Track spacings query

[Deltech-1200248]

For a 4-track (2-up-2-down) area, if the "6-foot" is achieved simply by using 2 x standard (or express) points, which track piece(s) should I insert between the points to achieve the "10-foot", proportional(ish) to the "6-foot" achieved above?

I'm looking at it on AnyRail (demo), using an R610 1" straight, and also using 2 x R610 1" straights, and I can't decide which looks "more right".

Thanks.

[RDS]

Can anyone help Deltech with this question.

(I personally don't know what is meant by 6-foot or 10-foot)

David

[Gordonvale]

Six foot

Etymology

From the nominal distance of six feet between two adjacent railway lines in Great Britain.

Noun

six foot (uncountable)

(rail transport, colloquial) the area between the closest rails of two parallel standard gauge railway lines, regardless of the actual distance. 

Two standard points give a track centre separation of 2.625". It's too early for me to work out "the 2 two closest rails" measurement, but it's more than the 6 foot proportion. To get a bespoke separation you're going to have to use a cut-to-length straight.

[LCDR]

You will have a problem in trying to reconcile the real world with the model world.

For one thing the interval on a model railway between a pair of tracks known colloquially as "the six foot" is 67 mm between track centres or 50.5 mm between adjacent running edges. This is enforced by the use of points to make a crossover.

The recommended minimum spacing between tracks on a real railway is 11 foot 4 inches centre to centre or 6 foot 5.5 inches running edge to running edge.

Now 67 mm centre to centre is nearly 17 scale feet, or 50.5 mm running edge to running edge is 12 scale feet, both considerably exceeding the distance normally found in real life.

The "Ten Foot" is a variable distance but is by convention provided where there are four (or more) parallel tracks to ensure there is a safe place in the middle for track workers when a train approaches. As a general rule personnel need to be in a place of safety when a train is approaching, and at one time this was defined as 4 foot 6 inches from the rails where speeds did not exceed 100 mph, and 6 feet where this was exceeded. Men caught unawares where these distances were not achievable were told to lie down. The ten foot really needed to be at least ten feet, or more where speeds exceeded 100 mph.

On a model railway the insertion of a short straight piece between the points joining the middle two of a four track section ought to give sufficient differentiation to give the illusion of a 'wide way' between the parallel pair.

[LCDR]

You may find the attached diagram of interest.

[Gordonvale]

Dug out my Peco 6ft Way Gauge SL-36.

Top bit is spacing for standard 2&5/8 track centres, bottom bit is spacing for 6ft separation of rails of adjacent tracks.

6ft spacing between inner edges of adjacent near rails is 1&5/16".

Therefore 10ft spacing is 2&3/16".