Mainline track spacing

[NW Mailing List]

Mike, that photo might have been using a telephoto lens... the cars look 
short as does the track work.

A check of the N&W Standards Drawings book shows #15 and #20 frogs used 
on the ends of double track and crossovers with #20 being the preference.

I'd go with the #10s, but it is your railroad!   Just have fun!
Bill




On 4/20/2023 1:01 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:
> Thank you Grant!
> This certainly seems to match with the photo.  I am only building a 7 
> or 8 foot module with straight track and a siding, so no issues with 
> curves.
>
> As a side note, I purchased number #8 turnouts, assuming they would 
> use a fairly large radius for mainline track (I almost ordered #10's), 
> but they seem too large based on the picture I have from the NWHS 
> archive showing the turnouts off in the distance down the track. When 
> I placed my number eight turnouts in the same orientation, and site 
> down the model tracks it is a more gradual transition than in the 
> picture, so I ordered #6 turnouts to try.  I'll just compare them 
> both. Maybe they used a tighter radius since only pusher engines would 
> need to use them.
>
>
> Mike Rector
>
> On Thu, Apr 20, 2023 at 11:00 AM NW Mailing List 
> <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>
>     Mike,
>
>     Per N&W Standard L-334 (1928, rev. 1947), track centers are 14
>     feet or 1-15/16 inches in HO scale. Rounded to 2 inches on
>     tangents, add 9/R on curves, where R = the radius in inches. For
>     example, the track centers in a 36-inch radius curve are 2 inches
>     plus 9/36, or 2-1/4 inches. Which main is less or more than 36
>     inches doesn't matter, as long as the centers are at 2-1/4 inches.
>
>     This has been verified in testing and allows for the over/out of
>     scale slop in track, running gear, car body swing, overhang, etc.
>     The worst case sideswipe potential I can imagine is the inside
>     overhang of the Jawn Henry on the outside main versus the outside
>     overhang of the Class A boiler/smoke box on the inside main.
>
>     Grant Carpenter
>
>     On 4/17/2023 3:06 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:
>>     Does anyone have info for mainline track spacing? Is it found on
>>     track charts?
>>     From pictures, it appears to be approximately 13 feet center to
>>     center, but it's difficult to get a precise reading from this
>>     picture taken at an angle.
>>     Thanks
>>     Mike Rector
>
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