Carriage sidings: whats the distance between tracks?

[Dale]

Hi folks.

 

I have been giving some thought to the carriage sidings on my layout and the question of the 6 foot has come up.  According to the rather nice Ratio kit of a coach shed, the distance between tracks remains 6' (or 24mm in 4mm scale) but this seems hellishly tight for the poor cleaning crews to get in about the coaches.

 

Can any one advise me on the prototype distances found between coaching sidings (where cleaning/servicing is to be completed) and also, if different, those sidings which feature a covered area/shed to carry out the same.

 

If it makes any difference, my layout history would have the sidings originally laid by the Midland and brought into the LMS but its now 1960 so they may have been ripped up and relaid?

 

D.

[Rivercider]

Here is  a photo of Malago Vale Carriage Sidings in the west of Bristol.

cleaning and light repairs were carried out here,

https://www.flickr.com/photos/47500cdb/8411117549/in/photolist-mYtxaa-q5q7Rk-dijBSB-8hzC8n-bzcRGP-nMmGoG-duTgDi-aL4c9Z-gGVgXm-gGVhr7-7f7RJX-fNiony-dPgegz-2nqj9-bGvTrZ-orKxei-dPgcrp-dPgbd6-dPmQPq-oWK1tM-dPge1T-dPmRyb-ghG42w-gswby5-pYvpSG-nV5Ev8-egUkvT-cgWECQ-dQTQyc-efMDmd-dP3a44-bXb9Cv-dPmPnJ-dPgeHH-dRnUqt-daa5SZ-nuPVBN-adRodQ-62Mzko-d4iDqS-pzq6aB-ddfjvr-oPTqvN-oUZWYu-6ksf9P-dswuwa-dbXJis-drqhX4-8KSryu-gJmgUu

 

cheers

[Guest]

I'd hazard a guess that you'd have to add at least 50%. I recall the carriage sidings at Selhurst depot (ground level, not raised platform) had enough room to swing a bin liner and a broom around. Definitely more than running line 6ft.

 

Edit: Might be worth using the birds eye Google maps view of a location that has carriage sidings close to a running line... that should give some indication.

[Clive Mortimore]

The minimum distance between sidings is 15 ft when measuring from track centre to track centre. This is to allow a man to walk safely between two rows of wagons, coaches etc.

 

Sorry the dimensions are for 4mm modellers

[The Stationmaster]

For many years it was 9 feet then, sometime about 1930s - early '50s, it was increased to 10 feet.

[The Stationmaster]

Hi Mike was there a certain size gap between the running line and a siding?.

Yes Bob - that was also originally 9 feet but was later increased to 10 feet (says he without checking).

[45125]

Many carriage sidings did have very tight clearances, it was a nightmare trying to do anything in those tight spaces.

[TheSignalEngineer]

Yes Bob - that was also originally 9 feet but was later increased to 10 feet (says he without checking).

 

In the 1892 Requirements and 1902 amendment, the minimum distance between running lines and sidings was 6 feet.

 

By 1950 the Requirements said that except where specially approved "the clear interval between a running line and the nearest siding to be not less than 9 feet. Where wagon examination or shunting operations are likely to be regularly performed in sidings, this dimension should be increased to not less than 10 feet"

 

Sorry I haven't got any documents in between to hand.

[GordonC]

There are lots of pictures of Manchester Red Bank carriage sidings on Flickr from when they were in operation. Where the tracks curve you should be able to see the spacing relative to the coach widths

[coachmann]

If they were merely holding sidings for carriages, I am pretty sure it was a case of minimum distances between tracks......A case of cram 'em in. Carriage cleaning plants where men were expected to work was a different matter.