richhotrain Aww geez, I was just joking around. That's why I added so many emoticons. Rich
Aww geez, I was just joking around. That's why I added so many emoticons.
Rich
No problem.
It's hard to tell on message boards.
Alton Junction
richhotrain OK, someone could easily get confused by this thread. My initial understanding was that you wanted to install a hitherto unused 3-way turnout, but you needed to find a prototypical application to justify its use. For that reason, I said, screw the prototype. Then, when replies indicated that the use of a 3-way was uncommon on the prototype, its use on your layout seemed in doubt. Now, you tell us that you have to use it, so you are going to make it work even if you have to force a situation. I have another suggestion for you to reject. Sell it and recover your 15-year old purchase price. Rich
OK, someone could easily get confused by this thread.
My initial understanding was that you wanted to install a hitherto unused 3-way turnout, but you needed to find a prototypical application to justify its use. For that reason, I said, screw the prototype.
Then, when replies indicated that the use of a 3-way was uncommon on the prototype, its use on your layout seemed in doubt.
Now, you tell us that you have to use it, so you are going to make it work even if you have to force a situation.
I have another suggestion for you to reject.
Sell it and recover your 15-year old purchase price.
I think it was very clear from my original post that I had one I bought several years ago, and was asking for some information on how they are used in the prototype. Several people here showed photos of how they are used and examples which are exactly what I was looking for.
You said screw the prototype.
I said I like to stay within a prototype scenario.
Someone else said it was uncommon.
I never rejected any suggestions, nor did I say I was going to force anything, and I was never angry.That's your interpretation.
Evidently, besides me, Mr. Beasley was helped by this thread.
I want to thank you guys for this thread. I am doing the final track plan for my staging, and it never struck me to use a 3-way. I pulled an old brass one from my teenage-years layout from a box and found it greatly simplified the whole design. It lets me compress the ladder enough to keep all the turnouts on the first module.
This is a very old picture showing my yard under construction. It's very small to begin with, only holding 6 or 7 cars per track, but to get even that I had to keept he ladder short. Here are two of those old brass Shinoharas:
I have since replaced these with Pecos for reliability.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Big Boy Forever,
Here is a MR Thread from July 14, 2012, for the use of three way turnouts with pic's. That guy from Dearborn Station, is in it:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/208058.aspx
Take Care!
Frank
In Lakewood Washington there is a three way lap turnout in an industrial area between warehouses. the "main" lead goes down the center of a long row of warehouses on either side of that. The straight (center) of the switches uses this as the lead, with the left and right each going to a warehouse, which of course are right across the track from one another. They can switch cars in and out without disturbing cars at the other warehouses. I believe this was originally a U.S. Navy supply depot and perhaps saving space was more paramount than the cost. You could probable Google earth it and see the installation.
richhotrain Big Boy Forever richhotrain Fear not, Big Boy, I did not take it the wrong way, and I was making a general admonition about becoming elitists, not specifically directed at you. But I did make my original comment in your defense since I wanted to encourage you to make use of your 3-way turnout, whether prototypical or not. Rich Has to be close to prototypical for me. That being the case, don't use a 3-way turnout. While it is true that you can find anything and everything on the prototype, and that includes a 3-way here and there, it is not commonplace. In fact, I would argue that it is quite unusual. Rich
Big Boy Forever richhotrain Fear not, Big Boy, I did not take it the wrong way, and I was making a general admonition about becoming elitists, not specifically directed at you. But I did make my original comment in your defense since I wanted to encourage you to make use of your 3-way turnout, whether prototypical or not. Rich Has to be close to prototypical for me.
richhotrain Fear not, Big Boy, I did not take it the wrong way, and I was making a general admonition about becoming elitists, not specifically directed at you. But I did make my original comment in your defense since I wanted to encourage you to make use of your 3-way turnout, whether prototypical or not. Rich
Fear not, Big Boy, I did not take it the wrong way, and I was making a general admonition about becoming elitists, not specifically directed at you.
But I did make my original comment in your defense since I wanted to encourage you to make use of your 3-way turnout, whether prototypical or not.
Has to be close to prototypical for me.
That being the case, don't use a 3-way turnout.
While it is true that you can find anything and everything on the prototype, and that includes a 3-way here and there, it is not commonplace. In fact, I would argue that it is quite unusual.
I have to.
I already paid for it 15 years ago and now some members here have shown me various prototype situations where it can be used, so thanks to them for the info.
I'll use it in an unusual track scenario where it's not commonplace.
Three-way switches - like double slip switches - are VERY expensive to build, and the proto-type would only use them as a last resort. In cases like tight passenger terminals there really wasn't the real-estate to use standard switches to align all the routes required.
I can't imagine a three-way switch ever being used in a typical industry siding or the like.
On a layout, they quite often just look out of place. Like putting a hi-rise apartment in the middle of a small village .... sure, it's possible - but not likely.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
richhotrain I take that back. I was being specific when I cautioned about becoming elitists. I was directing that comment at Larry ! Rich
I take that back. I was being specific when I cautioned about becoming elitists. I was directing that comment at Larry !
Me a elitist? Who would have thought?
I just like the believability part.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
richhotrain Big Boy Forever I guess you have the "Thomas Train" and "Toy Train" group at one end of the spectrum and at the other end you have the rivet counters, and then the entire spectrum in between. the "Screw the Prototype" group might lie in the middle ground I think. Personally, I tend to be at the rivet counter end, along with using 3-way Wyes like the prototype or at least attempting to based on "givens and druthers". Don't misconstrue my statement. Larry got it right when he said to "use them where you need them", and that is my point. Of course, we should follow the prototype wherever possible, but the OP wanted to install a 3-way turnout and expressed concern about how and where it would be used. Since the prototype made little use of 3 ways, it is up to the modeler to either be imaginative and creative or abandon the 3-way as unprototypical. Thus, my sarcastic statement, screw the prototype! I suspect that even Larry has an unprototypical element or two on his layout. Let's not be elitists! Rich
Big Boy Forever I guess you have the "Thomas Train" and "Toy Train" group at one end of the spectrum and at the other end you have the rivet counters, and then the entire spectrum in between. the "Screw the Prototype" group might lie in the middle ground I think. Personally, I tend to be at the rivet counter end, along with using 3-way Wyes like the prototype or at least attempting to based on "givens and druthers".
I guess you have the "Thomas Train" and "Toy Train" group at one end of the spectrum and at the other end you have the rivet counters, and then the entire spectrum in between.
the "Screw the Prototype" group might lie in the middle ground I think.
Personally, I tend to be at the rivet counter end, along with using 3-way Wyes like the prototype or at least attempting to based on "givens and druthers".
Don't misconstrue my statement.
Larry got it right when he said to "use them where you need them", and that is my point.
Of course, we should follow the prototype wherever possible, but the OP wanted to install a 3-way turnout and expressed concern about how and where it would be used.
Since the prototype made little use of 3 ways, it is up to the modeler to either be imaginative and creative or abandon the 3-way as unprototypical. Thus, my sarcastic statement, screw the prototype!
I suspect that even Larry has an unprototypical element or two on his layout. Let's not be elitists!
I figured you might take it the wrong way.
I'm not being "Elitist" at all by comparing Toy trains to rivet counters and all that's in between. That's your perception.
I'm just saying "whatever floats your boat". Some people are "elitists" with Lionel trains, but I don't care much for Lionels, even though I had one as a kid, although if I had the big money and space, I would prefer an "O" scale layout over an HO.
In any case, "No One" can be 100% prototypical anyhow, but I like to count rivets even if all the rivets are not on my layout. "Aim for the stars and maybe you'll hit the treetops" the saying goes. Everyones "stars" are different.
richhotrainI suspect that even Larry has an unprototypical element or two on his layout. Let's not be elitists! Rich
Only the tight Peco medium switches..All else was research using Google and Bing maps.
This is a end of a short line I found down South.I copied the general idea and added a extra industry and a runaround for operation-I wish I left that run around out of my plan..The bottom plan is the way it should have been built.
Big Boy Forever BRAKIE richhotrain Screw the prototype. I could never buy into that thought since we are modeling railroads. ------------------------------------------------------------ Use them where you need them. -------------------------------------- That I can agree with due to our limited space but,I would still keep a tight grip on believability and not just hither dither and over yonder just because I can... I guess you have the "Thomas Train" and "Toy Train" group at one end of the spectrum and at the other end you have the rivet counters, and then the entire spectrum in between. the "Screw the Prototype" group might lie in the middle ground I think. Personally, I tend to be at the rivet counter end, along with using 3-way Wyes like the prototype or at least attempting to based on "givens and druthers".
BRAKIE richhotrain Screw the prototype. I could never buy into that thought since we are modeling railroads. ------------------------------------------------------------ Use them where you need them. -------------------------------------- That I can agree with due to our limited space but,I would still keep a tight grip on believability and not just hither dither and over yonder just because I can...
richhotrain Screw the prototype.
I could never buy into that thought since we are modeling railroads.
------------------------------------------------------------
Use them where you need them.
--------------------------------------
That I can agree with due to our limited space but,I would still keep a tight grip on believability and not just hither dither and over yonder just because I can...
Big Boy ForeverPersonally, I tend to be at the rivet counter end, along with using 3-way Wyes like the prototype or at least attempting to based on "givens and druthers".
Then you have those like me that not a true rivet counter but,one that likes to follow prototypical examples as much as possible.
As far as a three one switch,just like the prototype I will used one only if needed.
A few years ago there was a photo in MR showing a five way stub switch. I would never try to buid such.
Dave
richhotrainScrew the prototype.
The black convertible looks like it might be an early 50's Buick. Don't know who makes the model.
I use one in staging to keep most of it double ended. I was surprised (even after reading the dimensions) how big these things really are! My planned use didn't work out and I finally realized I could put it on the other end of the staging yard and it fit perfectly performing the same function.
Something to keep in mind if you get a great idea and it doesn't seem to fit. Can the 3 way go on the other end of things and still work? These things take me awhile to get a light bulb moment ;-)
Jim
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
tomikawaTTIn Rapid City, SD, a three-way turnout replaced a turntable to give access to a three-stall roundhouse. The roundhouse is still there, but Mapquest couldn't show if the track was still in place.
If this is the place, it looks like a couple of standard turnouts.
http://binged.it/1r09AAJ
Steve S
cuyama Big Boy Forever "dithers and druthers" as John Armstrong says That would be "Givens" and "druthers" As he used the phrase, "Givens" are things that can't be changed, such as the size of the room. "druthers" (from "I'd ruther" [sic]) are personal preferences choices.
Big Boy Forever "dithers and druthers" as John Armstrong says
That would be "Givens" and "druthers"
As he used the phrase, "Givens" are things that can't be changed, such as the size of the room. "druthers" (from "I'd ruther" [sic]) are personal preferences choices.
OK, that's right.
I should have looked it up instead of relying on my sometimes not so accurate memory.
Big Boy Forever"dithers and druthers" as John Armstrong says
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
In Rapid City, SD, a three-way turnout replaced a turntable to give access to a three-stall roundhouse. The roundhouse is still there, but Mapquest couldn't show if the track was still in place.
On my layout, there are four three-ways in Down staging - but you'll never find the equivalent in a bubble pack or box. Two have two routes left, one straight. The other two have all three routes curving left.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
The red station wagon is from Classic Metal Works - - a 1953 Ford Customline, Coral Flame Red.
Not sure about that black convertible.
It's been atleast 5 years since they were purchased so I have no idea who made them.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up