Platform height and clearance

[Frankie Roberto]

Hi all,

I've set up a oval of double track, and have recently been planning a revamped station. I wondered whether people have any guidance for platform heights and clearance.

Given that my double track has 8 studs between the tracks (which is the standard suggested by the points and double crossover pieces), I built an island platform that was was 8 studs wide (ie runs right up to the edge of the sleepers), and 3 bricks high (which seems to match the height of a standard Lego train plate on top of the standard bogies).

This works pretty well for most of the trains I've built before... but the Emerald Night crashes the platform, mainly due to the coupling rods.

So... do I rebuild the platform as 6-wide, and have passengers "mind the gap"? Or compromise on 7-studs (in the hope that I have enough jumper plates)?

Alternatively, I could not bother with the island platform, and have a platform on either side of the double track, with a bridge to cross over both tracks.

Any suggestions?

[ZueriHB]

If you run an Emerald Night, and you said you do, keep a gap of 1 stud between sleepers and platform, so the Minifigs have to mind the gap.

If you wan't a wider platform than 6, and are using PF, you could widen the gap between the rails with some flexible train track.

With 6 flex-pieces at either end, you can widen the gap to 12 studs and get a platform of up to 10 studs wide. The straight track pieces align with a 8 stud difference.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Checkout LegoSjaaks flicker or brickshelf... I can't remember exactly which one he's on on. He has a nice set of picks with a multi rail train station.

[cimddwc]

For my upcoming layout, I've recently been thinking about such things too... current plan is to have three tracks with close platforms (on the edge of the sleepers, between 2 and 3 bricks high) – i.e. station with platform, 2 tracks, island platform (with bridge), track – and then a fourth track with ground-level space instead of a platform for the Emerald Night. Kinda like making the directive: "modern trains must be narrow; vintage train fans and tourists must live with less comfortable entrances on such vintage rides".

But that's not necessarily my final decision...

[LegoSjaak]

Checkout LegoSjaaks flicker or brickshelf... I can't remember exactly which one he's on on. He has a nice set of picks with a multi rail train station.

Thank you Leg Godt Gud for remembering me. Here is my link to my station on Flickr!

Greetz, LegoSjaak

[Frankie Roberto]

Thank you Leg Godt Gud for remembering me. Here is my link to my station on Flickr!

So, from your photos, looks like you build platforms to a height of 2 bricks, 2 plates, and a clearance of 2 brick from the tracks, making for 6-stud-wide island platforms?

I may see if I can get away with the Emerald Night pulling into a platform with a 1 1/2 brick clearance (ie a 7-stud island platform), as that'll give the waiting figs a bit more room. I'll report back how it goes.