3 way turnout

[paxton58]

I am thinking about installing a (ho) 3 way turnout. Are they any more trouble than any other turnouts and which manufacturer woul you recommend?

[richhotrain]

I just installed a Code 83 Walthers Shinohara 3-way turnout. It works flawlessly. I use it to route engines from a single track coming off my turntable into a three track car shop. I use manual ground throws (requires 2 of them), but powered switch machines such as Tortoise should work just as well.

[grandeman]

We've got a couple of the Walthers/ Shinohara 3 ways on our RR. They work well but I'd prefer they not be the power routing type for DCC operations. They are a great space saver. That's why the prototype used them too.

[hanawalt]

I have several Peco 3-way turnouts on the Turtle Creek railroad. They work perfectly, and they save a lot of space. They don't cause trouble for operators as long as they can be seen easily (in other words, don't use them at or above eye level).

[Nieuweboer]

I have a couple of Shinohara 3-way turnouts on my layout and theu are indeed great space savers. I support hanawalt's advice to install them within easy reaching distance because if there occurs a problem they require closer attention than simple turnouts to repair.
Hans

[MisterBeasley]

I have 2 45-year-old brass Shinoharas. I decided to re-use them, rather than spending the $$$ for NS. After cleaning them up, they work just fine. I installed Peco switch machines for them. Unfortunately, they don't do a very good job of routing power, so I had to install relays and route the power manually. I'm using them for yard sidings, so the DCC power-routing issues don't come into play here.

The Peco 3-ways are a much tighter radius than the Shinoharas, by the way.