Yard Turnouts....what is most common??

[trainmanwv]

I'm looking at track to get my layout yard up and operational, and I was wondering what is the most common turnout used for yard tracks?? 

[tstage]

Matt,

The most common is probably a #4.  #6s (and larger) are nicer but take up more real estate.  How long is your yard going to be?

Tom 

[riogrande5761]

Personally I wouldn't use less than a #6 and they don't require much more real estate anyway.  That way you can run long cars and 6 axle loco's thru without them looking goofy.  If you model only short stuff like 4 axle loco's and 40/50 foot box cars, by all means, use #4.

[nfmisso]

I'm looking at track to get my layout yard up and operational, and I was wondering what is the most common turnout used for yard tracks?? 

Prototypes: #8, #10 and #12.

For our model trains, depends on your space, and lenghts of your models.  If your running 89' cars, #6 are going to be really tight.  If you are running 40' cars, #4 are no problem at all.

[Don Gibson]

DEPENDING on your selection of equipment ...

6 axle Diesels and Steam work best on #6s and the rest #4s.

[UP2CSX]

Really, what turnout is the most common is irrelevant. I'm certain the #4's are the most common just because of space considerations but the most important question has already been asked - how much space do you have available for your yard? If you have the space, #6 or even #8 turnouts will look much better and give you more reliable operation. OTOH, I don't have the space in my six track yard for anything but #4's. I can run 6 axle power and 60 foot cars because I first made sure the turnouts and yard trackage were pefectly aligned and leveled. I also make sure I run at prototypical speeds, which means something like 10 mph, although my 70 tonner can zip through at about 30 mph and scare the brakemen.  

[tomikawaTT]

The real driving force in choosing turnout size is the kind of rolling stock you have.  If you're modeling the DM&IR - nothing but 24-foot ore cars, switched by short, 4-truck diesels, you could get away with #3 turnouts.  OTOH, if your roster runs to piggyback flats, auto racks and humonguboxes #6 turnouts might be a snug fit.  While most people will say #4, if they are using Atlas commercial turnouts they are actually closer to #4.5.

I personally hand-lay my specialwork.  For low-speed (yard and terminal throat) trackage used by relatively short cars (my longest are a little over ten inches between coupler faces) I use #5 frogs, or else build turnouts with dimensions governed by the fall of carefully curved flex track.  You can't buy the latter, nor can you build them with standard jigs.  OTOH, building up a turnout from raw rail isn't difficult - and the price beats the pants off any commercial product.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[wedudler]

I've used the new Peco code 83 #6:

Wolfgang 

[wjstix]

The real driving force in choosing turnout size is the kind of rolling stock you have.  If you're modeling the DM&IR - nothing but 24-foot ore cars, switched by short, 4-truck diesels, you could get away with #3 turnouts.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

I would think a four-TRUCK diesel would be HUGE!?!?

For modelling a good compromise is a no.5 turnout, it's almost as sharp (and space saving) as a no.4, but operationally is much less limited than a no.4 - you may need to run road engines into or thru the yard on occassion, they're less likely to have trouble with no.5's than no.4's. 

BTW - the DMIR only had a very few four-AXLE diesels, generally used SD9's for switching service after their 0-8-0, 0-10-0 and 0-10-2 switchers were retired.  

[johncolley]

It depends on the era and equipment you are running. I model late '40's to '50, and all my freight cars are 36 to 40 feet. I may, rarely, use a #4 for an industrial spur, or a branching spur on industry property that will only see a car or two and a switcher, I use #6 as a minimum on the ladder track with #8's for Arrival/Departure tracks. I also use #8's for any passenger equipment tracks, and #9's as a minimum for mainline crossover tracks. It is interesting to check out the variances between brands. I use Central Valley #9's simply because although I would prefer Walthers #10's, the CV point to frog distance is longer than Wally's, giving a larger, smoother radius, i.e.: more esthetically pleasing operation! With the trend in modern equipment to greater length wheelbases, I would certainly favour the larger turnouts, even for freight. jc5729 John Colley, Port Townsend, WA

[Lillen]

I'm going with #8 because I use a LOT of passenger cars. Also I think they look better. I'm more then happy to sacrifice space for this.

 

Magnus

[DigitalGriffin]

This is a BASIC space saving design #6 turnout yard.  It is 9'6" long, and can accomodate 2 trains up to 5'6" long.  It has 6 yard storage tracks.

Green: Main line

Blue: A/D track

Gray: Switcher lead pocket

Orange: Yard Ladder

Purple: Yard Storage

Red: Caboose track or run around track

White: Services track/Top run around

Red: Caboose track or run around track

#6 turnouts are okay if you want to run passenger trains as the R-Subt is around 30"  The vast vast majority of passenger cars out there can handle this kind of turn.

If you have room, then go with a #8.  Otherwise #6 is okay.

 

[jamnest]

I use #6 Atlas Code 83 for yards and industrial sidings.  I am modern (1981) eara with 50' cars and longer.

I use #8 for main line.

JIM

[riogrande5761]

Its better to be conservate and go larger if in doubt.  IMHO, #4 turnouts are a thing of the past for yards, just like 4x8 layouts and 18-inch curves.  A few still use them but talk about a straight jacket! 

#6 are the best compromise which will allow you to operate a fairly wide variety of equipment and not "buyers remorse" later.

My last layout yard was designed like Lillin to allow long 89' cars access to the main yard tracks.  I used #8 curved turnout for the far ends of the yard main passing track - both ends and a #8 cross over in the middle.  I also used #8 for the TOFC yard entry tracks.  Then for the body with a double ended ladder, I used #6 turnouts which would be for mostly 50 and 60 modern freight cars, and maybe a few 89' auto racks and flat cars.  Ideally next time I might go with #7 turnout for the yard ladder, but #6 is a good compromise for space limited modelers and beginners.

[Anonymous]

Woops! I use #4 turnouts for everything except mainline crossovers! Of course, I model the modern era, and only use a max. of 60' cars, except for trains that stay on the main! (Amtrak)

[tomikawaTT]

The real driving force in choosing turnout size is the kind of rolling stock you have.  If you're modeling the DM&IR - nothing but 24-foot ore cars, switched by short, 4-truck diesels, you could get away with #3 turnouts.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

I would think a four-TRUCK diesel would be HUGE!?!?

BTW - the DMIR only had a very few four-AXLE diesels, generally used SD9's for switching service after their 0-8-0, 0-10-0 and 0-10-2 switchers were retired.

I bow to your superior wisdom - and concede that my fingers didn't type what my brain was thinking .  Everything I know about the DM&IR is that one of their 2-8-8-4s is (or was) on display at a golf course close to a huge yard which (when I saw it) was crammed with ore cars.

Actually, I can think of a 4-truck diesel that wouldn't be particularly huge - SW1500 and slug.

My own typical freight car is about ore-car size - but the two fixed axles aren't very happy on true #4 frogs - hence, my preference for #5s.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[hardcoalcase]

Just in case we didn't confuse you enough...  

I've used Walthers #5 turnouts; they are hard to distinguish from #6, but save a bit of space.

[Medina1128]

At the local hobby shop I buy most of my stuff at, they used double slip switches for their yard. They're able to get a lot of tracks in a small area.