Size/length/etc

[Phil.]

I wonder if someone could assist me. The lad next door has decided to start railway modelling on a serious sale. He knows that I'm somewhat of a rail expert but I only know about playing with trains at 1:1 gauge. I'm helping him plan a layout which will include a few features and what I'd like to know is this......
On an 00 gauge piece of track, what is the distance from where a crossover from one line to a parallel line starts and finishes? This distance will assist me in planning his little layout - which over the years may well become a bigger layout.

 

[DaleCooper]

It depends on the radius of the points being used and the track spacing, have a look a the PECO website.

http://www.peco-uk.com/

or see: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=95242

 

[Diplodicus]

You can download pdf documents of the main OO points etc that are 1:1 and stick them on your baseboard. Alternatively by cheap wallpaper backing paper and use that as your trial baseboard for track layout planning.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

It really does depend on what track you use as to what lengths you would get.

There is some track planning software on the web, and some of it is free. Anyrail, for example, has a free trial version that allows upto 50 pieces of track at a time (of many gauges and manufacturers) and can export pictures, in a jpeg format, that can be 'stitched' together in MS Paint.

 

[DaleCooper]

I forgot to mention AnyRail, it's very easy to use and includes track from most, if not all, major manufacturers.

Here's a screenshot using PECO Streamline OO gauge track:

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Be aware that a lot of modern models won't go around 1st radius curves (and I suspect that some will struggle with 2nd radius curves).

For any curves remember to check the overhang at the ends (outside of the curve) and the overhang in the middle (inside of the curve) of the longest item of rolling stock

 

[Phil.]

OK, got all of that. Thanks are due to you all for the replies.