What size turnouts for a yard?

[bn-1000]

Okay I know this can be an open-ended question to some but I am ready to lay down my first track work in my switching yard. I have always assumed #6 is what I'd be using but I'm thinking #7 might look a little more realistic. Is there much difference visually between these sizes for a small switching yard?

Regards,
Stephen

[cct70]

I would go with #6's. They can handle most anything, but the only way to get truly realistic yard trackage is to handlay your switches. #6's are a good substitute though.

[otiscnj]

#6's are better than say 5's or 4.5's, if you're going to run 86' Hi-Cubes and alike, or long wheelbase engines. In my mind it sort of depends on the space you have. Try a few #6's with a few of your long cars, and see how they work.

In the real world, highspeed mainline crossovers are like #20, or so I've been told. #8's for yards?

[WCWBrassHat]

To me the yard turnouts should be smaller than the mainline turnouts. I would use #5 as a minimum in a freight yard and #6 in a passenger yard. My longest freight cars are 65' and my passenger cars are 80'.

I started this layout with #7 turnouts on the mainline and have built new trackage with #10's since they were introduced. I wish all of the mainline turnouts were #10's. I plan to replace any failures with #10's were possible.

Glenn

[bn-1000]

Thanks for your quick replies, guys. I should have disclosed my rolling stock types. For locos I have 3 MP15-DC switchers, a couple of GP40's (mainly to bring in the occasional short line cut). In regards to freight most are 50' boxcars and some of the 17,500G corn syrup tankers.

I will be getting someone to build my turnouts using the Fast Tracks system, and I agree they do look supurb!!

[otiscnj]

While I'm not a civil engineer, I think turnout number is a function of car length, train length, as well as velocity thru the diverging route, but I could be wrong.

Having said that, I'm currently planning an HO layout in a space of 26' x28-34'. Even with that amount of space, in the freight yards, I'm still using Atlas #4's. Mainline crossovers will be #6's, with a few 8's in spots where they'll be passenger trains taking diverging routes at decent speed(medium speed), if they'll fit.

[GenSet]

#5s should be plenty

[fcwilt]

Always a trade off between space and looks.

#5s have a minimum radius of around 26", #6s around 43".

However it's not a very long section of curve.

Since my space was limited I went with #5 for yards, #6 for main line.

For reference the minimum main line radius is 30".

[bn-1000]

Thanks all. Some great responses there. I'm going #6 for the yard and a #7 off the mainline.

fcwilt, you're correct in saying it's a real trade-off between space and appearance. My layout measures 11 foot long x 18 inches deep. I'll post the schematic in a new thread shortly.

[joed2323]

Im running more modern equipment so i went with #6 and #8s. In a yard you are traveling at slow speeds so #4-#5 would work fine... alot has to do with what amount of room you have to work with.

I always try and use the bigger switches especially on mainlines. Spurs and what not a person can get by using #4...