Distance between tracks in HO - Model Railroader Magazine

BRAKIE

I always like to stay prototypical.

 Here's my 1 1/2" yard center.

1-1/2" ? Are you sure? NMRA S-8 sugests 1-13/16" as a minimum. Most prototype railroads consider 13' to be minium. In HO 13' = 1.793" = 1-25/32" +/- , only 1/32 less than the NMRA S-8. recommmendation.

1-1/2" would be 10'-10-1/2", pretty tight for equipment that is allowed to be 10'-8" wide.

Based on your photo that looks more like 2". Are you measuring center to center?

Personally 2" everywhere for all paralel trackage, straight curves, yards, mainlines. But I do have large curves to its not an issue there. Most paralel track commercial products are designed for 2' centers. I use Atlas track which is also designed to give 2" centers for crossovers and yard leads.

Sheldon