I wanted a changeover track on my layout, but I don’t like the one that Bachmann makes, so using 4 turnouts, I made my own two way changeover. Check this out.
That’ll do the trick!
Lookin good, Jeffery. [^]
Nice work Jeff.
That was a wise move, putting in that extra length between each pair of turnouts, to minimize the dreaded S-curve effect. I learned that lesson the hard way on my very first layout [B)]…
So did I! I think that should be required learning for all modelers.
It really depends though. That was quite prototypical on small industrial and ming and logging railroads. Not much room, not a lot of money. There’s a prototype for everything. Even stupid track work that causes trainwrecks. LOL
Guys,There is nothing wrong with a crossover WITHOUT a straight piece…This is how you maintain a prototypical look to your track…What gets modelers in TROUBLE is ENTERING a CROSSOVER at HIGH SPEEDS.That is the real evil not the switch to switch crossover…
However, it does propose more of a problem though the longer your locomotives are - particularly diesels. I had a friend of mine bring over his Overland AC6000 and run it on my HO layout with 22" radius curves. It did fine through the curves. What it didn’t like was going through the opposing curves - even with a 9" piece of straight track separating them. I think the AC6000 is about 12" long in HO. When you have the front axle turning to the right while the rear axle is still turning to the left, you run the risk of derailment. My friend’s AC6000 would “clunk” EVERY time it went through that section of the layout.
Tom
Tom,The real solution for those long wheel base engines is crossovers made out of number 8 or 10 switch and 30" curves…
Your friends engine is a prime example of a to long of a locomotive on a medium size layout and as you found out those long wheel base locomotives doesn’t like “beer” layouts but loves “champaign” layouts…[;)][:D]
My great and lasting lesson, now that I have 1.7 layouts, is to always,…but always…prove the track before you begin scenicking and other permanent contributions to the layout. That proof begins with your most ornery loco running forwards and backwards, first by itself, and then with a train, through all turnouts, curves, tunnel portals, overpasses, bridges, and so on.
I am not so ashamed about my meagre experience that I can’t claim to have learned this lesson right from the start.[:D]
Yeah, I concur selector. I use my challenger (biggest engine) to trouble shoot my track. If it can do it, just about any engine can… (excluding grades… my challenger can do most grades at 25/128 steps, unlike my lil switchers…hahhaha kinda funny (but prototypical!)) Anyways, looks nice, m8.
Brian
Being that I run 18" radius curves throughout my layout, the biggest locomotive I run is P2K ALCO PA1. It’s also my pickiest. If there’s a bad area, you can bet your bottom dollar that it’ll find it on the first trip around. I work and rework the track until the PA can negotiate everything. If it can go around the layout, everything else I have will too.