Not any more. When they were discontinued I went around to all the LHS and bought up all I could find. I believe Model Power still makes that configuration though.
I know Fleischmann make them in ‘N’ scale, they are very nice. Maybe they do them in HO as well? Worth a look, if they do then it should be easy to get them in the UK by mail order.
John
Well, I found this on the Atlas form (Peco is very stingy with information unless you buy their product catalog):
‘Peco has two styles of curved turnout.
The setrack series has an inside radius of 18" / outside 22".
The streamline series has an inside radius of 30" / outside 60".’
But I am not certain I believe it. I believe the Settrack has both curved tracks at 18" but they are separated by a 3" straight at the points which makes the outside the equivalent of a 22".
Peco curved turnouts are rated as large or medium radius. The cheapest place I found fo purchase them was http://www.cchobbies.com
The large curved turnouts are something like 22 and 20 inch radius, and the medium are somewhere around 20 and 18.
Roco used to make curved turnouts, too, but they may be harder to find than Peco or Walthers/Shinohara, and Roco turnouts were a much tighter radius.
I used many Walthers code 83 curved turnouts on a previous layout, and had derailment problems with some of them. The wheels would ride up on to the top of the frog, because the frog to guard rail dimension was incorrect. Relocating the guard rail solved the problem. If you buy Walthers curved turnouts, I recommend that you check all dimensions on the turnout with a NMRA gauge.
So… if I… you… we… don’t know for sure what the radius of a particular Peco curved turnout is, what do you do to maintain that 22 inch radius you’ve worked so hard to keep and not get kinks in it?
I hope that makes sense.
Jarrell
I have two brands of curved turnouts. One is the popular Shinohara Code 83 and the other is the unheard of Tillig Pilz Code 83 Elite. Of the two, I like the Pilz best because the turnout point rail is continuous which leads to less derailments. I agree that curved turnouts are great space savers and a great part of any layout plan. [tup]
Jarrell,
I haven’t been able to find any curved turnouts for Code 83 track in 22" radii at all. They used to make it a few years ago - albeit I think it was Code 100. The size now is configured 18" inside/24" outside.
Like you, I have mostly 22" curves on my layout - with a 3 piece curved section in 18" radii. Why Walthers/Shinohara or Peco can’t make a 18"/22" or 22"/24 curved turnout is beyond me…[%-)]
Tom
Some respondents here mentioned using superelvated or banked curves. DO NOT do this if you are running any kind four or more, rigid axle trucks (such as large steam engines, DD40’S, Centipede Tenders, or tenders with 4-axle trucks) . This would apply to straight turnouts as well. Tilt changes on curves can allw the end wheel to rise above the railhead and derail.
I’m using Sinohara #8 curved turnouts for my run-around #2 track on my eastbound main at Wagon Wheel Gap. One at each end and another on the #2 track to reach a cattle-loading spur. No problems with the mainline switches, had to fiddle with the spur switch, but that was because I’d mis-aligned the curve, and had nothing to do with the turnout itself. All three work smoothly, my trains are happy campers. No problems with my long-wheel based steam, either. I like them. And they look very cool.
Tom [8D]
The Atlas ‘curved’ turnout was part of the imported ‘Customline Supreme’ line of track. I have 4 of them and they seem to work with no problem. They have a 18"/22" radius geometry(code 100). These were imported in the early 80’s(at least that is when I purchased mine ‘new’ at the LHS). They have a molded on switch machine and an insulated metal frog similar to the current Atlas turnouts. The ‘points’ are better than the stamped ones on normal Atlas turnouts. I took a ‘Snap Saw’ to the switch machine and used normal ‘under the layout’ turnout linkage or a ground throw to power them. One of them is on my branch line and I do have to restrict some engines from taking that sharper 18" radius leg…
Jim Bernier
I have both the Pico short radius and long radius curved turnouts on my layout. Both have operated fine.