train yards

[g-pa1]

Every diagram I see of train yards including the new Walters catalogue I just got in the mail shows diagarams of yards and the tracks that come off the main track to make the yards seem very sharp and not able for a train consist to make the turnout. Is there a book or website that can explain or maybe even state exact turnouts for the different style yards? Gene

[g-pa1]

Ok, besides the rethinking process of putting another long storage track along side the current one and moving the MOW over a little to allow that to happen, what is the standard Atlas turnout equal to? I purchased several lengths of flextrack and one standard remote and one #6 remote. I didn't find any #4 or #8 turnouts. Atlas' website only has the standard and the #6 code 80 turnouts. The standard one is shorter and has a sharper angle than the #6. I am going to add the 2nd storage track along side the other one, but I am also experimenting with a curve coming off the original storage track and then a ladder yard off of that. I reason that if I just have a yard off the original storage track then I lose the storage track ability as it then becomes an access track or I would have to do a lot of moving of consists to get to the one I wanted if I still used the storage track for a staging track. Anyway that's my thinking on that Bubba!

[ginzokid]

The Atlas company makes different types of turnouts. The numbered ones like #6 and #8 have actual numbered frogs with the ratio equaling the turnout #. You all do know that the frog number represents a fixed ratio of angle, not an actual angle. The diverging route is a ration of 1:6 for a #6 and 1:8 for a #8. The "standard" Atlas turnout is a horse of a different color. There is no fixed frog ratio. The diverging route on this turnout is a 19" radius curve. Now don't anyone dare ask me what the angle in degrees of any of these turnouts is. You guys can do that for yourselves if you have a protractor or adjustable triangle. By the way, the so-called "standard" turnout is made so it is easier to just drop it in a sectional track layout in place of a 19" Rad. curve. The numbered turnouts do not fit in the same space. Now you know more than you wanted too. B-)

[g-pa1]

I Need more cork and some three strand wire to wire up the Atlas standard remote switch. Yep as Pete said it fit right in. Drilled the hole for the wire, soldered some flextrack replaced the short MOW track bed and waiting for the glue to dry. Tomorrow I will finish wiring, glue the track to the cork, and let everything dry overnight. Maybe this should go in the Progress thread? Gene

[ginzokid]

Post progres pics please. B-)

[ginzokid]

How's the yard coming Gene? B-)

[g-pa1]

Pete the 'yard' is done at least for now. I took you up on your idea of just moving the MOW over some and running another long track along side the first one. It gives me storage/staging for two trains on the original long track plus two more on the new track plus the Mow track with a little more room and I still have the passing siding if I need more than that. Wiring that new connector for the switch is always a pain. Then I had to rearrange my track diagaram and rename the switches. I have five now and keeping track of where they go and when can be a challenge. I'll go down and get some pics and post them later. Gene You really do have good ideas!:-)

[barrysfp45]

Gene Did you get your winnings from the N group, just wondering? ;)

[g-pa1]

Barry not yet. Ron has been sick and I told him that the reward was me getting into gear and putting together the MOW consist. Gene By the way the new yard pics are ready for approval. I took them at the lowest resolution to put on the internet. That way I don't have to waste time copying and dialing the resolution down later.

[ginzokid]

Gene, Might I suggest that you add one more yard track and two turnouts, one to branch off the yard throat and one about 12" from the far end that connects back to the outside yard track. This would create a passing siding in effect but it really gives you an engine escape route. So, if you pull a train into the siding, you can uncouple it and cross over to the next track and escape with the engine. Just a thought. B-)

[dl85vette]

ALso make sure that this track Pete talks of is long enough for more than one loco (should you do MU) I built mine long enuf to handle 3 GP38. (or 2 larger locos like SD40/60/70 etc) or various steamers. dave

[g-pa1]

Pete and Dave, Those are great ideas and I thought of doing just that and may still do it if I extend the yard beyond where it ends now. Only thing is in most layout pictures that I study the trains can usually only go in one direction around the layout in a forward position. Most do not have a way to turn the loco. Either a Wye or a roundhouse turn table would be needed for me. My trains seem to run overall in a counterclockwise direction on the main so then backing onto the storage tracks is how the trains go and the loco is at the near end to the main. Otherwise I would need a reversing loop somewhere on the layout to allow the train to head into yard tracks. I still have to clean up the new track area and put some scenery there. Gene Gene