I am working on designing my first layout. Can anyone give me an idea of how far apart parallel tracks should be? I'm mostly concerned with the distance between tracks on curves. I will be running s guage flyer locomotives, s helper, and some scratchbuilt rolling stock.

Thanks.

Welcome to the forum, I asked the samething too back in January and did not get any replies. Look down the page about 3/4 way under track centers....Ted

Gentlemen,

My train club (Southeastern Michigan S gaugers) display layout has track centers of 2 3/4" on the straights and up to 3 1/2" on the curves. But we're using SHS flextrack and Tomalco scale flextrack, not Flyer track. The spacing on the curves seems to leave plenty of room for anything we have run so far.

On my home Flyer layout, I have about 4 3/4" on the straights due to the limitations of Flyer switches. But I also sneaked in an extra track between the 4 3/4" centered ones just for "filler" and although close, everything seems to work fine. But this is just in the station area, not on the mainlines.

It all depends on what you are running and your track preference. For instance, the Northerns (both Flyer and American Models) have a lot of overhang, and need more room. Even the American Models GG1 needs a lot. I would suggest setting up your parallel curves just pining down the track and slowly test you longest items on the parallel tracks to see if there's any interference. Good 'ol Trial and Error (in my case, more error) ;>). Or alternately, you could set up a curve, then measure the overhang of your largest item, and apply it to your curves adding a bit more as a fudge factor. Of course, most locomotives and rolling stock have more overhang on the outside of the curve than the inside. So plan accordingly. The flextrack options on the market will give you the most latitude on planning your curves, while the old Flyer track won't, being that there's only one radius available (not counting the now-available K-Line, Flyer compatible curve track). SHS, American Models and American S gauge offer sectional track in various radii, and that is also a good way to go. They are all have the radii planned for parallel curves, and mostly work well for even the longest train components.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide! Sometimes I think that the planning is most of the fun of trains. But then, here's the assembly, running, bashing, fixing, scratch building, tweaking, kit making, kit bashing, painting, decaling, displaying, collecting and talking about them......

Jerry Poniatowski
Damp and Drizzly in Wayne, MI

Good reply. Thanks a bunch

I use American Models track and the centerline distance is three inches. Looks really good at that distance, which is dictated by using two switches to create a crossover. Wider on curves, tho, to accommodate the overhang.

Phil K

Thanks to all for your responses. Perhaps I should have added more info in my original post. I will be using gargraves trackage and my "layout" will be more of an exercise area, 6-feet by 9-feet, for my small collection of flyer locotives, including an o gauge loop for my zephyr and Marx 3/16 inch tinplate. I am very limited on space at the moment and will be constructing the layout in modular fashion so I can use the space for other necessities as the need arises. Hopefully, there will be room for addition of a few operating acessories. Thanks again, and I will share pictures upon completion.

PHM