Can I hand lay a turnout here? (photo)

[CSXDixieLine]

I am starting to layout a track arrangement on the first section of my layout. In this area there is a mainline and a siding that flow in a long, gentle curve. Right smack in the middle of that curve is where I would like to place a house track, which is just a short spur off of the siding that can hold a few cars. Of course, this would require a turnout to be inserted into the curved siding. Is this something that can even be done? I have never hand laid track before, but it is certainly something I want to learn and this seems like a good place to start (although admittedly I could have picked an easier first project ). Can you hand lay a turnout anywhere on any radius of curved track? Here is a photo mockup describing the area I am talking about:



I have not explored changing the track arrangements so that a standard turnout could be used since I wanted to get some feedback on the custom turnout scenario before I considered other options. Jamie

[Wolfgang Dudler]

That's the good point with handlaying, you can do it where you want.
I've built a lot of curved turnouts. I've even curved the Central Valley turnouts. O.k. it's H0, but that's not the point.

Wolfgang

[CSXDixieLine]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang Dudler

That's the good point with handlaying, you can do it where you want.
I've built a lot of curved turnouts. I've even curved the Central Valley turnouts. O.k. it's H0, but that's not the point.

Wolfgang

That's what I thought, but after looking for information on the web, all I could find was pre-built templates or jigs for predetermined radii. In my case, I don't know the actual radii of the track, so where do I start? Jamie

[jagged ben]

By all means, try it, see how it goes. However, I would caution that this would probably be well on the difficult side of handlaying a turnout.

It would seem you are thinking that the diverging route would be on this very gentle curve of the siding, while the straight route would go to the house track. With a very gentle curve, the turnout is going to be a large number, and filing the points and frog of a large number turnout is more difficult.

Again, I wouldn't want to discourage you from embarking on an adventure, but don't feel bad if you eventually end up just shoe-horning an Atlas #10 in there.

[jagged ben]

Originally Posted by CSXDixieLine

That's what I thought, but after looking for information on the web, all I could find was pre-built templates or jigs for predetermined radii. In my case, I don't know the actual radii of the track, so where do I start? Jamie

I would draw out the siding and house track on the layout as you think you want them, then print out the templates you've found online and place them down on the layout and see which one fits best. (From looking at your pic, you may find that your best option is to try the largest template available.)

Another route would be to draw that section of the layout in XtrakCad. Print it out 1:1 and lay it down on the layout to see if you've done it right and modify until you're satisfied. You can even draw the handlaid turnout in XtrakCad. The advantage of this is that you can know for sure all you're radii you are dealing with.

[Leo Bicknell]

You can, but.....

A real railroad would avoid a curved turnout if at all possible and go for something standard. It appears you have plenty of room for a standard turnout with a very minor modification to the path of your track.

[Gats]

As Leo said, the prototype would place a straight turnout in this situation and do away with the gentle curve., replacing it with a sharper curve after the turnout to align the track.
The other alternative is to place the turnout on the other side of the bridge where the loco is in the image.

[Rob de Rebel]

A number 10 or 12 would probably work in that area, you'd still need to mod the curve slightly, use the curved portion of the turnout to carry the curve you have, and the straight section would go to the siding. As a rule RR's would prefer it the other way if possible. However, not all situations are the same and not all RR's follow the same thought processes. The track gang and sup may decide to do it the way I recommended just to keep it simple..

R

[CSXDixieLine]

So after reading these posts I started to think that maybe I could fit a regular turnout in that spot. Fortunately, I have a Atlas Code 55 #10 LH turnout available to use so I trimmed the end ties off three pieces of flex and attached them to the turnout with rail joiners. After placing it in position, I was happy to find out that the short section of straight track does nothing to spoil the overall flow of the broad curve. Looks like the best solution was the easiest--and the one that I did not really think was possible. I have been out of model railroading too long!

Here is that same scene with the plain old #10 turnout in place:



Thanks to everyone for getting me thinking in the right direction. I need to remember to apply the KISS principle first. Jamie

[pastoolio]

Jamie, like everyone said, the real RR's would put the turnout on a straight part. It is prototype to have the house track further than you would think just to get the turnout into a better location. I'd take and put the #10 back there where you have your loco, in that middle part of the "S" curve. Looking at that pic, there is something about the flow of track that doesn't look right.

-Mike