While I'm building benchwork, I do have a plan. The track plan isn't "detailed" to the Nth degree. I am trying to keep a minimum distance of 5" from the edge of the layout to the center of the first track. This does not include the staging yard which will be 3" to the center with the Masonite fascia extending up 1/2" as a "lip". Just curious as to what others do with respect to track distance from the edge/aisles? Thanks...
To keep my shelf layout narrow, I have been experimenting with 2" from the front edge to the start of the ballast for the track. I've gone narrower but under 2" makes me nervous about something falling and going kersplat.
Even several inches may not be enough, should the undesired actually happen. If it is a really worrisome place, anything from plexiglass, to some sort of scenery may be needed.
Except for when it doesn't work, my personal rule has been the track needs to be at least 3" from the edge. For safe measure, I always have a raised edge; minimum of 1" higher than track. I have used anything from a hill or building to Plexiglas to protect the edge.
My railroad is a shelf railroad sixteen inches deep. It goes around all four walls of a room thirteen feet square. The mainline is either close to te centre of the shelf or close to the walls. I have a yard and industrial park. In these placed the track is about a inch from the edge of the railroad. I have excellent trackwork and my rolling stock is built to standards. I have almost no derailments.
With a thread like this there will always be someone who marches to a bit of a different drummer. Nearest horizontal surface below the loco is about 42 inches. Never lost one yet. Jim
I've had track as close as 2 inches to the abyss, but I've put up something as a roughly 2-in high fence - higher fascia, embankment, craft foam stapled to the front, etc. If rolling stock jumps over that, I figured it's more determined than I am.
What ever floats your boat (or RR barge ).. It's not carved in stone (or plaster). Do what your instinct tells you. It's all about real estate that you absolutely must have for your RR, versus safest distance in from edge (or ledge ) of bench. Obviously the wider the better. No ?....
