My first project on my layout is an 11 track ladder yard. Track 6 goes straight through. everything else takes off left or right. What turnout should I be using to get the yard to look correct but still give me room to get finger space?
Hi, Most will say use the largest you can in the space you have, but it really is a personal choice. How big are your fingers? I used #4 turnouts in my yard, if I had more room I would have used #6's. I ended up with about 1.125 inch track centers. Gary
It's not so much which turnout you should be using, since you can have finger space using any sized turnout. How much room do you have for your yard ladder? What size rolling stock are you running? These are bit more important questions. On my layout, I use Atlas code 55 track, and I run 89' autoracks and TOFC, so I went with their #7's. To adjust track spacing, just add short pieces of track between each turnout to get more "finger space" between each yard track. -Mike
Room is not much of an issue. My available space is 14' by 18'. I am modeling the Doraville GA yard at Ray's Rd. The prototype is 1/2 mile long, so I will compress quite a bit. I want to stay about 24" max on benchwork depth where it meets the wall.
Hey I see you are in Loganville and modeling the NS and CSX in Georgia same as I am. I am in Lilburn- we may need to setup some interchange traffic between our layouts. Jamie
Here. Some visual references. I laid some generic yard ladders using Atlas N Code 55 lineup of turnouts. The grid is 24 inches. It may not provide precise measurements but it will help you make a decision, I suppose. You should be able to extract deflection angles, the turnout's general dimensions as well as yard track spacing. Note, #5 and #7 occupy the same surface area and are 6 inches long. #10s are 8 inches long. Good luck in your endeavors.
Just moved here from Lilburn. Used to live over by Parkview in Newcastle Sub. Have seen your posts. Looks like you are really setting upa great layout. I'm modeling from Tucker to Athens (compressed of course) and the canton NC paper mill. I Railfan at the doraville yard.
