double crossover, buy it or build it

[TurboOne]

I have all the track for my new layout except for a double crossover. I borrowed the track plan from N scale, but I'm going to do it in HO. I have heard the prebuilt ones have some problems, but its been from fairly new train folks. I assume #6 switches and a crossover if I build it, but wanted to know for sure, and what about the wiring?

Thanks

Tim

[dehusman]

Are you asking about a double track crossing (2 N-S tracks crossing 2 E-W tracks) or a double crossover (two parallel tracks with 4 switches in two crossovers) or are you talking about a scissors crossover (where you overlap two crossovers so you have 4 switches and crossing)?

99.99% of the time a double crossover on the prototype is a pair of crossovers end to end, so the whole thing is 4 switches long.

Dave H.

[TurboOne]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

Are you asking about a double track crossing (2 N-S tracks crossing 2 E-W tracks) or a double crossover (two parallel tracks with 4 switches in two crossovers) or are you talking about a scissors crossover (where you overlap two crossovers so you have 4 switches and crossing)?

99.99% of the time a double crossover on the prototype is a pair of crossovers end to end, so the whole thing is 4 switches long.

Dave H.

Dave
I am assuming 4 switches overlapping cross, scissors type. N scale has it, and Walthers has it in HO. It looks to me like 4 switches with a 45 or so crossing in the middle. I hoping that it takes up less room then two seperate crossovers with straight track in between. I assume #6 switches but not sure of which switch, and which degree of crossing. KATO makes it in N.

Tim

[NZRMac]

I'm building a cross over but didn't like the X in the middle so mine is two pairs end to end (4 turnouts long)
Two lefts and two rights.
Ken.

[cacole]

Peco turnouts and crossovers are engineered to an exact match for this purpose. I used four Peco medium insulfrog turnouts and a Peco 24 degree crossover. The diverging track on Peco turnouts forms a 12 degree angle, so their 24 degree crossover allows two left-hand and two right-hand turnouts to fit together perfectly.

[TurboOne]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

Peco turnouts and crossovers are engineered to an exact match for this purpose. I used four Peco medium insulfrog turnouts and a Peco 24 degree crossover. The diverging track on Peco turnouts forms a 12 degree angle, so their 24 degree crossover allows two left-hand and two right-hand turnouts to fit together perfectly.

Charles, thanks, I will check out their website. Were the turnouts #6 or #4? Also did you use any small sections of track between the turnout and crossover ? How did you wire the turnouts for sycronization ?

Tim

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TurboOne

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

Peco turnouts and crossovers are engineered to an exact match for this purpose. I used four Peco medium insulfrog turnouts and a Peco 24 degree crossover. The diverging track on Peco turnouts forms a 12 degree angle, so their 24 degree crossover allows two left-hand and two right-hand turnouts to fit together perfectly.

Charles, thanks, I will check out their website. Were the turnouts #6 or #4? Also did you use any small sections of track between the turnout and crossover ? How did you wire the turnouts for sycronization ?

Tim

You shouldn't need any small pieces of track connecting the diamond. Adding length there moves the 2 main lines farther apart. Usually the goal is to keep the mains as close together as possible. It is more likely that you will want to trim the ends of the diamond to make the tracks fit closer.

All you need to do is have each pair of switches wired to one controller, 2 controllers total. There are ways to operate this arrangement with just 2 motors, but it is much easier to use 4 motors and 2 controllers. Both lefts together, and both rights together.

[BR60103]

Tim:
if you make the crossover with Peco track (the code 100 or code 70), all the frog angles are 12 degrees (!) so you can choose any of them. I would go with the medium ones. Use the "short crossing".
Note that putting the crossing between the turnouts spaces them farther apart than a single crossover. The N scale scissors has the rails cut back so that the crossing overlaps the turnouts.

[TurboOne]

Thaks Big Boy and David, this layout with this switch is starting to take shape. I really like Randys surround layout and I still want to run mutilevel track. This crossover saves me space and will let me elevate a track in the back. Thanks.

Tim