Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

using a double slip through the main

3856 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 4:55 AM

sktrains
Hi guys, I know double slips are mostly used in yards but I have a one that will be on the main, it looks good on paper but as I transfer it to the layout and start laying the track, the double slip looks a little “busy” for the main and   im not sure with the moving points and frogs if im setting myself up for potential issues later on with running trains at higher speeds because its on the main ratther  than through yards.

As you say, double slips are mostly found in yards and passenger stations, but double slips are found on mainlines.

I use a Walthers Shinohara #6 Double Slip on my double mainline for the outer main to cross the inner main and access a downtown passenger station.

I installed the double main in the interest of saving space. I have no difficulty running trains on the double mainline at high speeds over the double slip.

I use a small control panel to control the points and that can be tricky in choosing the correct route because of the number of points and frogs. I depend on bi-polar LEDs on the control panel to visually confirm routes.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern CA Bay Area
  • 4,387 posts
Posted by cuyama on Monday, April 2, 2018 1:25 PM

Refer to this thread for instruction on how to insert an image:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/249194.aspx

Here’s your latest:

 

I think this is logically improved, but in my opinion an s-curve through true #4 turnouts may not prove totally reliable, particularly when shoving cars in switching moves. #5s or #6s would likely be better choices, if you must have the crossover.

If it were me, I'd eliminate the crossover entirely. In real life, railroads switch from the mainline when necessary, especially if another train can pass on the adjacent siding.

Good luck with your layout.

 

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • From: Orange County, NY
  • 35 posts
Posted by sktrains on Monday, April 2, 2018 9:23 AM
Thanks,  I did reworked the track a bit I put in a couple # 4 turnouts, took out the switch back, and added another spur for the gravel industry. Not sure if this is any closer to prototypical but It seems to look a lot better, it’s the second pic in the attached link
Eventually ill figure out how to get the image into the post
STEVE  

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wxj884u5v2m1109/AADv0zQgCBWvZ4GvnMA3TgiJa?dl=0 

https://www.dropbox.com/home/MR%20shared%20folder?preview=Screenshot+(71).png 

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Sunday, April 1, 2018 11:24 PM

steemtrayn

...And two of those frogs are movable.

 

 

 

Sometimes, not always:

 

 

 

Ed

  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: Jersey City
  • 1,925 posts
Posted by steemtrayn on Sunday, April 1, 2018 9:26 PM

...And two of those frogs are movable.

 

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Sunday, April 1, 2018 8:59 PM

NHTX

With a double slip, you've got four sets of points and two frogs.

 

I will assert that you have four sets of points and four frogs.

And agree with everything else.

 

Ed

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 869 posts
Posted by NHTX on Sunday, April 1, 2018 8:39 PM

   The utilization of double slip switches on the prototype is usually a last resort.  First, they are maintenance intensive.  They are used in areas where the traffic volume is very high and speeds are very low. With a double slip, you've got four sets of points and two frogs.  Replace that DSS with two standard turnouts and, you eliminate two sets of points, yet get the same flexibilty of routing, quite possibly at higher speeds, and with much less maintenance.  That is why you usually find the DSS employed in busy passenger stations such as the west side approach to Long Island's Jamaica station as in Lion's photo.  Again, the amount of traffic is very high and the speeds are low heading into station platforms as depicted in the photo.  A double slip on a freight main line would be subject to the battering of 200 ton locomotives and 150 ton freight cars which even at low speeds would soon wreak havoc on the best maintained DSS.  Passenger equipment does not even come close to the weight of a loaded hopper or tankcar. Using a DSS to serve an industry would be hard to justify, especially when one leg of it stubs out in a switchback spur.  The other fellow's proposed location is a better candidate but, if the prototype could avoid the DSS, you can be sure they would, that's why, in the United States, slip switches are almost always found in busy passenger terminals.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, April 1, 2018 9:05 AM

I also am considering a Walthers/Shinohara #6 double slip on the branch line.

.

The current track plan does not have it, but it would solve an issue with access into a yard track that cannot be addressed any other way. I hope to simulate operations somehow to see if it is really needed for what I want to do.

.

This diagram shows where I am considering this. Click on the image for a larger view.

.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Saturday, March 31, 2018 9:41 AM

Slips on the Mane Lion...

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern CA Bay Area
  • 4,387 posts
Posted by cuyama on Saturday, March 31, 2018 9:28 AM

Your image

Well, that's not a very realistic track arrangement out on the main line – a real railroad would have found a different way to do that than by using two double-slips to reach a relatively short industry siding. It appears that it would be easy to re-work the plan to eliminate the double-slips (and the atypical switchback) using a similar arrangement to the one your plan shows just below serving the tank farm and plastics industry. But not everyone cares about realism. 

One of the issues some find with double-slips in the model is making sure that the points are thrown properly for the desired route. This is exacerbated on the main line.

Good luck with your layout.

Byron

  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: East Central Florida
  • 480 posts
Posted by Onewolf on Saturday, March 31, 2018 9:13 AM

I have a Walthers #8 double slip on my mainline. Sort of.  :)  it's located where the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line (single track main) splits off from the main UP E/W double track mainline just north of Ogden.  I am modeling primarily the OSL so the E/W double track UP mainline to the 'west' is stubbed out.

I have had no operational issues with the Walthers #8 double slip.  YMMV.

Here is where the double slip allows westbound traffic to cross the eastbound mainline in order to head north on the OSL.

Modeling an HO gauge freelance version of the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line and the Utah Railway around 1957 in a world where Pirates from the Great Salt Lake founded Ogden, UT.

- Photo album of layout construction -

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • From: Orange County, NY
  • 35 posts
using a double slip through the main
Posted by sktrains on Saturday, March 31, 2018 8:12 AM
Hi guys, I know double slips are mostly used in yards but I have a one that will be on the main, it looks good on paper but as I transfer it to the layout and start laying the track, the double slip looks a little “busy” for the main and   im not sure with the moving points and frogs if im setting myself up for potential issues later on with running trains at higher speeds because its on the main ratther  than through yards.
The way its set up is a single main runs through the middle of two large industries with a passing siding and the double slip will allow the industry’s to share the siding and be a crossover Not sure if the screen shot pic of this section will attach but it’s a # 6 walthers shinohara  double slip and im using altas flex track 
Any input would be appreciated
THANKS
STEVE  
 
      

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!