Track planning

[zstripe]

Kyle,

I believe,that you need to do a little bit more research,on track and turnouts. Peco,is great,expensive,you can get by without a Elect. switch machine,they have a center spring,that you can flip,to change turnout direction, you can get by with a small,4.5 for your size and a six wheel engine should be OK. If you go with a Atlas,turnout #4. The Atlas,you can use they're Switch machine,or a Tortoise machine,or even a Caboose Ind. ground throw. For your size layout,you could use all ground throws. 42''x 18'' is really not that big,especially,if it is HO. The radius,that they refer to for the six-wheeler,recommended, 18'' to 22'' is for curves. not necessarily for turnouts. And forget using Atlas snap-switches.(turnouts). You really need to make up your mind, as far as the track,you want to use, like will you be using,any flex track,then stay with the brand you choose,for all your track, less hassle's with fitting things together that way.

Cheers, 

Frank

[Kyle]

What would be a good switch machine, that is reasonably priced? I am looking at an electric one like a snap switch.

[Kyle]

I am planning on a 42" by 18" switching layout with a 42" by 18" staging yard, though I could do a 42" by 28" layout.

What are quality turnouts that are reasonably priced? I hear pecos are good.

I have been looking at the peco code 100 small radius turnouts. Would six axle locomotives be able to run on those (like the Athearn SD40-2s they say minimum radius 18, recommend 22)? Should I get the electrofrogs or insulatedfrogs (I have DC but will probably upgrade it to a DCC system)?

[cuyama]

PennCentral99

So an Atlas #4 is different than a #4 from Peco, Micro Engineering, Walthers, etc?

Yes. In fact, an Atlas #4 is actually a #4.5. PECO HO Code 75 and Code 100 "Small", Medium" and "Large" are all #4.5 frog with different radii of the diverging leg. Walthers C83 #4 is a true #4, and thus sharper than any of those. And so on. 

All of the manufacturers differ in overall dimensions, length of lead to the frog, etc.

PennCentral99

Whats the point of NMRA Standards and a track gauge?

Different topic. The track gauge is the same (essentially) for all of the HO turnouts -- track gauge is an NMRA standard. The NMRA turnout configurations (RP.12) are a recommended practice, not a standard. As far as I know, only the FastTracks jigs follow the NMRA RPs -- which is a bit of a shame, because the leads are a bit short for best appearance and operation.

[Kyle]

I am planning a 42" by 18" switching layout with another 42" by 18" staging yard, though I could go to a 42" by 28" (28" to get through the door), but I would like a staging yard to store several locomotive and different cars ( I am planning on have four industries with different cars).

[zstripe]

Kyle,

One point that has not been mentioned yet, Is the actual size of the proposed layout,, you may like one particular plan of a layout and may even design,your own, but will it fit in the area you have. For instance,you mentioned six axle power,some will work on 22'' radius,some will not,if you plan on having a 4x8 layout,the biggest radius curves you can use are 22''. Like I said,you have to plan a layout for the size of the space you have available. Then you can lay it out with template's if you like.

Cheers, 

Frank

[zstripe]

You are not being stupid,just misinformed,as to what the standards mean.. Frog angle,turnout length,tie height,etc. etc. vary from different Mfgs. The standards is the Gauge,of said products,not what they look like,in appearance and how they fit together. Didn't mention,guard rail width,track height and so forth.

Cheers, 

Frank

[PennCentral99]

zstripe

I believe, Byron,gave the best advice the OP,hopefully he will understand,that track is different,from different,manufactures. So in planning,that must be considered.

Cheers, 

Frank

OK, I'm gonna go out on a limb and be stupid. So an Atlas #4 is different than a #4 from Peco, Micro Engineering, Walthers, etc? Whats the point of NMRA Standards and a track gauge?

[zstripe]

I believe, Byron,gave the best advice the OP,hopefully he will understand,that track is different,from different,manufactures. So in planning,that must be considered.

Cheers, 

Frank

[Dannyboy6]

I have used SCARM. It's free and has many different scales, brands, and codes in its track database.

Have fun!

Dan

[Kyle]

I have been looking at the peco code 100 small radius turnout. I wanted to know if the Athearn 6 axle locomotives (like the SD40-2) would be able to handle these tight turnouts. I also wanted to know if I should get the insulated frogs (Insulfrog), or the powered frogs (Electrofrog), I have DC but I want my layout to be "DCC ready".

[peahrens]

I decided on the Walther Shinohara code 83 turnouts but didn't find their tiny template very handy (fuzzy when multiplied 16x to full size).  So I gave up on paper and pencil planning, which some prefer.

I then used track planning software (XTrackCAD), drawing on the W-S turnouts, Atlas (poor choice) crossings, W-S curved track sections or custom radii as needed to come up with my 5' x 10' or so plan.  Then ordered sample turnouts and made actual size copies.  Translated the track plan to a 6" grid and laid out the plan, using the turnouts/copies as key tie points and making real size adjustments while laying turnouts, crossings and flex track (substituted for the XTrackCAD curves). 

[Kyle]

What is a good quality switch that is reasonable priced? I hear Pecos are good, but are they reasonably priced?

[skagitrailbird]

Here is a link to Walther's track components:

https://www.walthers.com/page/code83trackTemplate.pdf

Good luck!

[cuyama]

You would be well-advised to use the same brand of turnouts for templates that you expect to build with. Otherwise, what you plan may not fit. So if you tell folks what turnouts you plan to use, they may be able to help you locate an on-line source. Or you may buy one sample of each size that you plan to use and scan-and-print or make Xerox copies. You can flip a left-hand over to make a right-hand image.

["JaBear"]

Gidday Kyle, i don't know what brand of trak you want to use but here's a link tot he Peco turnout templates.

http://www.peco-uk.com/page.asp?id=pointplans

Cheers, the Bear.

[PennCentral99]

http://www.handlaidtrack.com/Fast-Tracks-Printable-Track-Templates-s/11.htm

[Kyle]

I don't have switches, and I don't want to buy anything before I plan my layout.

[steemtrayn]

Take a switch to Staples and have them run off a few copies of it.

[Kyle]

I read that for small layouts a good idea is to print the outlines of switches and then lay them out. What is a good website to print the outlines from?