Walthers Turnout Radii

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I am finally moving from Collector to Modeler. I want to expand upon Steve Otte’s Dream 4’ x 8’ layout and use Walthers track. I cannot find any information on the radius of their turnouts. {Yes, my LHS call them (Walthers) direct and they did not know.} Nowhere in their packaging does it mention this. A #4 turnout with a straight section and curved one appears to be a 22" radius when you place an Atlas curve track on it. The double curved turnouts list the radii of each turn, but not the straight pieces. Also, since they do not make curved track, can I assume all turnouts are connected by flextrack?

Thank you for any assistance.
Jesse

2

His givens are 18” minimum radius curves and No. 5 turnouts. Judging by the amount of track on that plan, I don’t foresee anything larger than a No. 5 being feasible. Yes, assume flextrack, since his plan is merely a pencil drawing.

Hope this helps,
DFF

3

the Atlas Snap Switch was designed to replace the first section of an 18" readius curve. It has curved driverging. Most, if not all standard turnouts have straight divergin rails

i use the following values for track planning

# frog #    ang    ang    rad   lead
#    8.0    7.2      -  83.20  10.36  99.53
#    7.5    7.6      -  73.12   9.71  88.45
#    7.0    8.2      -  63.70   9.05  78.02
#    6.5    8.8      -  54.93   8.40  68.25
#    6.0    9.5      -  46.80   7.75  59.12
#    5.5   10.4      -  39.32   7.09  50.65
#    5.0   11.4      -  32.50   6.44  42.82
#    4.5   12.7      -  26.32   5.78  35.65
#    4.0   14.3      -  20.80   5.12  29.12
4

Thanks Dave. I have a 7’ x 16’ table to work with. Hopefully that will be enough “wiggle” room to expand.

5

Greg, thanks for the chart. Now to work on my math!

I was told that Walthers based theirs on the Shinohara design.

6

I think it’s reasonable to assume that the Walthers’ specs will match the old Shinoharo design, because I used the Walthers-Shinoharo turnouts when I built my layout in 2017. I recently added a siding, and a Walthers No. 5 turnout seemed to match the old No.5s that I used.

If you have a 7’x16’ table, I’d say you have plenty of room for that track plan- nearly double the size! I’d suggest 30” minimum mainline radius curves and No. 6 turnouts, if you can swing it.

Hope this helps,
DFF

7

better do some checking how far you can reach across 7’ dependent on height. 3 1/2’ is probably sinificantly farther then most people can reach. I am 6’5" and could not do that without damaging scenery or knocking over trains at the edge. my rr is 48" above the floor and 32" is the maximum reach for me.

8

That makes perfect sense since Walthers Shinohara was the forerunner to Walthers own line of turnouts. Good point, David!

Rich

9

the lead length is the distance from the points to the frog.

Atlas turnouts have 1" of track before the points and ~2" after the frog on the non-diverging track and 1" on the diverging track

10

unnamed

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11

Thanks for the tips. I don’t plan on fully utilizing every square inch, but it will give me room for an interchange yard.

12

Thanks ndbprr. I’m 6’2" and the table is only 32" off the floor. I think using my ape-like arms and a fancy layout stool should work!

13

I like the around the room layout for longer runs. You can add some more trackside industries for switching.

14

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15

this is how i use these values.

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the blue, red and yellow segments represent the turnout where the red segment represents the 46.5" radius curved section, yellow. the corresponding straight section and the blue segments, straight sections extending from the points, diverging and non-diverging rails

the green curve is a constant 28" radius from the points

the orange is a 28" curve extended from the diverging rails after the 1" straight segment

the violet curve is a constant 46.5" radius curve from the points

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16

I 100% agree in principle with the folded dog bone alternative, but it represents very complicated benchwork compared to the classic 4x8. You need hinged hatches in both of those loops. Otherwise, it’s at least a 4 foot reach, almost 5 feet in the back corner. That’s not counting all the framework for the irregular top pattern, which might be better built as an open structure with plywood roadbed. Again, that’s all very complicated for a beginner.

The other plan requires only a minimal rectangular structure to support a single 4x8 sheet, with 4-6 legs, and then he’s off and running with laying track.

Again, the folded dog bone is best for the long run, but unless the proper skills/experience are already present, an attempt could result in frustration and giving up before ever getting to run trains.

17

then at least consider

Layout Design Construction - Imgur
Layout Design Construction - Imgur2282×1055 210 KB

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18

Aha! My first layout - Atlas’s Apex and Hypotenuse (1972). :wink:

19

Interesting. I never even thought of the Collector aspect. Though, that is certainly a part of the hobby. It could be the aim for some, instead of the actual modeling. It’s something you don’t hear a lot about.

20

Well, it is not like Collector in the true sense of the definition. It is more like I bought a lot of stuff in anticipation of having a layout someday. Maybe borderline hoarding!

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