Can anyone tell me what crossing would allow an atlas number 8 turn out or a number 6 turn out to cross a parallel track on 2 inch centers in HO scale using code 83 track?
You will need a 9.5 degree crossing for a #6 turnout - Shinohara makes one in code 100. I am unaware of a commercial crossing to matrch a #8. BTW, the Atlas #4 uses a 12.5 degree crossing.
Jim
Actually, you can take two Atlas # 6 Custom Line turnouts and an Atlas 12.5 degree crossing and modifiy the turnouts by curving them slightly after the frog and do what you are asking. I have done it, it works fine.
To modify the turnouts just cut the tie webbing out from under the rail and gently curve them a little.
Sheldon
Using RTS version 8.0, I was able to make a double crossover using their number 8 Customline Mark Iv turnouts with a 12.5° crossing. It does look like it ends up being on 2.5" centers though.
Medina,
The OP did not ask about building a double crossover, he asked about a diverging route crossing over a parallel track.
And, Atlas #8s and a 12.5 degree corssing will not make a double crossover with 2.5" centers - they would be 3" centers and there would still be a slight kink at the crossing because 7 degrees plus 7 degrees is 14 degrees - not 12.5 degrees
As to the OP’s question - No mater what some computer software says, it is not going to work without modifiying those turnouts. And while it can be done with the #6 turnouts, I doubt it will work well with the #8’s since you would have to curve the portion of the turnout past the frog even more, and it is unlikely that there is enough distance to make that a smooth curve.
The crossing is 12.5 degrees, the # 8 tunrouts are only 7 degrees. So you would have to curve the portion of the track past the frog for a 5.5 dgree change in diirection.
As stated by several of us, this does work with the #6 but that requires only a 3.5 degree change in direction after the frog.
If I get time, I will look at the feasablity of using #8’s. But again, it will not work without modifiying the turnouts after the frog.
Now I know why I don’t use track planning “software”.
Sheldon
UPDATE:
After inspecting two #8s and a 12.5 degree crossing, my previous conclusion was correct. There is not enough track past the frog to make the 5.5 degree direction change that would be needed using #8s.
But again, it can easily be done with #6’s.
Sheldon
I have to agree with Sheldon. You might be able to make it work with a 9.5 degree Shinohara crossing(at least in code 100). You only have to ‘flex’ it another 2.5 degrees. I am not sure if you can do it with 2" centers though. A #8 slip-switch for the crossing would work, and you will get an automatic cross-over to boot. Building a 7 degree crossing would be tricky - you might have to build moving point frogs(just like the prototype).
Jim
Jim,
Going back to something you said earlier, if I want to join an Atlas Code 100 Custom Line #6 turnout with a Shinohara Code 100 9.5 degree crossing, that will work, correct?
The crossing will connect to the divergent track of the turnout, which is connected to the outer track of my double mainline, and cross my inner track on the double mainline which is running parallel to the outer track with a 2.25 inch separation on center.
Rich
It will work but you will have to trim back some of the track on the diverging route of the turnour or on one leg of the crossing to get the 2" centers. Directly connecting the diverging route of an Atlas #6 to the Shinohara crossing results in a center spacing slightly larger than 2". Without trimming the center spacing is 2 5/16" (using 3rd PlanIt). Trim back a little to get 2.25", or add a bit of straight to get 2.5".
Sheldon - 3rd PlanIt doesn’t seem to allow me to make that same incorrect ‘fudge’ that RTS did, if I set up those components in that way in 3rd PlanIt, it is very obvious the straight routes of the turnouts are NOT facing each other in a parallel fashion.
–Randy
Thanks everyone for all of your replies. I have been unable to find the track geometry for the number 8s and was unable to find an unmodified way to cross over one line to another with a 6. My layout is in the design stage for an as yet unbuilt space. It appears that if some expansion of the centers the lines are built or skewing them and then bringing them back to parallel after the crossing I may be able to use unmodified turnouts. The modifications with 6s sound good and seem like they would not be too much to effect reliability. Now I have more options to consider.
Thanks a bunch for all the input.