Easements and Turnouts

[Tom Bryant_MR]

I've notice using XtrkCad that when I am connecting the diverging route of a turnout to the connecting straight section of a siding or yard, that I have to turn off the easement setting.

I think I have also read that the diverging route on a prototypical turnout is a small section of straight and that this actually produces an easement of sorts. True ?

Am I doing something wrong, or is this normal ?

[rrinker]

Typically, this is correct - you don't really need an easement from a turnout, because the substitution radius for usual turnouts is much greater than the radius of the curve, giving the effect of an easement. Per Armstrong, the Atlas Custom-Line #4 (more accurately a #4.5) has a substitution radius of 36", a standard #6 is more like 56"! So unless you are using VERY large radius curves, the turnout diverging route should provide plenty of easement.

--Randy

[johncolley]

Randy, I had sent a chck to Sillub for the cd for XtrkCad, and they refused it. I tried downloading pieces from the web but I can't get any .exe so I can't use it. I am on Windows XP. Any ideas? John Colley, Port Townsend WA

[Anonymous]

It's only about 1.4 MB, it should download ok. I managed it with dial-up. When you download it save it to disk, your security setting might prevent you running it directly.

[rrinker]

Yeah - what are you using for virus protection and/or content filtering? You'll have to bypass it to download XTrack, but it's safe, if you are on their actual website. The file there is legitimate and works fine. Be sure to turn the filtering back on after you download it.

--Randy

[Tom Bryant_MR]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

Typically, this is correct - you don't really need an easement from a turnout, because the substitution radius for usual turnouts is much greater than the radius of the curve, giving the effect of an easement. Per Armstrong, the Atlas Custom-Line #4 (more accurately a #4.5) has a substitution radius of 36", a standard #6 is more like 56"! So unless you are using VERY large radius curves, the turnout diverging route should provide plenty of easement.

Thanks Randy for confirming. I'm using #5 Walthers with minimum mainline of 24".