he would definitely not be able to stand there if that had not been a flat car in the train. You present a good point.

#3

well, the title is different than the content of this thread - so far…

i personally do not beleive in prostrating myself before my toys. so everything is on benches.
for the trains themselves, i think 160mm (6 1/2") is an adequate center to center distance.

Edit: on straights.

#4

Korm Kormsen said:

well, the title is different than the content of this thread - so far…

i personally do not beleive in prostrating myself before my toys. so everything is on benches.
for the trains themselves, i think 160mm (6 1/2") is an adequate center to center distance.

Edit: on straights.

If everything is up on a bench I’m sure that is satisfactory, for a tangent. Your problem is going to be, can you reach the equipment, to rerail, without climbing on the bench?

I have both ground level and bench work, so I am familiar with the problem.

#5

Steve , my benchwork is accessible from both sides .

I found by experience that climbing onto benchwork is not such a good idea . In fact it could even break under my weight . I made it out of lollipop sticks .

Ground level is out of the question given the embarrassing noises when I bend down . That is not the sort of sound simulation we need .

Actually , your picture makes the point admirably .

Mike Brit

#6

Korm Kormsen said:

well, the title is different than the content of this thread - so far…

i personally do not beleive in prostrating myself before my toys. so everything is on benches.
for the trains themselves, i think 160mm (6 1/2") is an adequate center to center distance.

Edit: on straights.

It’s the “drift” … in any case R1 turnouts set up as a crossover result in 6.375" c-t-c and since “everything” (from LGB) needs to clear R1 it stands to reason that the c-t-c is larger. But even the 5.875" c-t-c that Aristo has for the #6 and the “wide radius” turnouts is sufficient to run anything that Aristo et al had/have on the market.

Caveat: I do not recommend R1 S-curves without a piece of tangent track between the curves.

#7

Steve Featherkile said:

Korm Kormsen said:

well, the title is different than the content of this thread - so far…

i personally do not beleive in prostrating myself before my toys. so everything is on benches.
for the trains themselves, i think 160mm (6 1/2") is an adequate center to center distance.

Edit: on straights.

If everything is up on a bench I’m sure that is satisfactory, for a tangent. Your problem is going to be, can you reach the equipment, to rerail, without climbing on the bench?

I have both ground level and bench work, so I am familiar with the problem.

well, on my layouts 36" is the magic number.
i build in a way, that there is nearly nowhere, where i have to reach a distance of more than 36" from the side.
(and where i need more than that, i build an access hatch and duck under)

#8

That should work just fine, Korm.

#9

For those familiar with the Largescale Timesaver at York, our home and at many other shows, the spacing of the tracks is 7 1/2 inches, center to center. We move between the rolling stock quite comfortably.