Setting up Wye with a double-track mainline

[tcf511]

I'm tearing out some of the HO layout that I've been building in order to expand. I would like to do an around the room layout (14 x16) with a peninula for yards (5x10). Can someone explain how the turnouts would be set up to have a wye coming out of the yard with one track feeding into a mainline track heading east and the second part of the wye crossing the eastbound and connecting to a second westbound main? I see drawings in plan books but am not sure how the switches set up. I will be using code 100 flextrack and Peco Insulfrog turnouts. Thanks.

[rexhea]

Good idea using a wye for the entrance to your yard. I wi***hat I had done that for my main yard. However, I did do this for the passenger train peninsula by installing cross overs just before each end of the wye. Please use link to see my layout drawing and see the peninsula lower center. Trace the track around both left and right. (I have branched my wye off of the outer mainline so that it would be long and capable of being a yard lead or passing track. Note the tie between the two sides of the wye. This allows you to back in.)
http://www.railimages.com/albums/rexheacock/adq.jpg

REX

[oleirish]

Most "Y's" use an right hand an left hand and an Y switches[2c]
JIM

[rexhea]

If I understand tcf511correctly, he has two mainlines he wants to connect to the yard. Thus, crossovers are needed as I have suggested.

REX

[tcf511]

Rex is correct, my concern is having two mainline tracks. Rex, so for discussion purposes, my eastbound just joins the "outside" mainline track. My westbound actually runs briefly on the outside track and then crosses over to the inside track? Can make the crossover occur pretty quickly or should I leave a car length or two before it? Thanks for your help.

[Anonymous]

The idea with a double main is to have continuous flow in both directions. That means you need to on and off both tracks. You need 2 Wye's. If I was designing it I would elevate the outside track and depress the inside track to get a 30 scale foot clearance and just go over the inside track. Using a 1% grade you need a 150 scale foot lead in for the the needed elevation changes on each track.

I may have to rethink Phase 2 of my layout. I think I want to try that.

Edit: I dropped a decimal point there. 1500 Scale feet. About 9.4 feet of N scale track.

[richhotrain]

Rexhea, that's a helluva layout. Dwarfs mine and I thought mine was big at 25x30. What track planning software did you use for your illustration?

[cacole]

A Peco double-slip insulfrog turnout will do exactly what you want within the space of a single turnout. The best prices (and pictures) of Peco insulfrog double-slip turnouts that I have been able to find are at http://www.cchobbies.com

[rexhea]

QUOTE: My westbound actually runs briefly on the outside track and then crosses over to the inside track? Can make the crossover occur pretty quickly or should I leave a car length or two before it?

tcf511:
When I want to take an inside mainline train into the yard, it is switched through the crossover to the outer mainline. After about a car length, it is switched into the wye by a single turnout.(crossovers just before each end of wye followed by single turnout to enter the wye's upper left or right leg.) You may be able to get away by putting the single turnout next to the crossover, but I would allow about 9" seperation between them. Otherwise, you will have a very tight "S" curve (which would work if you use a very slow speed limit).

My wye upper legs runs parallel to the outer mainline for maximum distance giving me a long lead-in on both legs. Each leg then connects to a single turnout (a "wye type" turnout is good). How you make this connection is dependant on your yard design. I did something a little different by also connecting the two legs above the intersection of the wye to allow my train to enter the wye on one leg, cross into the other leg, and then backup into the yard if needed. This connection can double in use as a passing track for the outer mainline.

Don't forget that you will have to have an auto reverser. Install this in one of the upper legs. If you should use a connection between the legs as I did, don't forget to isolate that track at one end as well.

This may be clear as mud [%-)] . If you want, I would be glad to email you a simplified drawing of this. Let me know via email. [;)]

Note: The single crossovers are made from two single turnouts. The terms Inside and Outside mainlines depend on where your pennisula is. My penn. is on the outer side.

QUOTE: Rexhea, that's a helluva layout. Dwarfs mine and I thought mine was big at 25x30. What track planning software did you use for your illustration?

richhotrain, I used 3dPlanit for my design work. I have been very happy using it, but it does require some practice and experimenting in the beginning. There are many features included that freebee's don't have and the accuracy is right on the mark.

[Anonymous]

I realize this is OT... but Rex, your layout is absolutely fantastic!!

[rexhea]

Josh, thank you very much. I still have several years work, but things are beginning to fall in place.

REX

[tcf511]

Cacole,

I actually already have a double-slip switch. So, the wye feeds would both feed into the lower main track? The eastbound just keeps going and the westbound crosses over to the outer track through the double-slip? I'm not quite visualizing how it would work. Sorry for being slow, this is my first layout. Thanks.

[tcf511]

Oops, I've got it now. I got the double-slip out and looked at it. I cross the inside main track with the double-slip and then connect as a cross-over to the outside main correct? Thanks!

[leighant]

Here is one way to run a wye off a double-track mainline. I drew this a month or so ago for someone requesting ideas for a passenger theme layout.



Layout is set up for right-hand running on the double track. On the prototype passenger terminal in Houston, trains ran PAST the wye in either direction on the appropriate track, then backed into the station. Then trains could head out of the station in either direction.
No crossover is needed, only a sharp angle crossing across the "wrong main" on the left leg of the wye. In fact, without any crossovers on this layout, it can be run without polarity concerns. No need to flip reversing switches.
The reverse loops in the lower right corner of the plan do not reverse the directions of trains on the same track but send trains back on the other main. No need for crossovers. In fact, a crossover would greatly complicate the wiring.
The layout plan is intended for passenger trains (fairly broad curves) in N scale in a 10x12 foot space.

[Budliner]

My room was funny, it had a door.
so I went with the central midland layout from atlas
I changed it a bit but it has a few niceties.
check out the 1.6 linear ho feet

http://www.trainsetsonly.com/page/TSO/PROD/150-HO29

B -

[Budliner]

in the atlas plan the yard off the wye is a separate power supply
I have see some auto switch units but there for dcc and I get messed up if I have more then 3 trains running and I like the power of dc so thats what I use if I have my 4 bl2s on my 2-6-6-2's run close behind its plenty of action for me. but I did buy 4 of 5 dcc modules and 2 command units ah I even got the walk around (dont need it )the room is only 11x10 the layout was 12x 11 but I made it fit.

[tcf511]

Thanks for the drawing. The wye area is exactly what I envisioned doing. I have DCC and try to keep my wiring as simple as possible. Getting a Digitrax auto-reverser would not be a big deal if necessary but it sounds as if it might not be.