Question: HO Dual Gauge 90 Degree Crossing

[ccturnouts]

 For the past 3 weeks I've been trying to get an answer to the question.

Does anyone know of a layout that has a HO dual gauge 90 degree crossing installed with all the proper guard rails? 

The reason for my question is that I completed one for a customer in the South East and he made a comment that my crossing may be the 1st of its kind completed with all 48 mitered rails and guards.

I'd appreciate any feedback. 

Glen

[wedudler]

I know only of  Cream City .

Wolfgang who soldered the track by himself

[ccturnouts]

 

wedudler

Wolfgang

Wolfgang,

That is me......... Cream City Turnouts

Glen

[wedudler]

 My old mistake, I did only read the first sentence.    

 BTW, I like your work. Quite a few friends have bought some turnouts. 

It's not for me, I like building turnouts too much. My second last work was a transition track. Do you have a prototype picture for your transition tracks?

 

Wolfgang

[ccturnouts]

 Wolfgang, 

Thanks for the kind words and I'm also a big fan of your site and illustrates.  Especially the stub switches.  I admire someone with more talent than I and you are a mentor to a lot of train hobbyists.  Thanks for all the good work and contributions you offer.

 Here's my Photo of my Transition Track Right to Left  and Photo

Glen

[markpierce]

Well, I have a dual-gauge layout module upstairs with two dual-gauge crossings.  A single narrow-gauge track crosses two parallel standard-gauge tracks at about 30 degrees.

In the seventies I had a module with a similar arrangement except one of the standard-gauge lines was dual-gauge (three rails)..

Obviously, these don't have all the parts of three-rail dual-gauge crossing a similar track (would that add up to 48 mitered rails?), but I'd find it hard to believe yours is the first.

Mark

[ccturnouts]

 Mark,

If I read your reply correctly, you have a single track (either std. or narrow) crossing a dual gauge track.  That would add up to 32 mitered pieces with all guard rails.  And if the single track cross a pair of dual gauge tracks that still would add up to 32 mitered for each crossing.  My 90 degree crossing is a dual gauge crossing another dual gauge, and that adds up to 48 mitered pieces.  8 mitered pcs. on each of the outer 4 tracks and 4 squares in the inner area adds up to 48.   The one problem with assembling my crossing is that the center area/rails are not soldered to any PC board ties.  The crossing was assembled and then turned over, completely soldered and sanded flush with the bottom flanges.  The trick was to keep all the pieces from falling apart or even becoming misaligned while soldering the bottom.  I managed to do that on my 5 attempt.

Glen

 

[dehusman]

I would find it had to believe that in the last 75 years or so of modeling that a dual gauge crossing hasn't been built before.

[ccturnouts]

 Dave,

That's my initial question, and only because a long time modeler who has it now made the statement, and on my leisure time, I'm trying to find out.  If that the case, someone should have one or know of someone who has one that was built in the last 30 years and is still around.  I'm not claiming that I was the 1st.  But he also stated with all the individual guard rails.

Glen

[trainnut1250]

Glenn,

 

Very nice work.  You are asking the question in the wrong place.  There is very little narrow gauge here.  I might suggest contacting Steve Hatch of Railway engineering, Bob Brown of the Gazette, Jim Vail or Boone Morrison (Old tyme narrow gauge experts) for an answer to your question.  Is there a prototype for this crossing???

 

Guy

[ccturnouts]

 Thanks Guy,

 When I called the NGG no one could give me an answer, but the next time I call I'll ask for Bob Brown.

Prototype?  Nothing more than another old timer asking me to build one for him.  Next time I email/talk to him I'll ask him.

Thanks for the info and have a Great Weekend all!  Cheers

Glen

[TomDiehl]

dehusman

I would find it had to believe that in the last 75 years or so of modeling that a dual gauge crossing hasn't been built before.

Probably not an item that anyone had a need for. Usually a dual gauge crossing would only be dual gauge on one direction, not both.

So Wolfgang, how is this going to be used on the layout? Or is it an item you built for the challenge of it?

[markpierce]

ccturnouts

 Mark,

If I read your reply correctly, you have a single track (either std. or narrow) crossing a dual gauge track.  That would add up to 32 mitered pieces with all guard rails.  And if the single track cross a pair of dual gauge tracks that still would add up to 32 mitered for each crossing.  My 90 degree crossing is a dual gauge crossing another dual gauge, and that adds up to 48 mitered pieces.  8 mitered pcs. on each of the outer 4 tracks and 4 squares in the inner area adds up to 48.   The one problem with assembling my crossing is that the center area/rails are not soldered to any PC board ties.  The crossing was assembled and then turned over, completely soldered and sanded flush with the bottom flanges.  The trick was to keep all the pieces from falling apart or even becoming misaligned while soldering the bottom.  I managed to do that on my 5 attempt.

BK Enterprises assembled my dual-guage crossings.  The most complicated individual one was HOn3 crossing HO-HOn3 dual-gauge, so it had one less rail (and something like 16 less parts?) than yours.  BK assembled it as one piece with no straps or PC ties.  Actually, the crossing was part of another crossing of HOn3 crossing HO, so altogether there was HOn3 crossing HO and then two inches further the HOn3 crossing HO-HOn3 dual gauge, all soldered together into one piece.  After spiking to handlaid ties, I gapped the things and wired 'em.

I admire your perseverence and the quality of your final product.

Mark

 

[markpierce]

TomDiehl

So Wolfgang, how is this going to be used on the layout? Or is it an item you built for the challenge of it?

I would imagine the prototype would use this specialty railwork principally where a train/locomotive has been turned on a wye or balloon track and the specialty track is needed to put the third rail on the correct side.  Also, it could be used where it would significantly reduce the complication of dual-gauge track elsewhere.  For instance, a narrow gauge turnout turning off on the narrow gauge side of dual gauge only requires an extra guard rail on the standard gauge rail, but if the narrow gauge turns off to the other side there would be an additional frog and guard rails.

Mark

[FastTracks]

 Hi Glen,

Here is a shot of the Sipping & Switching Soceities "Frog City" junction on their massive and impressive modular layout...

I think there are one or two dual gauge crossings in there.....

Their Website.

[markpierce]

FastTracks

I think there are one or two dual gauge crossings in there.....

Their Website.

Good grief! 

Mark

[TomDiehl]

markpierce

TomDiehl

So Wolfgang, how is this going to be used on the layout? Or is it an item you built for the challenge of it?

I would imagine the prototype would use this specialty railwork principally where a train/locomotive has been turned on a wye or balloon track and the specialty track is needed to put the third rail on the correct side.  Also, it could be used where it would significantly reduce the complication of dual-gauge track elsewhere.  For instance, a narrow gauge turnout turning off on the narrow gauge side of dual gauge only requires an extra guard rail on the standard gauge rail, but if the narrow gauge turns off to the other side there would be an additional frog and guard rails.

Mark

I'm aware of where a crossing CAN be used. I was asking how he intended to use it, or if it was just built as a challenge.

[wedudler]

 My picture showed a transition track. I've build it as a module for our FREMO meetings. Curved modules have the narrow gauge line at the inner OR at the outer side. So you need a transition module. About the prototype use gave Mark an answer.

 And yes, I like building track. So I'm starting with a new module, Silver Creek. It has three rail track, narrow gauge track, turnouts, stub turnouts and narrow gauge crossings.

Wolfgang

[TomDiehl]

TomDiehl

dehusman

I would find it had to believe that in the last 75 years or so of modeling that a dual gauge crossing hasn't been built before.

Probably not an item that anyone had a need for. Usually a dual gauge crossing would only be dual gauge on one direction, not both.

So Wolfgang, how is this going to be used on the layout? Or is it an item you built for the challenge of it?

Sorry, I meant to address that question to Glen.

[ccturnouts]

 Thanks Tim for the info........  I tried to contact them in regarding the picture displayed. 

The dual gauge in the center actually crosses the 2 main lines and the straight forward dual gauge.

The photo is kind of fuzzy in that area and the rails look like they don't line up.  But it is an impressive combination

of crossing.....

Cheers.

Glen Thomas

[ccturnouts]

 Tom Diehl,

Snip:  "Sorry, I meant to address that question to Glen."

 

I just got an email from the owner of my 90 degree dual gauge crossing and he said there is no prototype he was trying to recreate or setting for the crossing.  He just needed one because he was changing some of his trackbed from standard to dual.

I'm going to try and make a 60, 45, and a 30 when the turnout business slows down a bit.

Glen 

[Texas Zepher]

ccturnouts

Does anyone know of a layout that has a HO dual gauge 90 degree crossing installed with all the proper guard rails?

Installed, no.  I do remember a company advertising in MR back in the 1970s.  The advertisement was for a dual-gauge crossing through a dual gauge turnout.  They had a picture of it in the ad.