Maximum radius

[crisco1]

What is the maximum radius coming off an atlas no.6 switch?  The

curve will be use to connect a industrial switching area.

                                                                                    Thanks,

                                                                                     Chris

[charlie9]

I no longer use Atlas switches but as best I can remember, the track coming off the frog is straight.  This is true of the through and diverging route.  You can use any radius curve you want beyond the switch but I would suggest a little bit of easement leading into the curve.

Be happy in your work.

Charlie

[BroadwayLion]

crisco1

What is the maximum radius coming off an atlas no.6 switch?  The

curve will be use to connect a industrial switching area.

                                                                                    Thanks,

                                                                                     Chris

 

LION knows not what you mean. A number 6 switch has no radius. A straight track continues on the tangent, and another straight track comes off of the diverging side. The MAXIMUM curve would be 0 degrees, or in other words straignt or what is called tangent. Itwould have no radius since it is not a curve?

What is the maximum curve? That depends on your equipment. Unlike a snap switch which is 1/3rd of an 18" radius curve peice, ala snap track, a numberd turnout is not part of any curve. On a number 6 turnout, the track will divert one unit for every six units of forward movement. It will divert 1" after 6" from the points.

In an industrial switching area you can make the curves as tight as you need to in order to make them fit. Of course you may have to limit the track to smaller cars and engines, but that is what happens on industrial track.

 

ROAR

[7j43k]

I agree with Charlie and Lion.

 

BUT.

 

I seem to recall it being said once that a #6 switch was roughly equivalent to a 48" curve on the diverging route.

I think perhaps that "roughly" should be "ROUGHLY".  If ya get my drift, pardner.

[IRONROOSTER]

From John Armstrong's book Track Planning for Realistic Operation (which everyone who builds a layout should have a copy of):

The radius of substitution for a #6 switch (HO) is approximately 56 inches. 

Keep in mind manfacturers frequently have some variations in their turnouts.

Enjoy

Paul

[cuyama]

I wonder if the Original Poster is asking about the radius to curve back to parallel from the #6 diverging leg while maintaining a set track-to-track distance. Perhaps he will return and clarify.

[tomikawaTT]

There is also the included radius - the radius of the curved closure rail.  It's rather less than the substitution radius.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)