Ok quick question for those in the know. Below is two diagrams for yard entry. One has 4 turns to get in the yard A&D from the top track. The other only has 2 turns to do the same manuveur. LOGIC says 2 is better then 4 in this instance. Which is/would be better in your experience? TIA .
But you also have to think about track complexity and maintenence if this were a real yard. dealing with a diamond in in the two turn version would likely rule it out... however, I am not an expert. Just my opinion.
Yea...I thought about 'real world' Sean...BUT...we are working in a 'miniature world'...where derailments are a daily occurance and troublesome. My thought was a 2 turn entry would be less likely to cause problems in N Scale. Just thinking outloud...thnxs .
From my experiences working with BNSF in Denver for 3 years, option A with 4 turns is the best option for 2 reasons: Flexibility in being able to get to both tracks. If the 2 tracks you show going to the yard are mainlines then the crossover could be utilized for a main 1 to main 2 movement or a main 1 to the yard movement or a main 2 to the yard movement. Railroads like flexibility in their operations for any potential problems or circumstances. Second reason is for the same reason that Sean stated, A railroad Diamond is a very complex and high maintenance structure. They like to eliminate potential problems as much as possible. As far a N Scale goes I have had more trouble with diamonds than with switches. This is only my experiences though. Other people have had good luck with diamonds.
Thnxs Steven. I would rather go with 1 to 2 to AD. But...1 to AD and 2 to AD seperately actually takes up less real estate on the layout ( I think). There is no need for a long straight section once you come off 1 onto 2 and before turning off 2 into the AD. Hmmmmmm...gonna have to give this more thought...thnxs .
Steven nailed it. It's all about flexibility, granted, it will take up more real estate. Thankfully in this miniature world, we can choose to make certain "cheats" as we see fit. I would rather spend an hour trying to figure out how to make option 1 fit rather than live with the result of option 2, come an incident some time down the road which option 1 would have been needed.
Well, both versions have 3 switches. The "4 turn version" adds a diamond. I would go with option 1, it is simpler and offers more flexibility. Dave
Ok...if the 'option A' or 'option1' as we are calling it is the prefered option I have a new question: ( see attached pic ) Would you connect the switches together at the midway of 'x-y' in the attached photo...or would you put in a length of straight track between the ends of the switches making x and y longer ? If a straight track...how many inches? If NO straight section...doesnt this make the whole thing a 'double S' ...which I have been reading is a definate no-no. TIA guys...I am learning as I go. :thumbs_up: .
Yep you will have a "double-S" or a "reverse curve" if you just connect the turnouts together. You want the distance between the curves to be at least as long as your longest car, although if you could make it even longer performance and looks will be greatly improved. I do prefer the "option 1" arrangement you decided on for the reasons others have stated - it is more prototypicaloy correct and offers more operational flexibility. Jamie
George, what size turnouts are you using for the crossovers and into your A/D yard track? If you are rockin' #6's, then butt them all together. You are not gonna be speed racer with your trains from track 1 to track 2, and if you are heading into the A/D track, you'll be going slow anyway. The logic of a full car's length between xovers is pretty null and void in a yard. Besides, do you know how cool it looks for a train to be snaking it's way through multiple xovers? Now if you are using #4's.... then that's a different story. Mike
Thnxs guys. I think you all have given me the info I needed. Mike...They are 6's Trains 'snaking' are cool...as long as that 'snake' dont break in the middle ;-) LOL. I am running DCC now so that 'snake' can be as slow as I want it to be...woooohoooooo !!! .
I don't know what kind of turnouts you are using. I use Peco #4's, which have a 10-degree frog like all Code 55 Peco turnouts, so they may be equivalent to an Atlas #6, though they are shorter in length. I have something like that in my yard. I butted the turnouts up against each other. Each turnout is 4-7/8" long. The straight distance between points is minimal--maybe 2". _______________________________ ____________________/_________ _______________/ My longest car is 4-3/4" long. If I push it through gently, I can feel a very little bit of drag as the flanges push into the rails--just as there would be in real life (but without the cool wheel squealing). There has never been a problem with derailments. Of course, since it is a yard, my trains don't go through it at 35-50 mph. Unfortunately, I can't tell you how longer cars would work. I will never run a car longer than 4-3/4". My 2-8-0 goes through fine, too.
The prototype would go for the crossover not the diamond simply because of the maintenance involved therefore I would use the crossover.
