I have a small lay out where I run bachmann consolidations (When in steam) and rs-3's when modeling the diesel eras with mostly 40 foot cars. I want to add a wye at one of the lay out but only have room for a 15 R leg on one side. I already run with #4 switches and 18 R track. I am thinking since its only going to be for turning 4 axel units slowly it should be okay. Any thoughts?
bigcreekcowboy I have a small lay out where I run bachmann consolidations (When in steam) and rs-3's when modeling the diesel eras with mostly 40 foot cars. I want to add a wye at one of the lay out but only have room for a 15 R leg on one side. I already run with #4 switches and 18 R track. I am thinking since its only going to be for turning 4 axel units slowly it should be okay. Any thoughts?
Welcome to the forums!
As you may or may not know your 1st few posts will be moderated, so we wont here back from you until tomorrow.
You will want to test this before you commit to it. The Rs-3s maybe. The Consolidations probably wont fit around that curve. I dont own a bachman rs-3, so I cant test it for you.
If you have a piece of flex track you can try laying out a 15" radius curve. If it doesnt work youve saved the cost of turnouts, plus you can re-use it for something else. If it does work the flex track can be used to make the wye. With flextrack you might be able to open up the radius a bit (would a 17" radius fit?).
to answer your question you may want to look at slightly different design for your why. I don;t know how much space you have but it may be worth looking it. here are some options. On the left below is a "wye" with a diamond which will give you 18 inch radius curvers but it requires a custom diamond to be fabricated. it takes up a longer foot print horizontally but gives broader curves. the image on the right is a why with 15" radius curves for scale.
another option that doesn't require a custom diamond is below. it uses #4 turnouts like you have as well as a 45 degree diamond This broadens the curves to about 20 inch radius curvers. The only drawback is the switches are farther apart.
I don't know if this helps or not but railroads had the same issues with space and some got really creative on how the made their wyes. I hope these suggestions will give you some ideas to work with.
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
Since Renegade1c has pretty thoroughly covered the wye topic, I'll just mention that you could consider a reverse loop if you just want a way to turn your trains around and are limited by space. A reverse loop with 18" curves could can be done in an area less than 5' x 3.5'.
A wye seems more space-hungry because in addition to the triangle arrangement you need to have legs sticking out long enough to hold whatever you're trying to turn around. A small wye would mean a lot of back-and-forthing for a decent length train. An 18" reverse loop could turn around a train of, coincidentally, eighteen 40' cars at once.
Considered a 90ft. turntable?
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
steemtrayn Considered a 90ft. turntable?
I think this is your best bet. It should also handle your consolidations.
Otherwise get some 15" radius curve sectons and try it out. Your diesels could make it. But it depends on if the trucks will swivel enough (or you can modify the drive train, body, or trucks to allow it).
Good luck
Paul
Renegade has a good idea. Here's another...Make a wye turnout entirely of #2 wyes. (That's equivalent to a #4 in each direction) I would model it for you, but I'm on my work computer lunch hour and I can't install non-authorized software to model it up for you. (Sorry)
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Hello all,
I built a Wye consisting of two PECO #2 insulfrog turnouts; L/H & R/H, connected by Atlas 15-inch radius sectional track; two sections per leg to an Atlas Mark IV Wye.
Because my pike is DCC I used an MRC AD520 auto reversing unit. I believe these are out of production but any quality AR unit will work.
The AR unit draws its power from the mainline "outside" the Wye (see this thread http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/238358.aspx).
All of these turnouts are remotely powered. Because the PECOs need to be trigged simultaneously, these and all my turnouts, are activated by a CDU.
All this fits on my 4'x8' pike.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"