turnout #'s for steamers

[wickman]

Do steam engines need a certain # of turnout to go thru? Is #4 pecos fine for the industries for steamers and #6 pecos for the main lines ?
I know that most larger steamers will need a larger radius but what about the turnouts ?
Lynn

[Don Gibson]

STEAM ENGINES with their coupled drivers should have #6 turnouts and a minimum of 22" radius curves.

Some individual models might traverse sharper track, but it's risky, but perhaps will provide a good learning experience.

REAL RR's used large engines for road and smaller ones for yards.
I use 6's for trackside spurs ROAD engines will head INTO.

[tomikawaTT]

The turnout number required for a given model steam loco is directly related to the minimum radius required. If Peco #4 turnouts are really 1:4, then they will only handle short (rigid) wheelbase locos. #6 turnouts have a broad enough closure rail curve that they should handle anything up to a 2-10-4 with ease, though at restricted speed. Larger # turnouts improve the appearance of the scene and trains running through it, but are only necessary to minimize S-curve problems with long rolling stock.

During WWII, the "standard" frog for U.S. military railroad construction was #8. I recently found a #7 frog on UP industrial trackage in North Las Vegas. That casting was dated 2000.

Chuck

[nfmisso]

Some larger brass locomotives required #8 or #10 minimum. It depends.

[markpierce]

Locomotives up to 2-8-0s can handle #4s. But #5s are better, and can handle medium sized locos. #6s will handle almost any locomotive. But if you have full-length passenger cars or similar (one-foot-length) cars or very "stiff" locos like 4-10-2s, #8s are best for cross-overs (because cross-overs create nasty "S" curves). And if you have the space, #10s look very graceful.

[orsonroy]

When using Peco switches, I generally use "large" for the mainlines and "medium" for sidings and yards. I only use their "small" switches on sidings where space is a real premium, and where I know only 0-6-0s and SW's will be negociating them.