HO Code 100 curved turnouts: Peco, Shinohara, et al

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

In a layout design on which I’m working, it looks like I’d need curved turnouts. Unfortunately, it is hard to find some of that information on-line. The part numbers you may find don’t necessarily describe the information you need.

I’m interested only in code 100 rail. Of course, I expect it not to look like brass. I don’t especially care if it has an insulated frog or not. What I do want to know is what the radii of both paths of the turnout are.

In a stop at my local hobby shop, they had code 100 Peco turnouts that seemed OK, but there was nothing on the box or the pamphlet inside which described the radii; we guessed it was maybe three feet and two feet.

They pulled out a Walthers catalog, and that listed a number of Shinohara turnouts, but they were all code 83.

If anyone can give me part number information and radii values for code 100 HO curved turnouts that can be purchased, I’d appreciate it.

2

www.lokshop.de has the whole Peco catalogue online, spread out over a number of .pdf files.

http://catalog.lokshop.de/PEC/2003/index.html - in german, but the info is all quite self-evident. good luck!

3

http://www.barcourt.com/peco.htm has the information in English.

4

This might be helpful to you. The radii should apply to most brands. I’ve not personally checked them all though. I use mostly 8’s on my layout. They are good space savers but a little bit expensive.

#6 curved turnout Outside 24” radius, inside 20” radius

#6-1/2 curved turnout: Outside 24” radius, inside 18” radius

#7 curved turnout: Outside 28” radius, inside 24” radius

#7-1/2” curved turnout: Outside 32” radius, inside 28” radius

#8 curved turnout: Outside 36” radius, inside 32” radius

5

Loys Toys have a good list http://www.loystoys.com/peco/100-if-turnouts.html

The top curved TO’s are streamline, the curved TO’s furthur down the list are tighter Set Track.

Ken.

6

Per the 2006 Walthers catalog p. 315, the Peco Streamline code 100s are 60" outer, 30" inner. I’ve used a number of them, and they’re very reliable. Not cheap, though. If you need more than 1 or 2, search around for the best price. Besides the usual, try Tony’s at http://tonystrains.com/ for $15.95, and 1st Place Hobbies at http://www.1stplacehobbies.com/default.asp also $15.95. You might find them for a bit less, but I doubt it.

7

Cherry Creek hobbies is a bit cheaper, I shop with Tony and he matched Cherry’s price.

http://www.cchobbies.com/track/peco.htm

Ken.

8

Thanks for the replies. I saw in the Walthers catalog the list of Shinohara curved turnouts in code 100, but it didn’t give radius dimension, just frog numbers. Does anyone have a preference of Shinohara over Peco or vice versa?

9

I have 3 of the Peco curved turnouts (the close-to-18-and-22 raidius ones) and I’m very happy with them. They are designed to be used with the Peco twin-coil switch machines, which mount firmly to the underside of the turnout. I’ve got no experience with Shinoharas, except some 40-year-old brass.

10

Walthers has several curved turnouts, and you can order directly from them www.walthers .com. If you are dead set on Peco or Shinohara code 100 you can order them to from walthers.