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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by cvsusn What are the differences between a single slip, double slip, single crossover, and double crossover? I'm making an N scale layout that will have a large yard. Which of the switch types would be appropriate?[/quote] Which switch you should use depends upon the location -- how much room you have, and what you are trying to accomplish. In general you should try to stick with standard turnouts/switches, and only use the more complex switches when necessary as they require more maintenance, and often will cause the most derailments. A single crossover is where you have two parallel tracks with two standard right or left hand switches connected so that a train can switch to the other track. A single crossover will only allow trains traveling in a specific direction to switch to "cross over" to the other track. Single crossovers are very common. A double crossover is basically two overlapping single crossovers which will allow a train traveling in either direction on either of the parallel tracks to "cross over" to the other track. Double crossover should be used where there is not space for two single crossovers. A double crossover consists of four switches (two right and two left) and a crossing in the center. The combination of the switches and the crossing make this a more complex track arrangement. A double slip switch is basically two overlapping wye switches where the frogs are at opposite ends of the switch. A double slip switch will allow a train entering it from any of the four routes to exit the switch from either of the two routes on the other side of the switch. For a total of four possible routes through the switch. Double slip switches are only used in yards where there is no space for two standard switches connected point to point. You geneally will not find slip switches on the mainline as they require slow speed to cross. Slip switches are common locations of derailments due to the many points and frogs it contains, but if the trains travel slow when crossing them, you should have few problems. A single slip switch is very simular to the double slip. The difference being that one of the routes through the switch is not possible as the rails are not there. So, there are only three possible routes through the switch. The same rules apply as for double slip switches. [quote]QUOTE: I expect the layout will handle transition era engines to include 4-8-8-4s (what with UP's silliness, this remains to be seen). Will a 4-8-8-4 handle #4 turnouts while making its way towards the roundhouse or is it more prototypical to use #6 turnouts?[/quote] For large locomotives such as a 4-8-8-4, you don't want to use #4 turnouts unless you wi***o have many derailments. At minimum you want #6 turnouts and perferably #8 or larger. You can use #4 turnouts anywhere you have need for a sharp turnout, and where your 4-8-8-4's will not be traveling (except for the straight route). [quote]QUOTE: My initial inclination is to use Shinohara track (code 70), however the code, while not unique, appears to be incompatible with more popular brands. Shinohara rated first due to its assortment of N scale track. For those using Shinohara, how would you rate it? Thanks. Carl [/quote] I'm in HO scale, but I believe that for N-scale, most track is code 83 which is greatly oversized. If you want realistic track in N-scale, you probably want to use as small a rail size as possible. I believe code 70 is still oversized, but it is much better looking than code 83 in N-scale. I believe code 55 is probably the preferred size for N-scale with possibly code 40 for sidings. However, I don't know if you will find very many track components in code 55 or code 40, I do know that flextrack is available in code 55 (and I think code 40 as well) for N-scale. Shinohara track is quite popular in HO scale, so I'm sure it is probably just as popular in N-scale. Dale B.
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