I'd like to know if Micro Engineering's Code 83 Ladder System turnouts (their #s 5a thru 5e) will allow modest main line speed passage of an Athearn Genesis MT-4 and a Walthers Proto SD9, the two largest engines in my small stable. Let's imagine a scale speed of about 40MPH for this discussion. As presently drawn up, the main line will run through the turnout portion of two of these switches. I'm not likely to go with bigger engines in the future (or cars longer than 50') because of the 24" minimum radii of the layout I'm working up. Does anyone out there have this combination of power and turnouts? Note: the rest of my turnouts will likely be Shinohara #6s. I'd like to nail this down before laying out the dollars for about 2 dozen of the ME turnouts.
Obliged,
John
The closure rail radius in a $5 is 36", exceeding your 24" mainline curves. So anything that negotiates the main line should be able to negotiate the #5 ladder - but why would it? It's not typical foor a road engine to run all over the yard, usually the train is brought in, road power disconnected, and a smaller switch engine handles classifying the cars. When ready to go, the made up train is pulled by the switch engine to the departure track, where the road power couples on. In and out of the yard with #6's, then the yard ladders made with the #5's.
But it shouldn't be a problem either way.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker The closure rail radius in a $5 is 36", exceeding your 24" mainline curves. So anything that negotiates the main line should be able to negotiate the #5 ladder - but why would it? It's not typical foor a road engine to run all over the yard, usually the train is brought in, road power disconnected, and a smaller switch engine handles classifying the cars. When ready to go, the made up train is pulled by the switch engine to the departure track, where the road power couples on. In and out of the yard with #6's, then the yard ladders made with the #5's. But it shouldn't be a problem either way. --Randy
Thanks, Randy. The major yard is functionally the one found on the Red Rock Northern and one circuit of the main line runs along one edge of it. Even though I'm a little tight, I think I could offset the yard by three or four inches to the right and run the main alongside the left riser of the ladder. I'll redraw it and see how it looks.
The ME #5 turnouts #5b, #5c, #5d, and #5e are not standard #5 turnouts. The diverging track is curved with a radius of 22.1" according to ME's information sheet (except for #5c which has no diverging track - ends with the frog). The closure radius is 22.9"
The #5a is a standard #5 and appears to follow the NMRA RP12. The closure radius is 22.9" (NMRA RP12 for HO #5 straight turnout is for 23.198").
Paul
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Thomas