Ken, I have the same problem with my Paragon 2 J1a 2-10-4. It has bent and broken 3 atlas switches on me. 1 #8 and 2 #6s. It will not run through #4s or some #6s. Love the engine, but for now it’s more tro than it’s worth. 3 25 dollar switches later, the engine is now a shel queen until I buy a PECO or Shinohara #8 turnout. Watch your switches with these mighty PRR steamers or you may need to replace more! Make sure that if you need to buy a new switch, get peco or shinohara so that you won’t need to replace it hopefully in the near future due to these Locos.
Just because you have over 8000 post does not mean you cannot be a Looked the turnout in question, it is a Atalas 4.5 brass rail turn out I bought at a tran show 8 years ago. That explains why the M1a cannot make the turn! Going to dig through my box of turnouts looking for a 6 or 8.
Thanks for all the kind answers
Ken Posting Again.
I hate Rust
cudakenBulit most of the layout about 10 years ago. I think most of the turnouts are #8 but how to tell with out pulling the turnout to read the back?
Count the ties from the frog to the ends of the points. Compare with a known turnout of your brand.
If they are Atlas, you can find pictures on their website.
Paul
It's pretty easy to measure these things. Pick a unit of measurement, and figure out if the turnout goes, say, six units on the straight route to diverge 1 unit, or 8, or 4.
Rob Spangler
My version of the easiest thing to do:
Git yerself a quarter inch wide strip of evergreen plastic. Place the end on top of the diverging rails at the outbound end of the frog. Measure the distance from that strip back to the point of the frog. Divide that distance by either .25 or 1/4 (your choice).
That is the frog number.
No switch removal necessary.
Ed
Easiest thing to do - pick a track planning program - the free Atlas one is perfectly suitable - and place JUST a single turnout, and print to full size. One for each sze (you can just flip the paper over for left/right).
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
doctorwayneKen, if your Atlas turnouts were installed 10 years ago, it's unlikely that any of them are #8s, as those are a fairly recent offering.
Atlas #8s in HO were being offered by January 2005 at least. I used some for a track plan around that time (and they appear in ads in MR). But I think you're right, Ken's are probably #6s or #4s (Atlas are actually #4½).
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Few engines are going to complain about a #8 or even a #6. But, there are some...
I have put my layout away in preparation for a move, and I have no #8 turnouts anyway.
Do you have any uninstalled turnouts you can scan and make a template? That's a good way of identifying them. Can anyone else post a full-sized template he can print?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Ken, if your Atlas turnouts were installed 10 years ago, it's unlikely that any of them are #8s, as those are a fairly recent offering. Most likely the larger ones are #6s, and anything smaller would be a #4.
Wayne
Bulit most of the layout about 10 years ago. I think most of the turnouts are #8 but how to tell with out pulling the turnout to read the back?
Second part and what cause the question I started running my old Pargon M1-a dragging Pullman Heavy Weight Passanger Cars. It cannot make the turnout that leads to the passanger station. Dang, I know the word but cannot spell it! If the turnout is not throwen the M1-a has no problem. The HO passanger are getting mad they have to walk to the staton and I am tired of hearing there complants!
Thanks for the coming answers. Cuda Ken