Atlas #4 vs Atlas #6 turnouts

[Anonymous]

Hello,

My current stock of turnouts are all Altas number 4's (9" long). I am considering using number 6's on my mainline wherever it follows the curve rather than the straight end.

Given my tight layout space, around the wall (7' by 11' with no possibility to go through walls) I need to place my staging partially under the scenery. Are the disadvantages of number 4 turnouts vs. number 6 turnouts merely cosmetic? For instance, I have 4-6-2 and a Budd RDC that are currently my longest locomotives. I'm willing to sacrifice a little bit of prototypical authenticity for a layout that works. Currently, my staging yard will likely be a compound of #4s and #6s.

Thanks,

Neal

[Anonymous]

I haven't done an infinite amount of testing, but none of my locos complain about the single Peco #4(ish) on my little oval. I do have a couple that puke on the Custom-Line #6s tho, namely my LL P2K PAs (!) and my 1962 Akane AC-9. Yes, the track is straight, level, true and clean. I also have a soft spot for the Electrofrog turnouts, because they don't stall the 0-4-0T or the gandy dancer. The Bachmann 4-8-4, the Katsumi and Spectrum 2-8-4s, and the Athearns are all indiscriminate in their acceptance of turnouts, but my more picky locos prefer the imported variety. What a suprise...

In your case, the choice seems driven by space. Independent of vendor, I try and choose the largest turnout possible. Larger switches always look more prototypical. Passenger cars cope with them more readily, engines don't have their lead and trailing trucks all askew, and generally speaking (independent of my expriences) will be more reliable. At least, that's what the last 20 years of model railroading have taught me. You might want to look into some of the curved turnouts as well. I'm not really clear on the way that you plan to use them, but I hope I could help at least a little [;)]

-dave

[Anonymous]

The number 6's allow bigger cars and longer locos, and more room for error on track laying.

Hope this helps,
Greg

[jrbernier]

Neal,

The #6 turnouts are better for cross-overs, start of sidings, & junctions. The Atlas Custom-Line #4 is really a #4 1/2 turnout! I use them in my 4 track yard and have no problems with my P2K SD7's or my BLI USRA Heavy 2-8-2 steamers. My staging tracks have #6 turnouts at both ends(a reliability hedge...), and my sidings are #6 turnouts. All of the spurs are the #4's......

Jim Bernier

[Pennsy58]

You may also want to look at peco turnouts as a possibility. I had a problem with placing a switch on a curve. Discovered peco makes curved turnouts. Various radii and lengths. As in my case, made it possible to have a switch in a tight space in a curve yet mantain a softer radius for larges engines.

[Don Gibson]

BASIC Rule of thumb is:
# 4's for yards (holds more cars)
#6's for mainline
#8's for higher speed .
You can make exceptions.

[Anonymous]

I foud that a Peco #6 fits in the same length as a Atlas #4 1/2

I myself use the code 83 Atlas but find that Peco probably will be the way to go. I havent evaluated it for all the engines yet. That is my next project.

[ericboone]

Have you thought about doing around the wall staging behind a short back drop as described in the 2001 issue of Model Railroad Planning? The layout in that issue was 11 x 13, but the concept would work for you too.

[Leon Silverman]

Adding to the suggestion by Pennsy58 regarding the curved Peco turnouts, you might want to also check out Walthers (code 83) or Shinohara (code 100) curved turnouts. There is a #6-1/2 curved turnout which translates to 20" radius divergent curve on a 28" radius stock curve.

[cwclark]

I use atlas #4 in the yard and #6 on the mainline...the #4's work ok but i have to slow the train way down to transverse the turnout...#6's work good for high speeds...I also incoorperated #4's and #6's on one end of my yard..it looks good and fewer derailments..(my derailments are just a few of the rolling stock cars..they need new trucks real bad)

[Don Gibson]

QUOTE: "I am considering using number 6's on my mainline wherever it follows the curve rather than the straight end."

Are you talking about turnout's that can drop into and maintain a curve?

Conventional turnout's are STRAIGHT through the frog to minimize deraiments.

DIFFERENT CAN OF WORMS.