Reply to "Track&Coupler Questions"

John,

Thank you very much for the photos & input. I don't have that kind of room,I don't think,as last year I roughly drew some lines on the concrete floor to see where certain radii would come to where. Using my 22&3/4" shelf for 2mainlines & 3 yard tracks,double ended at each end,a 54" radius pretty much takes me over to the shelves on the opposite side of my basement which are also 30" wide,but with the upright 2'x4's holding the shelves, it cuts the usable track space down to 22"-22&3/4." That's from the inside of the 2'x4's. What makes for more trouble is the fact I have to dodge the 2'x4's spaced mostly 30" apart,so when cutting in a #5 switch it makes it really tough to get a certain radius track between that 30" opening. I have a 25'x50' basement with the shelving all around,4 tiers high for storing mostly my wife's "things," (we can't call it "junk),from which I plan on using the 2nd tier for trains,which runs around 37" high from the floor up. I have sump pump holes,water equipment,a staircase,furnace and a few other complications thrown in the mix,so things are complicated in planning here. (They're beginning to sound impossible). Maybe I could limit my cars to 72' maximum? 62' is more practical,because with finances as they are,realistically,I think the 60+ bulkhead flats will be my biggest cars always.

I cut my yard track spacing down to 3"+,which is fine,I just have to watch the clearance where two tracks get close to a switch just like the prototype. The 3 double ended tracks,actually branch out to 5 tracks as the planning is going now,as I start adding my tracks back once I get past the end switches. It gives about 7ft more yardage which when running with a 40'-48' space gets pretty neat in size. I'm not sure how to add them here,but I need to snap some shots so you fellas can see what I'm planning as well as obstacles I'm up against.

Thanks again to all.

Al Hummel