Minimum turn out size

[Anonymous]

I know people are always saying there are to many polls but I'm trying to replace some up threads off the front page, just kidding, Do what you will. I was just wondering what your minimum turnout number is?
I have four's in my yard so I can hold one more car in my already to short yard.
Andrew Miller
P.s. sorry if this is a rehash.

[EL PARRo]

Most of the turnouts on my layout are #6, but I do have a couple #4's.

[Anonymous]

Hi
I didnt vote to me the numbers are meaningless I have used whatever is apropreate to the situation from 14" or thereabouts radius usualy referd to by the English manufacuyres as R1and it is a set track point too the widest that is avalable
The size and type of layout is going to have a big bearing on what is used.
The real tight ones are very good for packing things in like in an industreal area
regardsJohn

[Jetrock]

John Busby: American frog sizes are based on the ratio of divergence from the originating track. If taking the divergent track for 4 meters puts you 1 meter off from the straight track, that's a 4:1 ratio and therefore a #4 turnout. #4 and #6 turnouts are the most common seen on American layouts but in prototype practice much larger frog numbers were actually used--equivalent of #8 or #10, I think.

That being said, I'm not sure what the ratio of my Peco "Setrack" short-radius turnouts are, but they're sharper than an Atlas #4 by a considerable margin, while my Peco "Streamline" short-radius turnouts are roughly equivalent to a #4. I use them because they don't need any extra mechanisms to throw and they're the closest thing to single-point interurban turnouts in terms of sharp radius--things like Richard Orr turnouts are pretty much the equivalent of about #1.5 frog number, being single-point switches that arc in a roughly 6" radius curve in HO.

As I recall, I think the English use radius because Engli***urnouts have curved frogs while American turnouts use straight frogs.

[IRONROOSTER]

I picked #4, but on the mainline it's #6. The #4's are for spurs.
Enjoy
Paul

[sparkingbolt]

I used 4s for a couple passing tracks on my "mainline" along with a mix of 4s and 6s for various spurs. Would'a used 6s on the main if I had to do it over. Could convert but don't want to go to the trouble now. Dan

[Fergmiester]

#4's in the yard and #6's or larger on the main lines and spurs.

I have also incorporated a lot of curved turnouts as well 26" inner radius and larger. These can be a real pain since I'm elevating the curves.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock

....in prototype practice much larger frog numbers were actually used--equivalent of #8 or #10....

The UP has some #20 "high speed" ones......

The NS uses #10, #12 and larger....

[newhavenguy]

On this layout I'm using #8's mostly. #10 where I can on the Mainlines. The # 6's are in the smaller yards. I'm putting in a couple of industries that are probably going to be #4's because of space but I'm trying to keep these at #6's.

[tomwatkins]

Because my layout room is none too big, space saving is important. I use Walthers code 83 #5's for my regular turnouts. My curved turnouts are #7's on the mainline with a few #6 1/2's for spurs coming off secondary tracks where #7's just won't fit. The 7's are 28"/24" and the 6 1/2's are 24"/20"

Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[johncolley]

The poll tabulation is meaningless as it does not factor the use requirement. For example, I use #10 crossovers on the mainline and also to passenger station sidings and freight A/D track(s), #8's for head end spurs and freight yard ladder tracks, #6 for most industrial spurs and runarounds, #4's for service tracks such as oil/sand to engine terminal and some industrial spur branches (double tracked spurs).

[Anonymous]

Hi jet rock
Thanks for translating the numbers into something with meaning.
It is Peco points (switches) I have used in HO/OO I don't use anything else
because when I have to use set track for any reason I know it will be compatable with the flex. "very biased opinion" it is the best you can get.
regards John

[Anonymous]

In my staging tracks on my small N-scale layout, I used a Peco code 80 turnout that is the radius equivalent of some 10", or the equivelant of a #3 or #2. I only run GP engines and 40'-50' cars, so it's workable, but I run nice-and-slow through there.

BTW, a #4 wye is the equivalent radius to a #8 turnout.

---jps

[Don Gibson]

Since we do not have "all-outdoors" to build our railroads, "selective compression" becomes the 'watchword', since we are indoors. When it comes to numbers, to each his own.

Tracks with #4's hold more cars and spacing is better suited for railing de-railed cars.
Choice of #6's (or higher ) for mainline (Turnouts / Crossover's) depend's on 1. brand, 2. engine, and 3. speed taken. Not everybody's #6 are the same.

My experience is There is NO switch made that SOME engine won't like. When a new engine doesn't negotiate a switch, I first install a better brand as they have tighter specs, and that generally solve the problem. Few engines won't navigate a properly laid (and spiked) $20 BK (current owner of the 'Anderson' design).