Hello all,
I’m looking to modify my Walthers/Shinohara turnouts to make it easier on a tight area in my layout. I realize I need to stay away from the switch points and frogs. In some areas I’m looking to swap the long ties to the other side of the turnout (essentially mirror them across itself). Forgive me for my lack of turnout terminology if these ties are called something else. Is this a common practice? Below is a pic of the area I’m refering to:
Thanks,
Steve
What picture? … Anyway… One can safely trim the rails at the frog end to within a half inch of the guard rails. Play safe and don’t trim the rails closer than an inch to the points.
Tie ends can be trimmed as needed.
The long headblock ties (on which the switchstand would sit) adjacent to the points often get in the way. One solution is to trim them off and then extend the ties to the opposite side. Another solution is to have the switchstand located a short, perpendicular distance away with a simulated rod connection between turnout and the distanced switchstand. Enough clearance is needed around the switchstand so the switchman is safe from moving equipment.
Edit – Oh, that thumbnail picture needing enlargement…Doesn’t look like you have headblock issue and only minor trimming of turnouts will be needed.
Mark
The only thing I can add to Mark’s post is if your considering using operating switch stands such as Tomar etc. you need to make sure you have enough room for them to operated when you "flip them to the other side.
It is also possible to create a sort of short “flex track” at the end of a turnout just by cutting the plastic that links the ties to each other under the rail web. Careful - as some makes hide the frog wiring underneath there.
If you are going to trim a turnout to fit the space just remember to keep the track ends parallel and at 90 degrees to the ties. A friend of mind trimmed his turnouts to fit very tight spots in his industrial switching area and fell victim to the temptation to fudge this just a little – and created kinks that cause derailments every time.
Dave Nelson
Hi from Belgium,
If you use DCC take a look at this two sites; they are very good informating site for fine running ready to run turnouts
Marc