As i get closer to building my layout, It just dawned on me that there are different turnout numbers. I have been planning so much that i have looked over this vital part. My question is, what number turnouts would my layout use? As you can see below, it has several turnouts. Is it possible to determine by eye?
You can get turnout templates at the Fast Tracks site. I think it might still be called handlaidtrack.com, but not sure. Print out what you think should be your minimum radius or frog angle and map it all out on your area using 3/4" masking tape. Be very strict on yourself with your curves and turnouts because when you go to close the loop, if you have fudged anything along the way you'll have to do a whole bunch of it over.
FWIW, an Atlas #4 that is not a 'snap switch' is really a #4.5 which works better than the snap version. However, I suspect that a Customline #5 is about the longest turnout and shallowest frog angle you will want/can use. Depends on what size of empire you are building, but if it's in a small room and shoved into a corner, say like a ping pong table or a sheet of plywood, #5's will be about the most you can use. If it's a largely linear switching layout, maybe #6.
Crandell
I can't see your layout diagram, but you will want to understand that higher number of turnouts have less severe turns to the diverging track.
What equipment you want to run, its recommended radii on turns (from a mechanical and looks realism standpoint) comes into play, in combination with the radii of your mainline and tightest (e.g., spur to an industry) turns. In HO, most consider turn radius of 15" very(!) tight, 18" somewhat tight (a significant compromise), 22" a desired minimum but if running long equipment (locos & passenger cars), getting 26" or so is desirable from a looks standpoint and in ideal cases even 30+". Having said that, a #4 turnout (diverges 1" every 4" from the frog) is tight, a #4.5 somewhat tight, a #5 perhaps typical for yards, a #6 (or #8 if the length is affordable) nice for mainline / crossovers, etc. There are also curved turnouts where you need them.
I'll see if I can add some NMRA related links on curvature and turnout info:
http://nmra.org/standards/sandrp/rp-11.html
If you want to take the trouble to lay out with track planning software (like XTrackCAD, but there's a learning curve) you can piece together your layout with optional turnouts from "libraries" of various manufacturers and their particular turnout options.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
There are a few considerations that determine turnout number. For example, #4 and #6 can be used for yards and sidings where slower speeds are used. Larger number turnouts are useful for mainlines although #6s can be used. Another consideration is the type of locomotives and rolling stock. Short wheelbase steamers, 4 axle diesels can handle #4s while longer wheelbase steamers and 6 axle diesels will have difficulty. Curved turnouts present their own set of problems. Post a track plan and I'm sure that the more experienced members will have suggestions for you.
Joe
Well, at the moment I can't see anything below. So let us go back to basics.
The simplest track switch is the snap switch which comes with the train set you got when you were 12 years old. The straight side was equal to a straight section of track. The curved part was equal to 2/3s of a normal curve, and they gave you a piece of 1/3 curve to finish the curve or to turn it around and go in a different direction.
Railroads do not do things that way, yet they do have a need for different size turnouts. The number (4, 6, 8, 10, 20 etc) has to do with how sharp the diversion is from the tangent (straight) track. A number 4 turnout moves ahead 4 units of measurement for every 1 unit of measurement that it diverts from the tangent. Using a rule of thumb, this turnout would be negotiated at 8 miles per hour.
A number 6 turnout diverts one unit for every 6 units of forward movement, and is rated at 12 mph. (across the diversion).
A number 8 turnout diverts one unit for every eight of travel and is rated at 16 mph.
A number 10 turnout diverts etc etc at 20 mph.
A number 20 turnout etc etc at 40 mph.
So you tell me how fast your train is going to go through your turnouts.
Of course in model making there is some compression in order to make things fit. LION sticks mostly with #4 and #6 turnouts: four in the yards where him wants more space to park trains and six out on the mane lion where him might want to run trains at greater speed. Fortunately the speeds that are visited by the rule of thumb for the 1:1 can be fudged in the 1:87, LION runs trains at about 30 - 35 miles per hour, and the number 6 turnouts have no problems with this.
Now it may come to pass that you want your yard tracks closer together, so instead of using No. 4, you can use No 6, and cut off the excess track on the tangents so that you can pull the turnouts closer together.
PLAY with it. See what fits.
If you run trains in a subway tunnel, you need to use a smaller number so that there is still place to put the pillars that hold the street up over your head.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Lion:
Just curious where did the rule of thumb originate?
LION does not know where he heard of it.
THUMBS RULE!
JoeinPA Lion: Just curious where did the rule of thumb originate? Joe
Most railroad engineering handbooks rate the speed through the diverging leg of a turnout at twice the frog number.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Here's the layout: http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Track%20Plans/Alexs4x8Revised.jpg
Jim:
Thanks for the info. I'm always amazed at the depth of knowledge that exists in the members of this forum.
BroadwayLion LION does not know where he heard of it. THUMBS RULE!
But I didn't think that lions had thumbs .
JoeinPABut I didn't think that lions had thumbs
HERE is thumb of LION:
So i posted the plan below. Does it look like some of them will be different than the others? or are they all 6. The tracks are not that close together but for the outer track at the left where the tunnel is. They look to be different.
You still aren't posting the plan, see the bottom of this post for how to do it properly.
Here is the original:
A minimum of research with Google images reveals that this plan was developed by a formerly active member of this forum, pcarrell, included on the first page of this old thread (and elsewhere on the web):http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/99636.aspx
Your best bet would be to contact him to ask what turnouts he used, but he has been gone from the forum for a while, so he may not respond to a private message. You could try, though.
If you join Photobucket, you might also be able to reach him via his profile there:http://s83.photobucket.com/user/pcarrell/profile/
trainman251Does it look like some of them will be different than the others? or are they all 6.
At a quick glance I don't think that there are any #6s in the plan. Where did you get that idea?
A number of the turnouts appear to me to be Atlas 18" radius SnapSwitches, which are in effect sharper than a #4. Some of the others appear to be Atlas #4s (actually #4 1/2, but that's not important). I could be wrong, but that's my best guess.
By the way, to post images to the forum, simply click on the "insert image" button
then paste the URL ("http:// ...") into the box that appears and click "Insert"
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