Can anyone tell me what degree crossing I need if I have parallel tracks on 2" centers and come off of one line with a #6 turnout and want to cross over the other parallel track? It appears to be a 12.5 degree on paper, but I don’t have a protractor to measure it.
I think you’ll find it’s actually 9.5 degrees for a standard #6 turnout. Shinohara offers this part in Code 100 (at least ) in HO. I don’t know of any others off-hand, but there may be some.
Sometimes these very shallow crossing angles can be a little less reliable and some folks substitute a single slip switch. But then you are trading off the complexity of moving parts – so it’s a bit of a toss-up, in my mind.
Where the crossing angle is too shallow for fixed trackage, railroads can use a moveable point diamond. They aren’t commercially available for modelers unless one orders custom-built trackage. I sure would like to see one on a layout.
Mark
Well, I did some more searching - turns out that Peco makes a #6 diamond crossing that looks to be just what I need.
You’re right, I forgot completely about the PECO C83. I think it’s available both electrofrog and insulfrog.
If you go with the electrofrog, you can wire it with the switch machine for the turnout that leads to the crossing.
The insulfrog version would be easier to wire, but very short-wheelbase locos might be a little tricky since the crossing is so long (because it’s so shallow). I haven’t looked at one closely yet, though, so I’m not sure how long the insulated portion is on the insulfrog.
If 2 inch center to center spacing is important, you may want to do some further checking. I use the Peco turnouts to make cross overs and my spacing is 2 1/2 inches.
Just a thought.
Good luck
Bob
They have scale PDF files on their site, but it is the electrofrog in the pic, so you can’t tell how long the insulated portion is. For DCC, wouldn’t I want the insulfrog?
Not necessarily, not if you plan to run short-wheelbase locos, especially steam.
The “DCC=Insulfrog” idea isn’t sacrosanct, one can use Electrofrogs with DCC just fine. It just takes a little thought in wiring.
If you are choosing Insulfrog everywhere else, then you can choose it here – a long “dead” frog is really only an issue with short-wheelbase power.
I think it should be possible to trim the turnout and/or the crossing for the tighter spacing without too much trouble, but I don’t have the parts in front of me.
And of course, 2" track-to-track may be too tight for the rest of the layout anyway …