Track Spacing

[mark.hinds]

You will probably have to compromise between scale spacing and "practical" spacing.  All spacings below are center-to-center.

My current layout uses John Armstrong's recommendations from one of his track planning books (which in retrospect were overscale).  So I currently have 1 1/4" mainline tangent, 1/3/8" mainline curves, and 1/1/8" yard. 

What with all the recent discussion about using closer-to-scale track etc., I am no longer happy with this, and instead should have used the spacings from MR's 1979 N-scale Clinchfield layout (Gordon Odegard), which were 1 1/8" mainline tangent and 1 1/16" yard. 

My prototype (1950s SP) used 14' centerline spacing between mainline tangent tracks.  In N-scale that is approximately 1 1/16". 

If I were to do things over (as I am currently considering doing), taking all the above into consideration, I would use 1 1/8 mainline tangent, 1 1/4 mainline curve, and leave the yard at 1 1/4 as the overscale spacing is less noticeable when viewed from the side.  I have tested these spacings with real track and with my worst-case equipment, and they work.  This practical testing is important!!!

[Mike Madonna]

You will probably have to compromise between scale spacing and "practical" spacing.  All spacings below are center-to-center.

My current layout uses John Armstrong's recommendations from one of his track planning books (which in retrospect were overscale).  So I currently have 1 1/4" mainline tangent, 1/3/8" mainline curves, and 1/1/8" yard. 

What with all the recent discussion about using closer-to-scale track etc., I am no longer happy with this, and instead should have used the spacings from MR's 1979 N-scale Clinchfield layout (Gordon Odegard), which were 1 1/8" mainline tangent and 1 1/16" yard. 

My prototype (1950s SP) used 14' centerline spacing between mainline tangent tracks.  In N-scale that is approximately 1 1/16". 

If I were to do things over (as I am currently considering doing), taking all the above into consideration, I would use 1 1/8 mainline tangent, 1 1/4 mainline curve, and leave the yard at 1 1/4 as the overscale spacing is less noticeable when viewed from the side.  I have tested these spacings with real track and with my worst-case equipment, and they work.  This practical testing is important!!!

Mark,

Good information and good to know!

[Maletrain]

I ran across this photo of a photo on eBay that shows some pretty wide track spacing in a B&O freight yard.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/374188970964?hash=item571f6693d4:g:j2wAAOSwsRdi3uez

Another "prototype for everything" entry.

[randgust]

Always tight on the PRR, to fit multiple tracks - 13'.

http://prr.railfan.net/standards/standards.cgi?plan=58831--&sortby=4

I think I've even seen it as tight as 12'6".

There's a section of ex-PRR north of Conway with all four tracks still on the main, on 13' centers.

Current construction standards are generally 15', with 25' between tracks if it's a main line to passenger track, streetcar, etc.  It's basically for safety, you have to clear a person on the ground between tracks.

Basically, northeast roads built earlier have a lot tighter track spacing on multi-track mains, and if you have Google Earth, you can snap down tools and actually measure it for yourself.