I’ve been away from model railroading for 13 years, and I designed my last layout about 20 years ago, before I had any CAD programs. I am now returning to MRR, and want to design a layout using DesignCAD, which is what I have been using for about 20 years, since it was called ProDesign.
Anyway, where can I get specific HO-scale turnout dimensions so I can accurately layout my yards, spurs, sidings, etc.? I am thinking primarily on No. 6’s for the main and No. 4’s for the yards, but I may instead go with No. 8’s and No. 6’s if I find a good source.
BTW, all I have left is some code 83 flex track as far as track is concerned. I do have all my rolling stock and engines, and most of my buildings, and I plan to use DCC, probably Digitrax.
You can always go to the The National Railroad Associations web site for imfomation on Model Railroading.
Here’s a link to the Turnout Dimentions. http://www.nmra.org/standards/rp12_3.html
Hope this helps.
I also use AutoCAD and measured and laid out the dimensionsfor several different manufacturers TOs. Somewhere I found dimensions for #6 & #8 TOs that workedvery well on some handlaid TOsI got them off of the internet, but I do not recollect the address
Unfortunately, very few commercially made turnouts follow the NMRA table dimensions very closely. For instance, an Atlas Custom-Line #4 turnout is really about a #4.5 frog angle with a closure rail radius of about 22". Shinohara turnouts tend to be longer and have wider closure radius than NMRA dimensions for a given frog angle. So unless you use an existing model railroad-specific CAD program with libraries for commercial turnouts already loaded, you will have to measure the desired turnouts and build your own library.
For this reason, and because I’m lazy, I use the free Atlas RTS software to lay out the critical areas - yard ladders, multiple turnouts and crossings, curves of more than 90 degrees, etc. I usually don’t bother connecting these critical areas with the software because the time isn’t worth it. I print the plan and sketch in the missing links. Since I usually handlay my track, I know I can fit inside the space the Atlas component
there is a free program called xtrkcad. This program has many of the commercially availible turnouts already done and is very powerfull program. Like I said it is free. It does have a bit of a learning curve but it is not too difficult. This is what i used. Otherwise I would say that you would probably have to go buy some and measure them.