I am designing my layout in OO and whilst I know the length of the platforms I want I have no idea the minumum width a platform should be a - can anyone give me basic minimum widths and clearances to use on a Southern late 50's layout?
How wide is a platform
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Its the same old answer, 'How long is a piece of string?'
I went with a usual modellers rule, 'if it looks right, it is right' and thats good enough for me.
The biggest factor I used to judge with was how much space have I got, and how much can I fill with station before it looks wrong. I have 3ft of scenic space and have used all but about 8'' at the back (pictures can be viewed in the gallary on Milldale of what they looked like before I put the top surfaces on)
Brian
I went with a usual modellers rule, 'if it looks right, it is right' and thats good enough for me.
The biggest factor I used to judge with was how much space have I got, and how much can I fill with station before it looks wrong. I have 3ft of scenic space and have used all but about 8'' at the back (pictures can be viewed in the gallary on Milldale of what they looked like before I put the top surfaces on)
Brian
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I agree with the idea that it must look right rather than be perfectly accurate. Remember that any model platform is probably going to be much shorter than the real thing so if it is made the 'right' width it looks far too fat for the length. I agree that 50mm is a good minimum but only for a one-sided platform and for this you could go even a little lower. For a double-sided platform I think that about 70mm should be the minimum except possibly very near the ends. Try to make the platforms a bit wider in the middle unless you want them perfectly straight.
Cheers, Robert.
Cheers, Robert.
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This old thread in December 2006 turned up some useful information and resources - Civil engineering measurements
David
David
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The simple answer to the queery is as follows:-
Before nationalisation (and in the early years of BR) the minimum width of a platform had to be 6 feet from platform edge to the front of any building or fence.
As an example, using this rule a double platform with a seven foot wide building in the middle would have to be a scale 19 feet wide.
Even GWR halts were a minimum of six to seven feet wide to comply with this rule.
Using this formula only gives minimum widths, as in reality the vast majority of platforms were wider than the minimum.
I have no doubt that whatever maximum width I suggest here, someone will be able to come up with an example of wider!
Therefore for maximum go with the rule "if it looks right, it is right" and you'll not have a problem.
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Before nationalisation (and in the early years of BR) the minimum width of a platform had to be 6 feet from platform edge to the front of any building or fence.
As an example, using this rule a double platform with a seven foot wide building in the middle would have to be a scale 19 feet wide.
Even GWR halts were a minimum of six to seven feet wide to comply with this rule.
Using this formula only gives minimum widths, as in reality the vast majority of platforms were wider than the minimum.
I have no doubt that whatever maximum width I suggest here, someone will be able to come up with an example of wider!
Therefore for maximum go with the rule "if it looks right, it is right" and you'll not have a problem.
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QUOTE (Al @ 25 Jan 2008, 17:16) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Current prototype minimun width is 5 and 7 metres.
That might be an ideal for a new platform but it certainly isn't the rule on existing ones. A lot were built in the 1800's and early 1900's so didn't have modern mobility an access rulings. 3 metres or 10ft or more is about the minimum for older builds.
That might be an ideal for a new platform but it certainly isn't the rule on existing ones. A lot were built in the 1800's and early 1900's so didn't have modern mobility an access rulings. 3 metres or 10ft or more is about the minimum for older builds.
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