help in building n-scale (staging) yard

[nik_n_dad]

I must be dense. I've been playing with design tools to come up with a plan for a switching yard and\or a staging yard for code 80 n-scale. I've been told (here) to stay with #6 turnouts.

I can't seem to get the right track plan to make things parallel. the atlas turnouts do not come with any small pieces of curved track.

I'd like to get the tracks spaced to maximize the number of trains in the yard\staging area, but I cant' seem to do it? Some articles I've read have you trimming part of the turnout track to shorten it. Most things I've read are either for HO scale, but really, most of it shows a design- doesn't get specific for what the track actually looks like.

Do you cut sectional track? use 2" pieces of flex?
What am I missing? What have other folks done?

Thanks

[Flying switch56]

Hi nik. From my experience with RT 7 (I'll up grade some day) the angle of Atlas #6 turnouts is 9.9 degrees. To complete a 90 degree circle you would need to place an 80.1 degree section of flex track on the point end of the turnout. If you're using sectional track, then use 2 full 30 degree sections and create a 20.1 degree section of flex track using the same radius (9.75, 11, etc.). This would represent a section that was cut to fit.

To keep the parallel ladder tracks at about 1.25" separation I place a 1.25" section of track between each turnout.

Hope this helped.

Vic

[nik_n_dad]

Vic,

do you have a diagram of your ladder track? I'm trying to understand the 1.25" piece of track.

as you build the ladder, do you put the suceeding turnouts on the straight track coming out of a turnout or on the diverging side?

I guess the real question I'm asking is how to get the diverging part of the turnout to end up running parallel to the straight part

[Flying switch56]

Nik. I've sent you a PM.