Parallel track spacing for Peco code 55

[Jacob Z]

Apologies for reviving a much visited topic... I've read as much as I can find, and as so often, it seems that there are as many opinions as there are modelers (or perhaps more).

Anyway, I am laying out for the first time parallel straight tracks, specifically an arrival/departure track for my proposed freight yard. And I have seen so much conflicting advice on the minimum spacing, including...

- 33mm is widely suggested, or 1.3"
- Prototypical scale (transitional era) is 14' to 15', 1.05" to 1.125" (1&1/8")
- NMRA bare minimum is 1&1/16, or 1.0625 (slightly more than a proto 14')
- My Peco 6' way gauge is also 1&1/16, it looks like
- "just put two turnouts back to back and you'll get the right spacing". For Peco code 55 that looks like it would be 1&1/16", at least using Medium (395/396) turnouts, and it would avoid the need for short straight pieces between the turnouts, which would be nice.

So... I might be talking myself into going with the "back to back" default and just looking for a little reassurance.

(Just as an aside, I don't need to worry about curves. I don't have any parallel curves that are closer than 3" to each other.)

Thoughts, anybody?

 

[Rico]

I’d go with turnout spacing, as you mentioned probably the simplest.
Try laying it out temporarily and see how you like it, unless you need to get your fingers between the cars it should be fine.
I think the spacing will be different with #4, #5, #6 etc. or short, medium, long etc. turnouts so that may be an option if you want to go that route.

Yeah you’re right about all the opinions out there, yikes!

 

[Jacob Z]

I’d go with turnout spacing, as you mentioned probably the simplest.
Try laying it out temporarily and see how you like it, unless you need to get your fingers between the cars it should be fine.
I think the spacing will be different with #4, #5, #6 etc. or short, medium, long etc. turnouts so that may be an option if you want to go that route.

Yeah you’re right about all the opinions out there, yikes!

Thanks. I'm going to print out some templates from the Peco website and lay those out to see how it looks and fits.

I should have mentioned, getting fingers in there is not a problem for me. I have the smallest hands you have ever seen on an adult man. Nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands.

(And yes, it's true what they say about men with small hands. We do have a hard time finding gloves that fit.)

 

[Rico]

LOL I have big hands so right there with ya bud!
I’ve never been concerned about getting my fingers between cars for a derailment, the prototype just moves adjacent cars to get at things too.
I was going to suggest the templates, you’re a step ahead!