Walthers code 83 curved turnouts

[dickiee]

I have been out of the hobby for about 20 years and decided last fall that I couuldn't stand it anymore so I am in the process of building a 16x16 foot railroad room in my pole barn. I am astounded by all the new products and like the kid in the candy shop I want it all. That being said I am seriously thinking about DCC and along with that to probably go with all the new Walthers code 83 track and turnouts. O. K. Moving along.. I'm doodling on a double deck track plan and I would like an as long as possible hidden staging yard along one 16 ft. x 2 ft. wall with a 36 inch curve coming in from each end. I'm thinking about using curved turnouts at each end to make the yard as long as possible. The difficulty I'm having is drawing them on paper. I can't seem to locate the center of the different radii. I'm at the point where I think the only solution is to just buy several of the turnouts of different radii and lay them out full size on a sheet of plywood to see how they look. I just hate buying stuff that I'll turn out not to use. Do I go with all #8's or cascade them down to the #71/2 and #7 etc. I would appreciate any experience/info about using the curved turnouts in this fashion. All pro's and con's about curved turnouts also appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I have a #6.5 curved turnout from Walthers. As far as I can tell, the outer radius is 26", but I'm not sure if the inner radius is 22". I'm pretty sure it is, though. I don't know about the higher numbered turnouts.

I think that Walthers will tell you the radii of its curved turnouts if you contact them via their website.

[tomwatkins]

The Walther's #6 1/2 curved turnout is a 20"/24" radius. The #7 is a 24"/28" radius. I use a good many of the #7's and really like them. They can save a lot of space compared to standard turnouts and they produce a smoothly flowing track arrangement which really looks good. The #6 1/2 inner leg can be a bit tight ( or too tight) for some locomotives and rolling stock. I don't know of any track planning templates which include them so drafting them into a track plan can be a little challenging. I found that by drawing the tangent tracks and the curves leading into the curved turnout location, and then connecting them with the appropriate radius curves I could get close enough to ensure that every thing would fit.
Hope this helps
Tom Watkins

[dickiee]

Thanks Joe, for your response and info.
dickiee

[dickiee]

Hi Tom,
Thanks for your quick response and info. I'm glad to hear that you like the turnouts. I think I will buy one of the #8's and then copy it several times on paper and see how that works out. Again, thanks!
dickiee

[Anonymous]

Dickiee, you're welcome.

Tom, thank you. I learned something new today!

[ndbprr]

Go to a hobby shop where you are known and they will let you. But place a piece of paper on top of the turnout and rub the side of a pencil on top of the paper where the rails are. You will now have a perfect template that you can copy as many time as you need to.