Ok, my bad....... my question is about using #6's in a yard throat. I'm using a #6 LH to angle off the main, and I immediately begin my yard ladder with RH #6's... doesn't the first two T.O's create a S curve?? should I extend from the LH 6" or so???
Hmm.. I thought this was going to go more like: A #6 turnout walks into a bar and the bartender says, "Sorry, we don't allow pets in here. I'll serve you but you'll have to leave your frog outside" (insert groans and boo's here) Mike C Phoenix
OK, aside from the groan I just uttered...LOL.... An S bend is really only gonna kill you if its less that one car between the direction changes.... Which is exactly what you have.....Having said that, how many layouts change tracks via a LH - RH combo? All of em, basically. There is a 'magic distance' where that S becomes a significant factor, but my John Armstrong book is in storage so I cant find the exact details..... Someone will tell ya, I'm sure. The change in direction you are using is VERY short....about 1 car long, so you;ve really got only 1 car going left, while 1 is going right. If the curve was longer (ie multiple cars turning in one direction), the issue would be much greater. Rambling...yup.... But it goes something like that (where my dang book?).
Inserting a straight piece of track on the exit curve to the next turnout should do it. It can be short. Rob
I did something similar with the entry to the yard throat. I used a right hand into the yard throat followed by letf hand turnouts. It operates fine although if i have a longer loco like a SD50 and short couplers the first car can derail. Here is a pic of the throat area.
Man, that's actually funny.... I don't think I can top that! Maybe there's something in there for right-handed, left-handed, and equalateral though.... and if it throws both ways. In answer to the QUESTION, I run 86' MT piggybacks through reversed "s"'d #6's OK, they look a little akward, but no problems. Those do have 'truck mount' couplers though. [ April 17, 2005, 07:45 AM: Message edited by: randgust ]
OK, let's see if I can explain this-it would be so easy if I could easily post a sketch... Do your ladder with #6s, but skip the first track, putting a straight section in place of the turnout. On the lead, immediately following the ladder turnout, put a #8 with a broad curve to form the first track -this will cost you 1 1/2 or 2 car lengths, but it will improve the S-curve situation by increasing the radius.
I have one, but then I would need to draw the thing. http://www.railimages.com/gallery/rodschaffter EDIT- OK, a (very!)quick sketch of the track layout: [ April 17, 2005, 08:01 PM: Message edited by: rschaffter ]
rod... Brilliant!! thanks for the advice!! hey mike... uhh don't give up your day job dude great thread everybody
Dang, and that was best #6 turnout joke I had.. The other ones were "pointless"... I crack myself up.. Mike
See my article on S-curve problems and yards in Model Railroad Planning 2005. I wanted to title the article "Can You Spell Crossover Without Any S?" but I guess the powers-that-be thought that was too cute.
I remember reading long ago how such switch arrangements used by the prototype are laid out to eliminate the need for brakemen to cross tracks to get to turnouts. They will generally set up all the switchstands along a line so they can be worked more easily, with less walking and greater safety. Just a consideration...
And so it also works for us throwing switches in the yard, too. Better visibility and most if not all of the switches are right at hand, assuming you don't have CTC.
OMG mike I love bad jokes. As to S curves... I was under the impression that having a straight section between the opposing curves makes it no longer an S curve. Most switches have a short straight section right before the points so that should mitigate any sort of S curve issues. You also have to think what speeds you are running trains through there on. Passing sidings always have an S shape but they incorporate that small section of straight in the middle to eliminate S. Or they use really huge turnouts so that the angle is very mild.
