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Constructing a Series of Diamond Crossings

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Friday, September 27, 2013 10:12 AM

cacole

Practically every one is on a curved track, so there are no commercially available crossings.  If you stick to that track plan, they'll have to be scratch built.

Well, this is where you modify the design to fit what is available, and what you can do. If you can do hand laid, go fo it,

LION would curve into that crossing complex, but the tracks crossing each other would actually be straight, then I would finish the curve on the other side.

How will it work electrically. LION would isolate the whole thing, and only give routes with green signals the power.

LION *likes* his interlocking towers. Take time to build a proper tower for that plant. You will enjoy it.

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Friday, September 27, 2013 9:25 AM

Practically every one is on a curved track, so there are no commercially available crossings.  If you stick to that track plan, they'll have to be scratch built.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Denver, CO
  • 3,576 posts
Posted by Motley on Friday, September 27, 2013 9:01 AM

Uh oh. Are you thinking of starting on the dream layout? What are your plans?

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Constructing a Series of Diamond Crossings
Posted by richhotrain on Friday, September 27, 2013 7:52 AM

On my Dream Layout, I would need to build 20 diamond crossings at Alton Junction in Chicago.

Who can say for certain what the degrees of the various crossings would have to be and, undoubtedly, these exact crossings would not be commercially available.

You can see these crossings in the green box in the drawing below.

That's the bad news.  The good news is that only the tracks outlined in red would be functional as wired tracks. The rest is purely aesthetic.

So, my question is, what would be the most practical way to construct these crossings.  I am thinking handlaid with Fast Tracks or some such thing.  Maybe set it up as one piece that can be dropped in place.

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions?

Rich

Alton Junction

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