In Princeton
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Image Copyright (c) 2006 Tim Warris
Train climbing over the hill in Princeton, Ontario. The property just to the right of the tracks was on our short list of potential locations for Fast Tracks, but ultimately was rejected. Not because of the track, but the area around the property was pretty dumpy. Too bad, would have loved to been that close to the mainline!
-Tim
High speed crossover
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Image Copyright (c) 2006 Tim Warris
This is a much larger turnout than the one posted yesterday. I am guessing this is likely a #16 or a #20 as it is used as a high speed crossover between two mainlines.
All the same geometric principals are employed with this turnout, only much longer. The frog is straight through both routes.
Its interesting to note how the diverging route has a bit of a kink in it to allow it to line up with the other turnout, apparently the real railroads have this problem too.
Maybe the benchwork shifted from the humidity….
-Tim
Typical turnout
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Image Copyright (c) 2006 Tim Warris
This is a good shot of how a typical prototype (and model) turnout is designed. I would guess this is about a #8 turnout leading into a storage track in a yard. It can be observed how these are made, there is a very noticeable “kink” where the switch point settles against the stock rail, about a 2 degree angle.
From here a spiral curve connects the points to the frog. The section through the frog is straight, allowing mass produced frogs to be used. From there the track continues straight for a short section, finally curving to the final route.
At a distance turnouts appear to be a simple track curving from the straight route, but a closer look reveals several sections of differing geometry. Unless you are in Briton, they have a very different approach….
-Tim
