A PECO TURNOUT QUESTION"

[TrainsRMe1]

Hey Guys n Gals, I have a question for you,

           I have a curved turnout on my mainline, but here's the problem, it seems that when I have a train come out of the turnout, it would derail, would you suggest that I take a piece of Atlas curved track, to make the radii smoother,

Thanks for the help in this matter, hope all is well,

  Trainsrme1 

[BigDaddy]

In curved tracks, which is the diverging route?

Since we can't see it, there is a lot left to the imagination.  Does your peco curved turnout connects to a piece of straight track or one of lesser radius?  Does it derail from the inside and outside route or just one?  Is there an S curve created?

In the world of sectional track a curved piece is attached to a straight piece routinely. 

Those of us who use flex track, try to have a transition into the curve.  That simply means if you intend to have a 24" radius curve, the curve begins with a larger radius; for arguments sake, lets say 30", then it tightens to 28", 26 and then to 24" 

My inclination would be to use flex track, but I don't know for sure that a curved track would not work.  Someone else will be able to tell us exactly what radius Peco uses, but the two tracks are of different radii so you would have to take that into account if you used sectional track.

 One also assumes there aren't kinks in the connection to your turnouts or other track laying wierdness.

 

 

[hon30critter]

FEI (For Everyone's Information), Peco makes curved turnouts with differing radii.

Code 100 curved turnouts are 60"/30" radii. Code 83 curved turnouts are 60"/36".

For the OP, Henry has asked some important questions so have a look at each of those potential issues.

From my experience with the club's portable layout the first thing I would look at is whether or not there are any kinks where the turnouts connect to the adjoining track. It doesn't take much to cause problems, and the kinks that cause problems aren't always obvious to the naked eye. If you sight down the track (in other words, get down with your eyes at track level) the kinks may be easier to see.

Dave

[richhotrain]

TrainsRMe1

I have a curved turnout on my mainline, but here's the problem, it seems that when I have a train come out of the turnout, it would derail, would you suggest that I take a piece of Atlas curved track, to make the radii smoother 

On the basis of the information that you have provided, it would be next to impossible to point out the problem. But, in any event, I doubt that adding a piece of Atlas curved track would solve the problem.

Besides the questions already asked, let me add a few more.

Does each and every train that you run derail coming out of the turnout, or just some of your trains?

What happens if you run those trains in the opposite direction? Do they derail coming into the turnout?

What derails? The loco or one or more of the cars that it is pulling?

Which wheelset derails? The lead wheelset or the trailing wheelset?

What types of locomotives are you running on your layout?

You are going to need to tell us a lot more about this problem.

Rich

[selector]

After checking the gauges of the varioius wheelsets involved, whether or not they're all properly installed and spaced from their axle ends, and gauging the turnout to ensure its various clearances conform to the NMRA gauge, I would look carefully at the radius of the route you are having trouble with, the points are lying flush to the stock rail and that they're very sharp, and ensure the whole appliance isn't torsioned, doesn't sag midships, or isn't humped at or near the frog...  Somewhere in all of that lies your answer.  I don't believe anything except a brass 2-10-4 or higher driver set should have trouble with the Peco curved turnout if those radii mentioned are correct, and my money would still go heavily on the Peco's through route.  The inside route may be different with a long non-articulated steamer.

[Anonymous]

hon30critter

FEI (For Everyone's Information), Peco makes curved turnouts with differing radii. Code 100 curved turnouts are 60"/30" radii. Code 83 curved turnouts are 60"/36".

They also make settrack curved turnouts, ST-245/246.  They have a tighter radius on both routes.  They match two of the Set track radii.  I do not remember which two.   The largest, R4, is 22.25".  One or both of the radii are smaller than that on these two turnouts.

Is this the OP's problem, probably not, but I figured it was worth mentioning.

[markie97]

I found that I had to shim the guard rails on my Peco code 100 turnouts. The gap was too large. I believe it was with .01 styrene.