Turnout study
Typical turnout
Phantom Punch the movie Click on the picture for a larger version…
Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare on dvd 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
Posted by: | 05-11-2006 | 10:05 AM
Posted in: Uncategorized
If you are involved in laying track and of course turnouts , both of these pictures are extremely worth-while !
Position and colour of ties , ballast and track reveal much in attempting to replicate in our model a realistic scene !
Some of the track is rusted …. light use ?
The ties are well weathered, perhaps old …. and not always black !
And all the extra detail around each rail within the individual turnout , all those nuts and bolts , a very busy scene !
Perhaps a turout decorating scheme can be an interesting and rather involved project …… there are so many variables possible !
And we haven’t even looked at switch stands ! Or all they turnout stands ?
Ian