169 N Scale Track Spacing - Drawn Full Sized on the Benchwork - A Track for Running

[@dexterdog62]

I didn’t know you were going back to building an N scale layout!

[@FarlandHowe]

Hi Dexterdog, I just want to be able to run my n scale collection of trains is all. I won’t be building scenery or anything. It will just be 3 loops of track and someday some sidings. Thank you so much, Rob

[@cbgadget4740]

Nice to see ya back into n scale again Can’t wait to see as you progress to another awesome layout Cary 😊😎

[@FarlandHowe]

Hi Cary, I’ve been thinking this through for several months now. This time, I just want to be able to run trains. I wanted something small and compact but with enough length to allow the trains to have a little breathing space. The layout needed to be able to be stored on it’s side against the wall with my two cabinets in front of it. That was I would still have good access to the train storage shelves. I hope it all works out. Thank you so much, Rob

[@GrahamFoulston]

That was a fascinating video to watch you work it all out and the reasons why too, actually it was a bit of a relief to see you doing it that way because that’s exactly how I did the second version of Lakeside and no collisions, I should have done this on the first layout but it’s all a learning curve. It looks great and nice and simple which is all you need for just running your N gauge stock. Excellent video my friend and very informative too. Cheers for now mate. …………Graham

[@FarlandHowe]

Graham, This is exactly the way I started designing Farland. The Farland track plan didn’t lend itself to drawing out full scale prior to laying track so I used a grid to find points along the track and the constructed the benchwork so it would intersect the track points. It was fun drafting at full scale for this simple layout. My drafting tools were limited at that scale but the concepts were the same. I think perhaps less technical people we’re probably bored with it, but hey…. I was relieved when I put the n scale track pad down and everything fit as expected. Today I am laying track. I hope to get a loop running soon. Thank you my friend, cheers for now, Rob

[@GrahamFoulston]

@@FarlandHowe Wow, that is very quick to get some track down and some stock running - I hope you do a video of the first run! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@FarlandHowe]

@@GrahamFoulston Most certainly. No doubt next week for the video. I have a short video of laying the track pad coming out on Thursday, so I’ll wait till next week for a running vid. Thank again, Graham. Cheers

[@GrahamFoulston]

@@FarlandHowe Look forward to it my friend. 👍🏻

[@mgamga9476]

All I wanted to know is, how far apart do they measure? You measured it over and over again but never said how far apart the track is. So. How far apart is your track?

[@FarlandHowe]

1 1/4 inches is what I settled on. That does not mean it would work in all cases, it just means it works for the longest widest cars that I own. It is not inconceivable that someone could own a car with longer overhangs. I don't like to use the rules of thumb. I would rather delve into the subject so I understand it myself if I can. Thank you so much, Rob

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi Rob, great to see the N scale back out again, looks a nice set up to just run your trains around, will you be able to resist doing a bit of scenery🤔😁 Cheers for now, apologies, I’ve missed a couple of your videos again, not sure how, anyhow Happy New Year to you and your family Rob, John

[@FarlandHowe]

Hi John, So good to hear from you. Resisting a little scenery will be tough. I keep thinking about what I could do, but anything I do in that area will complicate storage that I have planned. The way I have done this up to now is so that I can stand the layout up against the wall behine the rolling storage units. If I add scenery, it will complicate doing that. My last n scale layout really made getting around the train room difficult and I am hoping to eliminate that problem with this arrangement. Happy New Year to you and yours too. Cheers for now and thank you so much, Rob

[@dexterdog62]

The NMRA website has a page of recommended curve spacing data for N scale. I would go with a 1 1/4 separation between tracks on curves. So if your innermost track is a 13 inch radius then just mark a 14 and a quarter inch mark in your trammel. Done. No tedious experimentation required.

[@FarlandHowe]

Dexterdog, All true, but I like to do my own thinking. For my worst case longest car I have allowed .25” between them if they were to run on separate tracks at the same time (Which they won't) and I wouldn't expect to see a collision. All other rolling stock will have more leeway. If it happens it will be relatively easy to move the track. Everyone's collection is different and skill levels to lay track are different. I woud expect the NMRA to allow for the extreme worst case scenario on all counts. Thanks again, Rob

[@mgamga9476]

Funny. I was just eyeballing my track. I'm doing a double curve. It seemed to be good at 1 1/4. Than I read this comment that says. NMRA website says 1 1/4. Now I feel better.

[@FarlandHowe]

@@mgamga9476 The thing is, everyone's rolling stock is different. Some folks with all short earlier 30 or 40-foot modeled cars might get by with 3/4 inch. This is why I have always built my layouts by taking the longest car I own into consideration or the one with the widest overhangs anyway. One size rarely fits all and it does not hurt to understand why the clearance is needed. Thank you very much, Rob

[@davebnsfnscale4433]

Add 1.25 inches to each radius to be safe

[@FarlandHowe]

Thank you, It actually works perfectly as drawn. Here is a clip of it with a train running. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmqxpIlvYpmKjsUsi=pH-9LkSpQD2cOEdV

[@David-jm8wt]

Use mm it’s easier.

[@FarlandHowe]

I spent 15 years as a draftsman so switching between metric and imperial is no problem for me at all. Thank you, Rob