2 Layout Questions Another Question

[superbe]

Still in the planning stage but getting closer.

 Question #1 Will 12 inches fron a wall be enough space for an average size person to work on the back side of a 4 foot wide top?? The answer is 18 inches

Question #2  What is the difference between a turn out and a wye and can the wye be automically operated? The answer to tjis is I was thinking of a cross over not a wye.

New Question.... I have been reading as many threads as possible dealing with building a layout. One subject I haven't headr mentioned is the pro and cons of EZ track and others like it. If balasted it looks like it would be a good option.

Any thoughts on this???

Thanks,

Bob

 

Thanks,

Bob 

[joe-daddy]

Still in the planning stage but getting closer.

 Question #1 Will 12 inches fron a wall be enough space for an average size person to work on the back side of a 4 foot wide top??

Question #2  What is the difference between a turn out and a wye and can the wye be automically operated?

Thanks,

Bob 

1 - Stand, maybe, work, no

2 - Think of a Wye as two pices of curved track pointing away from each other. A turnout is a straight section and a curved section. 

3 - Yes, Wyes can be automated like other turnouts.

 

Joe 

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

1.  Push a table to a foot from the wall, put some stuff on it and try to work.  I don't think it's going to work.

2.  The term wye is used to describe two things, a wye turnout, and the trackwork arrangement that can be used to turn a train, which often uses a wye turnout as part of it.

http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips3/reversing_tips.html

 

 

[superbe]

Hey Joe & Jeff,

You're right on about the distance. Putting a card table against the wall was on was a good way to find out. Some times I have troble with the obvious. It will take at least 18 inches and then stand back a few inches so as not to disturb the scenery on the edge.

Also I checked out the Wyes.

Can they be used in a yard?

Thanks,

Bob

[twcenterprises]

A wye can be either:

A turnout with both legs curved (away from one another), or

A set of 3 turnouts (can be either wyes or regular ones) arranged in a triangular fashion so as to reverse a train (or to allow a spur/branchline to be entered from either direction).

A wye turnout can be used any place you find it necessary.  A wye arrangement can be used anyplace you care to place it.  Just remember, the wye arrangement WILL create a reversing section (electrically), so you WILL need to insulate both rails and wire it accordingly.

Brad

[superbe]

Hey Brad,

The wye interested me because it looks like it would let a train change tracks with alot less space, in other woeds close togther. That was why I thought they would be usefull in a yard. I've got to start with the simple layout and get it up and running and I know wiring will be a challenge.

Thanks for the reply.

Bob

[jbinkley60]

Hey Brad,

The wye interested me because it looks like it would let a train change tracks with alot less space, in other woeds close togther. That was why I thought they would be usefull in a yard. I've got to start with the simple layout and get it up and running and I know wiring will be a challenge.

Thanks for the reply.

Bob

Depending upon what you are trying to accomplish you might want to look at a 3-way switch for saving space. 

 

[dehusman]

The wye interested me because it looks like it would let a train change tracks with alot less space, in other woeds close togther. That was why I thought they would be usefull in a yard. I've got to start with the simple layout and get it up and running and I know wiring will be a challenge.

A "wye' switch is actually called an "equilateral switch.  Both legs diverge from the track centerline at and equal rate, both legs or routes have the same divergance. 

A "wye" track arrangement allows railroad equipment, from a single engine to an entire train to be turned (the same as a "3 point turn" you make in your car) or at a junction allows trains from a one route to proceed in either direction on the other route.

A wye switch has a angle of divergance roughly equal to a switch of half its frog number.  So a #3 wye can be used with #6 switches.  Just remember that what you gain in length you can lose in width. In many cases if you use two wye switches arranged to form a crossover (without trimming), the resulting track arrangement may end up about twice as wide as a normal crossover.  You also can't build a ladder of wye switches because each route diverges.

Wyes are very useful, but they do have their limitations.

Dave H.

[superbe]

Hey Dave,

Thanks for the info. I'm just a beginner as you can probably tell so I'll have to see how a Wye(s) will work in my plas as I go along.

I thought I saw them being used as a cross over for two parallel main lines.

Bob