Which Atlas Turnouts/Switches should I use for my HO scale layout? It is an L shape (basically 3 4x4 tables) and I want to have a little railyard

I am planning on using #6, but I am not really sure.

Atlas makes a very good turnout, and the #6 would be perfect. It is not as sharp an angle on the divergent side ans the #4, and it does not take up as much space as a #8 turnout. I use Atlas Custom line #6 turnouts throughout my relatively large layout.

Rich

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I would use Atlas #4 (note the Atlas #4 is really #4.5 which is good) for the yard.
The #6 for this small layout requires too much length and you’ll wind up with yard tracks that don’t hold many cars.

The Fast Tracks website has turnout templates which you can download for free. I suggest you download the #4.5 and #6. You can then layout with both sizes and see which will work best for you.

Good luck
Paul

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Welcome to the forum, brandon1!

We love hearing about other modeler’s layouts, so please keep us up-to-date on how your railroad progresses.

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Which size turnout to use depends a lot on your equipment. If you’re using 4 wheeled engines (GPs, SWs,etc) and 40’ & 50’ cars, the CL #4s should work just fine. However, if you’re using 6 wheeled engines (SDs) and 60-89’ cars, then you would need the #6s.
Just for reference, this is what my yard looks like: https://photos.app.goo.gl/jYg49ueWy1at9EU47
It isn’t a very big yard but it gives you an idea. The turnouts are CL #4s. The depth isn’t great as the sections are old closet doors. I run basically 4 wheeled diesels with a couple of sixes (SD45 and an SD40-2) and 40’ and 50’ freight cars and a few passenger cars.

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That’s a great point about wheelsets. :+1:

Rich

I went with Walthers #5 turnouts on my layout as a good compromise between the #4s and #6s. No problems with six-axle locomotives or 89’ cars. But, if you can fit longer turnouts, do it.

DFF

That is a good compromise. In the end, it is often space considerations that dictate the angle of the turnouts.

Rich

If you’re going with Atlas (no matter the turnout number), make sure you get their Custom Line Mark V turnouts. These are their newest version, and they’re closer to NMRA standards for turnouts than anything they’ve produced before. We’re replacing our club turnouts (Atlas of varying types over the years) with these a little at a time. Equipment runs over them much better than over the older ones.
The Mark V are drop-in replacements for the earlier Custom Line series, also.

Mark, I have a question for you. Almost all of my Atlas turnouts are Custom Line #6, but I do have two Mark V turnouts, or at least I think I do. But they are older turnouts. When you say that the Mark V is Atlas newest version, how new is it?

Rich

Rich,

I believe Custom Line V came out just a couple of years ago.

I should also clarify that these are code 100 turnouts. On the Atlas website, Custom Line V is the latest for code 100.

Not sure about Code 83 turnouts - Atlas doesn’t say what version of Custom Line their latest is (that I can tell). Are you talking about number 6 turnouts, or Custom Line Version VI?

All of my turnouts but two are #6 turnouts, Custom Line. I am not sure of the version number, but I can check. I keep all of the original packaging.

Rich