Is there a preference to atlas #4 or #6 switches in a yard? Would the #6 switch be too tight to get your fingers in to get between cars? Right now I'm designing the yard on my layout. Thank you, Bernard
i WOULD USE #6 TURNOUTS IF YOU CAN. I ran into a problem with the #4 turnouts and longer cars going in and out of the yard. #4 turnouts seem pretty tight.
I'd use the #6 switches (I actually use their C55 #7). If you need more room, you can always use short sections of track between switches. It depends on what you want to do. I'm at 1.0625" (1-1/16") between track centers. With a full yard, I can't do a whole lot of fiddling with cars; less than full, I can move them to a spot where there are no cars on adjacent tracks. I've found a full yard is a clogged yard, so I try to keep things about half full.
#5's in a yard (Code 55) would be acceptable. It depends on what type of locos' your running too. Short wheel base locos will look and run fine through #5's. Pete, With a full yard your railraod isn't moving anything! You'd be modelling the UP not the Pennsy! Hee hee hee!
The new MRP 2005 had an article near the back suggesting using the no. 6 with an arrangement that offers little lost capacity. I felt pretty smart, as I came up with almost the exact same arrangement on the old Missouri Terminal. Where I do have 4's, I have 4X the problems in switching, so I recommend 6's if possible.
I use all #6 Atlas switches in my yard trackage. Anything smaller and it's real tight on clearance. I do use tighter switches on siding trackages to industries sometimes though.
Prototype railroads used whatever turnout size that fit the situation. Of course they would prefer not to use the very small turnouts. They did if there wasn't space for the longer versions. Using smaller turnouts the railroad would often use the techique of having a "handle" which is nothing but a number of freight cars going into the turnout with the pickup or drop off car. Sometimes the locomotive was restricted and couldn't use the turnout. So they would cut the train with enough cars to reach into the siding to pull or drop off the car destined for the location. So if you need to use number 4's for industry track just keep that in mind if special situations arises. Rob
me, too! i have a bunch of #6's (that's what everyone said use) i will use on the new layout in the freight yard (50' max cars). i picked up an 8 at the lhs a while back 'cause that's all they had at the time. smoOOOooth! i am now a believer in longer turnouts if they will fit. david
I'll second that one!! I have 225 turnouts and one of them is a #4. That turnout is the only one that has given trouble and won't give up. I work on it every six weeks or so. Unfortunately, it is the only size that will fit in that spot. Also, for Peco (code 55), I think that the #4 is the only one not available in electrofrog.
OK, I need to be educated. Just what specific problems would be more likely if #4's are used? Derailment? Dead spots? ?
From the NMRA website: The turnout numbers describe the size, and the smaller the number, the sharper the turnout. On a No. 4 the diverging route moves away one inch for every four on the straight side; a No. 6 has a one in six ratio, which means it is not as sharp. It does take up more space, though, since it is longer. http://www.nmra.org/beginner/track.html Thus the longer turnouts would have different, larger numbers than the shorter turnouts.
MK: It is just a tighter radius with the smaller numbers. It is like having a 9 inch radius when an 18 inch radius would be better.
Just for general info, I am redesigning my yard, to use a number six approach (points) with number 5 frogs. If you place an Atlas number 5 turnout next to a number 6 (Micro eng) you'll see the point rails are longer and more gently curved. Substituing a number 5 frog will increase the curve of the turnouts exit rails just enough to gain some substantial savings. Of course it will look like and operate like a number 6. I'm planning on 13 foot yard track spacing, My mainline spacing is 15 foot. If this works out well enough, I might offer the number 6/5 combo as yard track for the prototrack line. Rob
Everybody's input has been a great help. I have 10 #4 atlas switches leftover from my first layout years ago and wanted to know if I should use them in the present layout I'm building. Due to the response, I'll stick with #6 turnouts for the yard. Thanks for the input. Bernard
Hello Bernard, You can use the number 4 on the industry tracks in tight places. Railroads often had to use a handle (locomotive with a few cars) on tight turnout locations, so the loco would enter the siding. Rob
I was told that with Peco the only difference between#4 and #6 is the length of the track; the divergent angle is the same for both. When I put one on top of the other to check, it sure looked like that to me, too. Of course, that's still not saying all that much! As for the first question, I used #4 Peco's for my previous 10-line yard and had no problems at all. In designing my new one I am planning for more of the same. I am taking care to avoid the S curve on the second line, though...
