what is #4and#6turnouts mean? is that the legnth of the track?
The number refers to how sharp the turnout is. #4 is sharp, #6 is less sharp, and #8 is starting to get broad. I don’t remember the exact definitons, but #4 is commonly used in yards and #6 on mainlines. If you’ve got lots of room, #8 would be good on a mainline, but I for one don’t have the luxury of that much space.
The number refers to how many units of length it takes to achieve one unit of separation. Thus it takes a #4 turnout 4 inches from the intersection of the center line of the straight route and the center line of the diverging route to have 1 inch of separation of the two center lines. Thus the lower the number the sharper the turnout for the diverging route. The straight route is unaffected. This page http://www.nmra.org/standards/rp-11.html gives recommended curves and turnouts for different length locos and cars and is worth following for your layout.
Enjoy
Paul
Absolutely, but it’s your layout, and you may not have the space for the “correct” turnout in “that” particular spot. So a comprimise may have to be made. Generally, the higher the turnout #, the longer the turnout. Longer turnouts look much better and are more equipment friendly, especially if you want to run long cars. However, Long turnouts eat layout space, and they are especially hungry in your yards. [:O]
TD,
If you want to run high speed trains on a mainline and turn out to another high speed mainline route, a #8 is an exceptional and gentle diversion to the next set of rails.
However, most of your operations will be fine on a #6 for mainline to divergent route. (NEVER use a #4 off of your main if you can help it.)
In industry sidings, (not necessarily in your yards,) a #4 is good. Just don’t drop a 4 in your mainline if you can avoid it. It will come back to haunt you at some point in time for many reasons.
Now, it is of course up to you, but I build all yard out of #6 because of long body cars, etc… It causes havoc to move them over tight turns.
I hope this helps…
Possible exception may be a turnout from the main in a permament slow order district. I’ve done this in order to get the maximum passing siding length at one point, but all trafic diverging onto the siding has to be slow.
Excellent point. I have used this in the past, but in the interest of keeping it all “bulletproof,” I have forced all mainline turnouts to be designed as nothing short of #8, it makes it easier to run without fear… not prototypical, but alot less stressfull. As always, your getting great advice. Don’t be afraid to try things, in fact, forcing an occasional “slow” operation in a normal district adds a great deal to the fun of “running” the layout.
My choices for overkill are often based on the fact that I am running N Scale and it loves to park rolling stock in the long grass when you least expect it.