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HO scale Peco curved turnout

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  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 9 posts
HO scale Peco curved turnout
Posted by musky52 on Monday, February 25, 2013 6:02 AM

I need to install an HO scale code 83 curved turnout on my layout which currently consists of all Peco's. I know Walthers has one that has the inner curved radius of 24" which is roughly what I need. Does anyone know what the code 83 Peco turnouts inner radius is? I think it is a number 7 turnout. Are all numbered turnouts from all maker the same. Thank you.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, February 25, 2013 6:16 AM

I do not know the inner radius of the Peco curved turnout, but I can tell you that the radius of the inner and outer curves are not consistent among manufacturers.

I do have several Walthers Shinohara curved turnouts, and I have used the Ribbon Rail Metal Track Alignment gauges to measure the inner and outer radius on several of these curved turnouts.  Here are the results, showing the turnout number first, then the inner radius, and then the outer radius:

6 1/2 - 20" - 24"

7 - 24' - 28"

7 1/2 - 28" - 32"

8 - 32" - 36"

Rich

 

Alton Junction

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  • From: Enfield, CT
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Posted by Doc in CT on Monday, February 25, 2013 7:09 AM

The Peco website ( http://www.peco-uk.com/prodtype.asp?strParents=3309,3322&CAT_ID=3327&numRecordPosition=1 ) lists it as: Nominal radii; Outside 1524mm (60in). Inside; 914mm (36in)

The full size printed templates are at: http://www.peco-uk.com/page.asp?id=pointplans

Alan

Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/

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  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
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Posted by cacole on Monday, February 25, 2013 8:54 AM

If Peco makes code 83 double-curved turnouts in their Setrack line, the curves will be much tighter -- something along the line of 22 / 18 inch.  At least, that's the approximate radius of the code 100 Setrack double-curved turnouts.

  • Member since
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  • From: Northern CA Bay Area
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Posted by cuyama on Monday, February 25, 2013 10:41 AM

cacole
If Peco makes code 83 double-curved turnouts in their Setrack line

The PECO Code 83 double-curved turnouts are definitely not SetTrack. I don't believe that there is any Code 83 SetTrack, I think it is all Code 100.

The 60"/36" radii posted above are roughly correct (the "outside" curve seems even a bit broader). Note also that the PECO Code 83 double-curved turnout is relatively more compact overall than the Walthers curved turnouts, so they nicely fit into more places, even with the fairly broad radii.

  • Member since
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  • From: SE Minnesota
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Posted by jrbernier on Monday, February 25, 2013 9:36 PM

richhotrain

I do not know the inner radius of the Peco curved turnout, but I can tell you that the radius of the inner and outer curves are not consistent among manufacturers.

I do have several Walthers Shinohara curved turnouts, and I have used the Ribbon Rail Metal Track Alignment gauges to measure the inner and outer radius on several of these curved turnouts.  Here are the results, showing the turnout number first, then the inner radius, and then the outer radius:

6 1/2 - 20" - 24"

7 - 24' - 28"

7 1/2 - 28" - 32"

8 - 32" - 36"

Rich

 

Rich,

  Those numbers appear to be the Walthers published numbers:

  I usually have found that the outer radius is 'spot on' but you can deduct 6" rather than 4" for the inner curve.'  I have a 30" radius curve and the #8 Walthers code 83 turnout's inner curve drops right onto the center line of the mainline. The outer curve appears to line up with the advertises 36" radius. I have a couple #7.5 curved turnouts and they inner curve is about 26.5"-27" radius.

  It appears that the inside curve radius seems to change the further one gets into the curve.

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

  • Member since
    April 2002
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Posted by dante on Monday, February 25, 2013 10:58 PM

jrbernier

richhotrain

I do not know the inner radius of the Peco curved turnout, but I can tell you that the radius of the inner and outer curves are not consistent among manufacturers.

I do have several Walthers Shinohara curved turnouts, and I have used the Ribbon Rail Metal Track Alignment gauges to measure the inner and outer radius on several of these curved turnouts.  Here are the results, showing the turnout number first, then the inner radius, and then the outer radius:

6 1/2 - 20" - 24"

7 - 24' - 28"

7 1/2 - 28" - 32"

8 - 32" - 36"

Rich

 

Rich,

  Those numbers appear to be the Walthers published numbers:

  I usually have found that the outer radius is 'spot on' but you can deduct 6" rather than 4" for the inner curve.'  I have a 30" radius curve and the #8 Walthers code 83 turnout's inner curve drops right onto the center line of the mainline. The outer curve appears to line up with the advertises 36" radius. I have a couple #7.5 curved turnouts and they inner curve is about 26.5"-27" radius.

  It appears that the inside curve radius seems to change the further one gets into the curve.

Jim

I have many W/S curved turnouts of all sizes and agree with jim.  The difference is consistently 6" less for the inner curve.   I have confirmed all by both overlaying the turnouts on plotted radii and by checking with Ribbonrail guides. The #7.5 inner curve is 26", by the way.

Dante

  • Member since
    March 2016
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Posted by JASON BOCHE on Thursday, January 25, 2018 3:17 PM
This was a huge help. Thank you.

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