hi,
I am trying to layout and HO code 100 setup on a cork rail bed and I need to install a right and a left hand double curve turnout.
How do I determine the appropriate size of the double curve turnout to use?
Also appreciate any thoughts on which brand or brands of curved turnouts to consider.
Thanks
Most of the manufacturers list the outside/inside radius on their websites or in the catalogs. One thing that has been brought up is that at least with the Shinohara turnouts is that many times the 'inside' radius is tighter than stated. I have seen 18/22, 20/24, 24/28, 28/32, and 32/36 in various brands. The Walthers/Shinohara code 83 sizes are listed, but the Shinohara code 100 radius data is not on the web site - I suspect you can translate the info as Shinohara makes Walthers stuff. I have one of the #8 LH curved turnouts and have had no problems with it.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
blackcaddis I am trying to layout and HO code 100 setup on a cork rail bed and I need to install a right and a left hand double curve turnout. How do I determine the appropriate size of the double curve turnout to use? Also appreciate any thoughts on which brand or brands of curved turnouts to consider.
I assume by "double curved" turnout you mean a turnout where both paths curve in the same direction. Typically, that is just called a curved turnout.
I'm not sure what is available commercially in code 100. Shinohara's code 100 line has virtually disappeared from stock, and I don't know whether there were any curved turnouts in the code 100 line. Peco would be the other alternative in code 100.
If you are willing to use code 83 turnouts (and shim and sand to make heights match), Walthers (made by Shinohara) has the most commonly used line of curved turnouts. I also believe Peco has some curved turnouts in their code 83 line.
Sizing is done by radius. The frog # in a curved turnout indicates how different the 2 radii are, and how fast they separate, but does not give the actual radii of the curves. And the relationship between the radii difference and frog # is not linear. So just use the inner and outer radius to determine what is suitable for your use. Be forewarned that Walthers quotes a higher inner radius than the turnout actually has; the outer radius dimension is pretty accurate. So a Walthers 26"/22" radius is actually 26"/20" or 26"/18" depending on who is measuring. Just subtract a few inches from the Walthers inner dimension when choosing the turnout.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
So far you have been told about turnouts with both branches curved in the same direction - they exist, but the selection is, to put it kindly, meager.
The other possibility, which your description does not rule out, is a so-called Wye turnout, where the branches curve in opposite directions. They, too, have been available.
A possibility, embraced by John Armstrong, is to take a LONG commercial turnout, cut the webs between the ties and carefully bend it to a desired radius. This only works with wide radii, and requires a lot of careful bending and fitting. The probability of ruining the turnout on a first attempt is high.
I, personally, hand-lay my specialwork, so building turnouts with, `not available commercially,' curvatures and frog angles is dead easy. If I can bend a length of flex track to each desired route and mark the tie lines (on white card stock) I can build the turnout, or crossover, or puzzle palace of double slip switches. All it takes is patience, a good file and a hot soldering tool.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I have 3 Peco curved turnouts in Code 100, and 1 Walthers/Shinohara in Code 83. All of them work very well.
The Pecos are all the smaller model. The curve radii are just under 18 and 22 inches. I don't run anything fussy on the inner curve of any of these, but their location on the layout is at a place where I wouldn't do that, so I don't know if there are an issues. (Two are in the subways, where only the forgiving subway trains run, and the third leads to an engine house used as a trolley barn.)
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hi, I have several Peco C-100 curved turnouts, and they are about 60" &30" radius each. They fit beautifully into the transitions from curve to straight sections of track.
Have fun, George.
I'm recently with the peco crowd. I tend to keep turnouts off of curves. Peco does offer a 3 way turnout that can save space and do a great job.
Springfield PA
[quote user="fwright"]
Shinohara's code 100 line has virtually disappeared from stock, and I don't know whether there were any curved turnouts in the code 100 line. Peco would be the other alternative in code 100.
MB Kleins seems to have some code 100 curved Shinohara turnouts in stock.
Regarding the turnout radii, a company called Lambert Associates used to import the Shinohara product. I have an illustrated catalog showing the track components. According to the diagrams, the #6 curved turnout had a large radius of 24 inches, and the smaller radius was 20 inches.
For the #8, the radii were 36 and 32.
Note that these radii were diagrammed at the frog end of the turnout. It is unclear what the radius at the point end is.
fwright Be forewarned that Walthers quotes a higher inner radius than the turnout actually has; the outer radius dimension is pretty accurate. So a Walthers 26"/22" radius is actually 26"/20" or 26"/18" depending on who is measuring. Just subtract a few inches from the Walthers inner dimension when choosing the turnout.
Be forewarned that Walthers quotes a higher inner radius than the turnout actually has; the outer radius dimension is pretty accurate. So a Walthers 26"/22" radius is actually 26"/20" or 26"/18" depending on who is measuring. Just subtract a few inches from the Walthers inner dimension when choosing the turnout.
The Walthers/Shinohara curved turnouts are indicated by them as 24/20, 28/24, 32/28 & 36/32. As noted in the past, I have measured them by different methods (including the Ribbonrail templates) and found that they are actually 24/18, 28/22, 32/26 & 36/30.
Dante
Peco makes these turnouts, but they are not as tight a radius as the Shinohara ones.
A site that has photos of the Peco curved turnouts is http://www.cchobbies.com
What part number is the Peco track you're referencing in this post? "The Pecos are all the smaller model. The curve radii are just under 18 and 22 inches.
I have them with the double curve. Walthers Part #'s
552-1042 https://www.walthers.com/code-100-curved-double-radius-turnout-streamline-right-hand-insulfrog
and 552-1043 https://www.walthers.com/code-100-curved-double-radius-turnout-streamline-left-hand-insulfrog
They work great and have larger curves than the other Peco in Code 100.
Supposedly Atlas is coming out with Code 100 Curved Switches. Hoping sooner than later...
Neal
Hi saptrainer,
Just wanted to point out that this thread is seven years old so you may not get an answer from the older posts.
To answer you question, Peco makes two different types of curved turnouts. One is for their 'Setrack' system where the track is sold in short lengths with set radii curves. The model numbers start with 'ST'. I'm not sure of the radii of the Setrack curved turnouts but they look fairly small.
The other is their 'Streamlined' system which includes flex track. The model numbers start with 'SL'. The Streamlined curved turnouts are 36" inner and 60" outer radii. CORRECTION: Code 100 Streamline curved turnouts are 30" and 60". Code 83 Streamline turnouts are 36" and 60". Thank to Byron and Rio Grande for pointing out my error.
Note that the Streamlined turnouts come in two variations. One is the 'Insulfrog' design and the other is the 'Electrofrog' design. The Electrofrog has an 'E' in the model number and they allow the frog to be powered.
Here is the Peco catalogue page:
https://peco-uk.com/pages/search-results-page?q=code+100+curved+turnouts&page=1&rb_snize_facet3=OO+HO+%3D+16.5mm&rb_snize_facet2=Setrack%7CStreamline
If you want to find out the radii of the Setrack curved turnouts, Peco has a contact page where you can ask questions. They usually get back pretty quickly:
https://peco-uk.com/pages/contact-us
One other note I will add about Peco turnouts. They have improved their designs several times over the past 20 years or so, but they have not changed the nomenclature. They have used the same model number to identify several different versions of the same turnout. If you buy on eBay you might end up with turnouts that look the same but have to be handled differently. If you are buying from a retailer make sure that you are getting the most recent models, not NOS. (The improvements have made the turnouts easier to work with.)
Hope that helps,
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
hon30critterThe other is their 'Streamlined' system which includes flex track. The model numbers start with 'SL'. The Streamlined curved turnouts are 36" inner and 60" outer radii.
The specs I have read for the streamlined curve code 100 is 60" outer and 30" inner. I haven't seen 36" listed for the inner until you listed it here.
I didn't see it listed on Peco's site but here is a link which lists radius inner and outer for the Peco code 100 SL turnouts:
https://www.traintekllc.com/peco-sl-87-code-100-insulfrog-curved-double-radius-turnout-left/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImoqsxpGW3gIV1VqGCh1YgA96EAQYASABEgKfEvD_BwE
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
hon30critterThe other is their 'Streamlined' system which includes flex track. The model numbers start with 'SL'. The Streamlined curved turnouts are 36" inner and 60" outer radii. Note that the Streamlined turnouts come in two variations. One is the 'Insulfrog' design and the other is the 'Electrofrog' design. The Electrofrog has an 'E' in the model number and they allow the frog to be powered. Here is the Peco catalogue page: https://peco-uk.com/pages/search-results-page?q=code+100+curved+turnouts&page=1&rb_snize_facet3=OO+HO+%3D+16.5mm&rb_snize_facet2=Setrack%7CStreamline
The web page you referenced shows the radii as 1524/762mm (although the slash is missing)
That equates to 60"/30", which is what most sources reference (correctly, I believe). So I don't think your figure of 36" for the inner radius is correct.
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
cuyamaThe web page you referenced shows the radii as 1524/762mm (although the slash is missing) That equates to 60"/30", which is what most sources reference (correctly, I believe). So I don't think your figure of 36" for the inner radius is correct.
Hi Byron and Rio Grande:
You are correct. I figured out where I was making my mistake. The 30"/60" radii are for the Code 100 curved turnouts. The Code 83 curved turnouts are 36"/60". I'll edit my previous post, and I will send Peco a message to make sure I've got it right this time.
EDIT: I just got confirmation from Peco that the above is correct.
hon30critter cuyama The web page you referenced shows the radii as 1524/762mm (although the slash is missing) That equates to 60"/30", which is what most sources reference (correctly, I believe). So I don't think your figure of 36" for the inner radius is correct. Hi Byron and Rio Grande: You are correct. I figured out where I was making my mistake. The 30"/60" radii are for the Code 100 curved turnouts. The Code 83 curved turnouts are 36"/60". I'll edit my previous post, and I will send Peco a message to make sure I've got it right this time. EDIT: I just got confirmation from Peco that the above is correct. Dave
cuyama The web page you referenced shows the radii as 1524/762mm (although the slash is missing) That equates to 60"/30", which is what most sources reference (correctly, I believe). So I don't think your figure of 36" for the inner radius is correct.
Coolness!
I have several code 83 Walthers/Shinohara #8 curved turnouts which work well, but I wouldn't mind a having curved turnouts with larger radius so the Peco code 83 #7 curved with 60 outer and 36 inner radius will probably be good for a future layout I am planning.
It is interesting that Walthers calls the #8 curved with 36/32 radius (actual apparently 36/30 radus) while Peco calls theirs a smaller number, #7 and it has large outer/inner radius, 60/36 inch. Go figure.