How to Use or Justify 90 to 15 degree Crossings on a Layout.

[cx500]

On the prototype diamond crossings were custom designed to fit the exact angle of intersection when two main lines crossed.  The fit was exact, specified in degrees-minutes-seconds.  Very rarely were diamond frogs from one location usable anywhere else.

The exception would be in industrial districts, where sometimes track alignments could be juggled to match the angle of an already designed diamond crossing. If the railroad was really lucky, standard turnout frogs could be used for two of the frogs of a diamond.

On a model railroad, where geography is installed after track is laid, we have the luxury of aligning the track to fit a commercially available diamond crossing.  In the real world you just cannot rotate that large warehouse 5.6 degrees to match a diamond.  Nor would you  put a kink in a main line - both will maintain their straight alignment.  (I will ignore the exceptional cases where one of the mainlines is curving, making the design of the frogs even more complex

The justification for any diamond angle is that is what the alignment of the two tracks required.  If you are able to build and hand-lay your own diamond, build what's needed.   Otherwise you will be limited to the handful of angles in commercially available track.

John

[Software Tools]

BRAKIE

One can't fully depend on what the layout "experts" say in their books....

Or what forum "experts" say for that matter too!

[glutrain]

Dave, while I have photos, I find that the photo storage sites tend to time out before my dial up speed can upload 4+ mega byte photos. Broadband is available, but cost difference is currently being used to reduce our home mortgage. I still get too many squiggles whenever I attempt one of my drawing programs. Don H.

[BRAKIE]

Or what forum "experts" say for that matter too!

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Very true especially the wanna be experts.

I been studying railroads for over 55 years and misspent 9 1/2 years working as a brakeman-the experience was priceless with excellent pay.

Searching Google will supply tons of answers from FRA to railroad maps and in some cases types of industry served and what each car type carries-its more then some think.Google and Bing maps is a strong research tool for prototypical track work and lay of the land one intends to model.

I can't tell you how to make a hand laid turnout but,I can teach you how to design a layout with prototypical track work.I can't tell a FMC boxcar from a Sieco boxcar but,I can tell you what they haul.I can teach you how the prototype switches cars and make urban industrial scenery..

That's my forte in the hobby.