What is the better match

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I am laying Micro Engineering trach with ME Turnouts. I need to install a #4 Wye. I have narrowed my choices to Walthers or Peco. My question is has anyone had experience with this combination? What matches up best with Micro Engineering track. I am running HO Code 83.

2

First question. Does ME not make a #4 wye? If not then the only considerations I can think of are:

  1. You might need to shim up the WYE if the ties are of different thicknesses.

  2. The method of actuating the WYE may be different than ME. ???

3

Micro Engineering does not make a #4 anythng.[B)] I have a tight area in which to do this so the #4 Wye is what I need in this situation. You can buy the points and frogs to make one but I do not trust my skills to take on such a project. What I am looking for is, which one, either Peco or Walthers, needs the least amount of adjustments

4

OK. I use Walthers/Shinohara code 83 and I have one of their Wyes that is only about 5" long. It is somewhat less than a #4 and is quite sharp. SO, to answer your question, I would look at the Walthers.

5

Is there any reason that you need a #4 wye? This wye matches a #8 turnout frog angle (approximately). Are you using #8 turnouts on your railroad? If you have a tight area you can save some space (length) by using a lower number wye.

According to dimensions in the Walthers catalog, the Walthers/Shinohara code 83 wyes have the following overall lengths:

#5: 13-7/8 inches

#4: 9-23/32 inches

#3: 7-7/8 inches

#2-1/2: 7-3/16 inches

#2: 6 inches

6

The #4 radius fits the curvature of this spot in the layout. However, a turnout will not work because I want the spur to go to a future turntable in the middle of a loop. When I saw a photo of the Peco #4 Wye, I thought it would be right. Of course photos can be decieving. What I am actually asking here is when connecting the ME Track to either Wlathers or Peco, which of these is a closer match when dealing with the ME rail joiners and the height of the ties on both. Thanks for all of your input.

7

Well, a non-scientific survey with random micrometer measurements indicates that the top of rail to bottom of tie measurement for a Walther’s code 83 #6 turnout is approximately 0.140 inch. The same measurement on a piece of what I believe is ME non-flexible flex track is 0.150 inch. However, you should measure the ME track you have to confirm this measurement.

I can’t speak for the Peco code 83 stuff because it is too expensive for my taste.