My track plan is fairly simple, an around the walls double track mainline. The corner curves have radii of 36' and 38'. I created cardboard templates to layout the curve and insure proper radius. I had one corner that has been a constant source of problems and frustrations since I first layed it out about 20 years ago. The curves of the double tracks both divide to enter the four track passenger station. The outside curve has been no problem since I used a straight #8 turnout at the end of the curve. On the inside curve, I initially used a Walthers/Shinora #8 curved right hand turnout. I'm going from memory but as I recall, the radii for that turnout were supposed to be 32' and 36'. That fit perfectly in the middle of the 36' radius inside corner curve I had laid out.
While it fit perfectly, it did not perform perfectly. I was having constant derailments with that turnout. I tried tweaking it but had no success. Whan Atlas came out with their #8 curved turnout, I decided to replace the Walthers turnout. While that seemed to fix most of the problems, I still had problems with my full length passenger cars, particularly the Walthers Budd cars, when trying to send them on the inside route of the curved turnout. I finally had to give up trying to get those cars to take the inside route of the turnout which put a real crimp in my operations as it limited which tracks I could use in my staging yard which is just beyond the passenger station.
After installing some smaller radii Peco curved turnouts on my short line, I decided to take a flyer on a Peco #7 curved turnout. I discovered that it actually has broader curves than the Atlas #8. I was able to rescue the Atlas #8 by carefully prying it free of the glued ballast. I discovered using my ribbonrail gauges that the inside curve of the turnout has about a 30' radius and I'm going to put it to use on my shortline which runs much shorter equipment.
As for the Peco #7, I experimented with different positions and finally decided to move it from the middle of the curve to the far end of it. Since it has broader curves than the turnout it replaced, it means I have a broader radius at the far end of the curve but tighter than 36' at the apex of the curve. What this has done is create a transition curve and the tightest part of the curve is now on a single track section in the middle of the curve rather as part of the turnout. My ribbonrail gauge tells me the tightest part of the curve is about 30' radius now. I have run tests with some of my most problematic passenger cars and so far they have passed with flying colors. I haven't had the chance to test all of my equipment, including my large steamers but I am optimistic this is going to work out. It will greatly streamline operations if I can send any train I want to whichever track I want without regard to whether they can handle the curves.
Hi John,
Congratulations on finally solving your problem! We used Peco large curved turnouts at my old club and they performed flawlessly.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!