Large Scale Central

Dimensionally Challenged part XVII: Street trackage

Track and Trestles
#1

Does anyone know whether there is (was) some kind of standard on how wide a street has to be to run a trolley track down it, and whether that changes if actual trains are involved? I’ve seen examples with the track in the center, and at one side, but it’s not clear whether there’s always enough room for traffic to continue in both directions with a train there.

Here, for example, there’s enough room for parking on both sides of the street, and traffic on either side of the train: http://youtu.be/gn47JnrS2QQ

Whereas the south shore looks like maybe not … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhEniGBeZU0&feature=share&list=PL624DFD2C8E68AD36

If you were going to try to model this situation accurately, would you need a full lane in each direction PLUS the space for the rail?

Matthew (OV)

#2

I think you’re on your own here. I’ve seen streets with three lanes in each direction (36 feet or so) with a double track rail line down the center.

I’ve also seen a two lane street with no parking and a line down one side or in the center. If you look for street trams in Portugal, you’ll see they put tracks down 1.2 lane streets that were at least 500 years older than the trams.

#3

it may also depend on the time you are modeling. Roads have progressivley gotten wider as traffic has increased. I’d do what ever I had room for.

#4

Well, that’s useful … I guess as long as both directions of road traffic have someplace to get out of the way it’s legit…

#5

Unless you make the street one way!

#6

Dick Friedman said:
Unless you make the street one way!

Not a bad idea, that … and additionally, since nobody could get back by car, it’d boost revenue for the train …

#7

Matthew (OV) said:

Dick Friedman said:
Unless you make the street one way!

Not a bad idea, that … and additionally, since nobody could get back by car, it’d boost revenue for the train …

Then you also have need for an industry at the end of the road - A an auto scrap yard / car crusher that ships by rail.

#8

Do these pictures help?

(http://seattlesubblog.qstation.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/01-BNSF-2874-W-Renton-WA-4-18-11-150x150.jpg)

(http://seattlesubblog.qstation.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/02-BNSF-Rocket-Renton-WA-4-18-11-150x150.jpg)

http://rrpicturearchives.net/pictures\5665\050703-17-34-57.jpg

http://rrpicturearchives.net/pictures\29747\Milw%20E%2047%20Renton.jpg

Edit: now how come the last two pictures don’t show up?

Here’s the link

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1059155

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=153029

#9

He asked about trams. Take a look at this picture, and others in the city of Porto, Portugal img[img]

The sidewalks are wider than the roadway! There’s lots of these kinds of tram lines, especially in old cities of Europe.

#10

This all helps a great deal. I remember when I was a motorman that the “Naragansett” car (1850) was so narrow because of the narrow Rhode Island streets it originally ran on … I just wonder where opposing road traffic is supposed to go when a train approaches …

#11

1904 in Puerto Rici. Posted on Shorpy yesterday.

#12

Matthew (OV) said:
This all helps a great deal. I remember when I was a motorman that the “Naragansett” car (1850) was so narrow because of the narrow Rhode Island streets it originally ran on … I just wonder where opposing road traffic is supposed to go when a train approaches …

They run