Track spacing

[jmurphy148]

Just a quickie question.
In an N-scale layout what is the recommended minimum track center line to track center line spacing for parallel tracks?

Appreciate any help,
John

 

[roch]

I would guesse that it would depend upon clearance of 2 trains passing safely upon a curve in the layout. Don't quote me on that.

roch

 

[jmurphy148]

I did find a reference in Westcott's book that specifies 1" for straight track and broad curves.

John

 

[alcuin]

I don't know what's recommended, but the parallel tracks on mine are spaced 1 5/16" apart. If the tracks are on cork roadbed, that's about as close together as they can be.

 

[rogerw]

check this out
S-6 Interurban Clearance and Track Centers

 

[ozzman]

If there are medium to sharp curves watch out for the overhang of long cars and locos.

 

[MasonJar]

John,

Roger has provided the definitive answer - it's a link to the NMRA Recommended Practices... Most of the model railroad equipment produced these days conforms to these standards and RP's.

Andrew

 

[rogerw]

Here is one that might help also. Check what class of train you will be running on top of page and go to the radius you will be using.
S-8 Track Centers

 

[Triplex]

I did find a reference in Westcott's book that specifies 1" for straight track and broad curves.

Westcott halved HO values for N. Since N is about 5/9 of HO, his values won't work. 1" is just over 13' in scale - a common prototype spacing for straight tracks, though nowadays railroads generally do it wider. Modellers, especially in the smaller scales, often can't space tracks as closely as the real thing.

 

[TrainNut]

I had a similar question.... check out the first 8 posts in this thread...
http://forum.zealot.com/t113425/#post384814 for more comments dealing with this topic.