What track pieces to use to make a siding?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I am buying lots of Bachmann EZ track with gray roadbed. I am going to have 26" radius and one siding. I plan on having a huge circle. It will have 2 number 5 switches on it.

I was wondering what pieces of track would I use to make the number five switches connect to each other. I have no ideal what radius they are. The siding will have two to three 9" straights on it.

2

That would be a good question for the “Ask the Bachman”.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.html

3

I have over 500 pieces of this track on my layout and use similar switches for sidings. I found that 1/3rd sections of curved track (I use 22") will work will for sidings. Check out the Bachmann site - they have what you want. An alternative is to cut a piece to size …

See ya![tup]

4

Yes, “Ask Bachman” would probably be your best bet.

4/11/05

I apologize for the abrupt reply, but was cut off. Neither the product packaging nor the site provides any clue as to what the curvature of the turnout is.

First, it sounds like you are trying to create a loop within a loop, I take it that the #5’s will be placed on opposite sides of the main oval and you wi***o connect the two diverging routes. You should provide Mr. Bachman with this information in the event you “Ask him”.

Additionally, any E-Z track layout books I looked at seem to use only the standard switch which has a full 18" R curve built into it.

Another poster has offered some ideas. The only thing I can think of is to lay it out and try to “draw in” the necessary curvature to form a 90 degree bend from each turn out. Then you will be able to measure the amount of straight track needed to connect the to opposite curves.

If this becomes a difficult project, then the other option is to replace the two #5’s with the standard turnout. Then you could use 18" R to create the 90 degree bends on each turn out. It takes (12) 18" R to complete a circle, so you would need to add (2) 18"R to each turn out to complete the 90 degree bend.

Hope this Helps - Good Luck and Have Fun!

–Ed

PS.
Write back and let us know what you find out - Thanks

5

fredonia,
If you find yourself coming up empty or having great difficulty accomplishing what you want, as an alternative, just lay flextrack w/ railjoiners on matching thickness roadbed.
You could use this method to customize the trackplan for any deviation from the EZ track. I believe it is siberianmo that ballasted his EZ track. If ballasted with his methods, then any altered flex sections can be blended and nobody will notice.
Just a thought.
Bob K.

6

fredonia,
Numbered turnouts don’t have a radius. In other words, the
diverging track is straight. It diverges on an angle instead
of a curve. Good luck, Dave

Edit: Unlike Snap Switches that do have a curved diverging track. Dave