riogrande5761 I haven't had to trip as tight as Kevin (such as down to 2 ties from points or anything that radical yet).
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Sorry, I gave the wrong impression there.
I also very rarely trim any turnouts. The specifications I gave are just for when you absolutely must trim a turnout. I try to leave as many "box stock" as possible because it makes replacement so much easier if that is ever needed.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
RR_Mel Actually only the two outside rails are soldered. I use Walthers 948-841 joiners for my code 83 rails. They fit tight enough that I don’t solder them. I only soldered the two outside rails on my Mel Double Crossover to make sure it didn’t come apart while I was installing it. It wasn’t an easy task to assemble the crossover, 12 joiners. It took several attempts and lot of patience to mate all the rails, I didn’t want to chance of it coming apart.
I run code 100 track but the ideas should be adaptable. That also gives me an idea about the situation: I have some wire glue that I have used to join a couple pieces of track that are part of a long curved crossing on what will be part of the same spur line.
FRRYKid RR_Mel I’ve successfully cut up Atlas turnouts and if you leave the ties in place and just remove the rails it can be done. I cut up four Atlas #6 turnouts to make a double crossover and they have worked flawlessly for over 5 years. The only problem I see with that particular arrangement is that those rails appear to be soldered. I stink when it comes to soldering things. But it does give me a few ideas on how to proceed with the options I do have.
RR_Mel I’ve successfully cut up Atlas turnouts and if you leave the ties in place and just remove the rails it can be done. I cut up four Atlas #6 turnouts to make a double crossover and they have worked flawlessly for over 5 years.
The only problem I see with that particular arrangement is that those rails appear to be soldered. I stink when it comes to soldering things. But it does give me a few ideas on how to proceed with the options I do have.
There is not rule, I trim turnouts to fit where needed, but try to leave plenty of ties on either side of the frog or points. I haven't had to trip as tight as Kevin (such as down to 2 ties from points or anything that radical yet).
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
On the point end I try to leave at least two ties beyond the long tie. On the frog end I try to leave at least six ties beyond the frog.
I know some people trim closer than that.
Probably a rehash, but here goes: How much can the straight route on Atlas HO Custom Line #4s and #6s be trimmed? I am doing some reworking of some track in a yard to allow for some passenger cars to be on fourth yard track. The switch arrangement on the main yard track is a LH #6, a RH #4 and another LH #6. I have found that the arrangement is a bit long for the current track arrangement. (Redoing the arrangement would be a minor headache.) There is an existing bridge that the diverging route on the second #6 is interferring with. (Wherever that diverging route ends up will have a bridge installed for it as well.) As usual thank you for any assistance that can be provided.