how far from the table's edge

[brubakes]

How close to the edge do you have your track to edge of your benchwork?

 

[GWT&P]

The closest on my layout is about 2". That's really a little too close, but there is no turnout close and it's a short straight section. Other places it's 3 1/2" or more. Good track work helps. That, and not running expensive locos.

 

[kenw]

rule of thumb I use is no less than 1x the height of a car/engine. 1.5x gives you some roadbed height to also fall down from.

So if your tallest car is 2", then 1x = 2", 1.5x = 3".

That means that when (not if) tipping over it stays on the deck. Less than that, a tipover means it falls directly to the floor. More than 1x means you have a bit of "sliding" margin.

Some folks use clear guard walls along the edges to add to their comfort level. It has other benefits, too.

 

[AyTrane]

I have a 57" tall bridge that has no guardrail.

 

[lmackattack]

2" due to space limitations. 3" in min for the rest of the layout.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

The 8" wide shelves that I will be building on the D&J Railroad will have most of the running track within a couple inches of the edge on several levels. Just have to be sure the trackwork is flawless and that "stuff" doesn't find its way onto the right of way.

 

[AyTrane]

What scale are you modeling? An 8" shelf is very narrow, and I would recommend something wider. My shelves are 16" wide, and I find myself limited sometimes.

 

[Rico]

I have track 2" from the edge in some spots, but there will be a fence, shrub, land form, or other obstacle to catch wayward rolling stock when (as Ken stated not if ) it decides to derail.
So far I've been lucky when running on un-scenicked areas.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

What scale are you modeling? An 8" shelf is very narrow, and I would recommend something wider. My shelves are 16" wide, and I find myself limited sometimes.

I'm running HO scale. One of the things I have noticed when I was a member in a county club, derailments mostly happened to the guys running their trains at a scale 100MPH and faster. Actually, I've never seen a proto hot express freight running over 79mph and that was in the open desert. A scale 60MPH looks like the train is just crawling along, which for a lot of folks is kinda boring.
The former D&J Railroad had great track that would hold trains in excess of 100mph even in the yards through turnouts.
The guys who wanted to run their freights like bullet trains were invited to play with the slot car tracks.

 

[NYC_George]

Nothing to stop the fall

When I added the second main to my upper deck I was forced to add the second track with 0.00 room where 5 ft high duck under is located at the entrance to the layout. It’s not so bad for me but when some of the club members bring there $300.00 locos over on club night I wonder what going through there minds as their engines negotiates this 3ft section of track.

NYC_George

 

[mdcustom]

For good scenery I would not place tracks closer then 6" to the edge in HO. In O scale where I am building I have kept the tracks at least 10" away from both the backdrop and the facia.

 

[RexHea]

I use a 2" minimum to the edge of the track ties. I have fascia or some other protection 1" above the edge to prevent any crashes to the floor. 2" can be a bit tight if you have to re-rail a car (or steamer ) in that location; 3" would be better if you have the space.