Okay, getting closer with getting a more final plan up here for discussion and critique. I am having a problem on RTS 8 with getting #7 Atlas turnouts to turn into passing sidings. What radius curve should I be using to bring the diverging route to be more parallel with the main route? Because of this, I am forced to use #5 turnouts on any of the layouts I design... Also, what is the limit to the amount of swiches in a given sized layout? In other words, how many switches is TOO many? Thanks.
I can't help with RTS. Um, "it depends" which I'm sure you have already come up with that answer. On a serous note unless you are doing intensive switching / yard / operations then I'd say on a hollow core door it would be 8 is pushing it, 9 is over the top and 10 is just plain too many. I used to be severely guilty of "crowded layout syndrome". Now I've gone the other way.
That is exactly what I am trying to avoid! I am also a firm believer in the K.I.S.S. principle (Keep It Simple Stupid!) I am going to finagle with RTS a little more tonight. I am trying to have my layout at an angle (broken oval) to make it look a little more realistic.
Nine's a crowd? I designed an N layout only slightly bigger than half a HCD, with only minimal yard and switching ops, and used 9 turnouts. I don't think it would look crowded or operated crowded. Of course, dividing the layout with a scenic background down the middle reduces the visual clutter. As a see-it-all roundy-round, it might be crowded. I figure it takes 3 tracks side by side to give any impression of a "yard". I use parentheses because this can hardly be a working yard...but going around the end out of sight is intended to give the impression that it goes on and on...
I think it depends on your design, I mean if you're building a sizable yard then its going to need quite a number of turnouts. Also parallel track in a yard tends to require a sizable amount of track. On the other hand, a simpler layout may require fewer turnouts. SO I'd say one more than that required to make your layout work would be too many :tb-tongue:
Good points Ken and Trevor so I'd adjust my figure and suggest *depending* on several variables 15 to 20 might be about right. Passing tracks Industry tracks Storage tracks of any type - yard / interchange / engine house The "main ovals" of the "Grey and Grandure" have 9: It is It takes up about a 3' x 8' area. If I added industry to the center it could support maybe 6 more. Instead I intend to put mountains, a town and a "flying pig ranch".
To set up any number of parallel tracks with RTS, I use 2 matching switches as a crossover to create the parallel track spacing & placement and then link one track to its diverging switch with the flextrak feature. Of course, I delete the matching switches and replace them with straights once the parallel track is formed. Repeat as needed. When the parallel track-sets curve, be sure to use curved sections that have appropriate increasing/decreasing radii to maintain the parallel spacing. You're sure right to ask how many switches are appropriate for a given size layout, but I'm not sure there is one answer. I have 12 pairs of switches all used for a 4x12 and plan going to a 4x14 w/o adding any. As as been said, fewer might be better. (Diagram attacjed may show fewer/more as its not current.) I have all switching in one place, doing passing tracks, dbl main crossovers, two staging yards, and Pass-station passthroughs. Then, all other trackage is a dbl main making three passes. My experience is that breaking up the appearance of an oval, roundy-roundy operation is great. I use verticle sight blocks such as ridge lines and tall trees to create the disappearance of a train in the background versus appearance in the foreground. The midline sight barrier that some use is also quite effective, but it requires some thinking of how trains pass through the barrier. You may find yourself working that problem more than you like. I gave it up because it compelled too much adjustments in other places. :tb-biggrin:
Eighteen turnouts on a layout that was 3 x 7 feet, with a 1 foot square addition at one end. I never thought it looked crowded, or "tracky." (But you couldn't see it all at once.) However I will admit the curves were too tight for passenger operation or longer trains.
One trick I use is to two #7 turnouts as a crossover, then continue to lay track into the siding. Then I cut one side of the turnout and join the remaining turnout to the siding with flex track. Also, the radius of the curve you use is only relevant in how smooth your transition from turnout to straight siding is. What really matters is the degree of curviture. An Atlas #7 is 8.1 degrees, if you want to use RTS Create Flex Track Curve Track, you can make whatever radius curve you would like, just set the degrees to 8.1. When I actually laying paralell sidings, I usually give myself 7 or 8 to transition from turnout to straight track depending on the distance between the paralell tracks.
One layout was 29X36. It had one Wye and 9 switches. That was code 80. Had two levels so it fit. I wouldn't do it again. I have more switches in the new layout but a way bigger layout. Have 22 in the newest layout. Good luck with yours!! Dan:thumbs_up:
