i am trying to cross the main line using atlas #6 switches. the frog is set at 9 degrees, but no one makes a 9 degree cross. my main lines are set per the nmra modular standards. i am running 2 main lines and a branch line set from the edge of the table, 5", 7",and 9" in my corners and straight mods. i have seen a video on youtube that inspired me to build this. i am trying to cross the mains to go into a large yard. the video i watched used the 4 way switches. i need to cross 6 times, and at 80.00 to 100.00 a piece thats over my buget. i wish i knew how to draw my design so you could see it on the puter, but i dont know how. any help… thanks
I paid about $40 for my Peco double slip with Peco motors. I have a 4x8 and needed it to fit the available space to access my engine facilities from both loops. My [2c]
Yea i wish companys would offer dimensioned templates on paper of switches and crossovers and other special trackwork so we can scan them photo copy them and layout paper drawings full size or draw it up on CAD or sketching software from scans. If some co. did that people would go and by the company’s track work cuz the co. specs fit their personal track plan.
In 3/4" to 1 foot scale, that would be the Walthers catalog, page 271 in the 2009 edition, page 285 in the 2008 edition.
Sounds like you may be trying to do a lot in a limited length of modules. Without double slips (which the prorotype might use in the situation), another solution would be to have crossovers between the mains on the adjoining modules, then diverge to the yard. 9 degree crossings are pretty shallow and might bring their own operational challenges.
If the track-to-track spacing is set, then you are stuck with that angle. But if your can increase your track-to-track spacing for your module set to about 2.25", you could probably slip in enough curve (even at a reasonable radius) between the turnout and the crossing to use the Atlas 12.5 degree crossings. Still, that’s a lot of crossings for very little flexibility.
Byron
Model RR Blog
I am not sure what your intent is. If you want the ability to route trains over any track then you will need to use turnouts. If you just want to cross from one outside track to the other outside track and not switch onto any of the interior tracks it should be quite easy to make your own template. If you get a large piece of paper like the stuff movers use to pack boxes and tape it down on one side you can then rub a pencil on the railtops to establish the existing track locations while pulling the paper tight across the rails. When making custom turnout templates you just fix one end of a piece of flex track and establish the straight route then curve the flex track and establish the curved track. In this case if you establish one of the turnouts you can then lay a piece of flex track under the paper and rub in its route across the tracks. now you have a custom template to work from and you can solder up the crossings yourself. It will take some time and require some cuts to prevent short circuits but it isn’t hard. If it doesn’t look right or have the right gauge just unsolder it and start over. With this method you can make custom turnouts for those oddball locations also.
how do you up load pics?? i got a drawing of it and took a pic of it. i just need to post it. how do you do that?? thanks up fan
If you need code 100, you can use the Shinohara crossing - Walthers 669-134 or 135 - they are ‘in stock’ and should match the 9.5 degree #6 turnout…
Jim
I had forgotten about those, good call, Jim. I think they are a fraction of a degree off, but probably close enough. Of course, they’re also 16" long and 20+ bucks … so not that much benefit vs. a double-slip (which will be shorter and offer more flexibility).
Depends on what you mean by “cross” the mainline. Do you mean having one line go across the other - like a three track mainline where you’re crossing from track one across track two to track three; or do you mean having like two parallel tracks where you use four turnouts to make an “X” crossing ?? If it’s the latter, the degree angle of the crossing will be 2X the degree of the turnout frog angle, so with no. 6 turnouts (which I believe are 9.5 degree frogs) you’d need a 19 degree turnout - which I believe Atlas makes in code 83 and 100.