Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
If the geeps switch the yard and the six axle stuff and the passenger cars stay out of the yard, then #4s can be used.
If you plan on parking your big stuff in the yard on a regular basis, you might think #6s. You could probably get away with #5s.
As to the original question, I'd think you'd be fine with #5's in the yard. Speeds are low and you don't have any super long wheelbase loco's to contend with. I'd go #5's in the yard, a pair of #7's from the main to the A/D track, and either #7's or, if you have the room, #10's out on the main. (The #10's look awesome!)
SpaceMouse wrote: If the geeps switch the yard and the six axle stuff and the passenger cars stay out of the yard, then #4s can be used. If you plan on parking your big stuff in the yard on a regular basis, you might think #6s. You could probably get away with #5s.
Hey Chip, the Atlas code 55 N scale line only has #5's, #7's and #10's to pick from.
would an alco pa or an sd 60 be too big for no. 5's. everything else is f units and gp 40's thanks
Thats getting up there, but at yard speeds you should be fine. You could buy one #5 and slap some flex on it and try if you already have the loco.
I only run steam so thats why I suggested to try it, but my 4-8-4 Northern will go through a #5 at yard speeds no problem, and thats a long wheelbase loco (longer then your SD I think).
As I'm sure you already discovered, the Atlas code 55 doesn't like big flanges. Thats not much of a problem most of the time. I have, on occasion, had to deepen the frog on some of my #5 turnouts though. They're a little tighter then the #7's. Fortunately, Dremel made a small sawblade that works real well for this. It's just been added to the discontinued items list, so you might want to pick up a few (I'm going to!). It's the 198 High Speed Cutter attachment.