Setting a #8 double crossover in place

It's beautiful, but there's a little nomenclature difficulty here.

This was called a "scissors" crossover. with the switches opposite and the crossing in the middle.  A "double" crossover is facing and trailing crossovers in series, so to speak.  Number 8 double crossovers use up a lot of room, and modelers often use the "scissors" variety to save space.

But you'd never catch a real railroad using this arrangement if they had room to stretch them out, just like they'd never use a slip switch if they had room to use two simple turnouts.

EdKing

But common in transit where block lengths may be 700 feet or shorter.

That is some beautiful work.

Agreed.  I just barely have room for one of those - did you make it from scratch?

Very nice Tom!

John

Ed......re:But you'd never catch a real railroad using this arrangement if they had room to stretch them out....I'd never use it on a model RR either if I did not actually have to.  A time consuming pain to set up.  In the space off 56 inches I needed to have two cross overs or a double slip switch and a singlecross over for high speed mainline operation.  I could not get a double slip switch so this unit was needed. It goes immediately between two junctions.

I have the exact same situation with another RR where there is only 36" of parallel track between two lines, that one is getting a #6 double "sissors" crossover.  with 4" centerlines a #6 unit needs 35", with 4 1/2" centerlines this #8 unit requires 54".

Thanks for the kind words but i did not build it.

Bob2, No, Sorry to have left that impression  It was  made by Brad Strong who trades as the Signature Switch co out of Salt Lake City Utah.  He also rebuilds Old Pullman switches and makes custom turnouts of any configuration.  I only hammer them down.

Great trackwork indeed.

Bob

Now that is a beautiful mess of track work right there...I love it.  That man has talent...I'm jealous indeed.

Chris

Tom

That is fairly awesome. I have an application for Brad, and based on this I will contact him.  Thanks for posting this.

Contact info for Brad:

www.signatureswitchco.com  web site shows the bottom view of his one piece tie foundation.    Throw bar and head ties normally extend out on both sides.

Area code 801  number is 884 6354

Gorgeous work. As a curiosity, how much was the #8 double crossover...? Not that I could afford it, but it must be hefty as is the amount of work to build it.

Thanks

Yves

I do not have his price list in front of me but you are basicly buying four turnouts and one diamond.  I believe it was the sum of the five pieces.  Hand made by an English speaking craftsman in the USA.

that is some nice work!

Beautiful work. I can't even lay 2 feet of straight track. Love flex track.

Dick

Old Pullman was $30 a pop fifteen years ago.  They were gorgeous.  I have the three- way and oneon a curve.  I think equivalent switches are eighty bucks apiece now.

Tom - Thanks for this post!  It led me to Brad Strong's Signature Switch Company.  I just received a 72x84 beautifully  built R/H curved switch solving a problem that I would otherwise have had a hard time coming up with a solution.

I also ordered some #6's, all very well built, with a quick turnaround from order to receipt.  I'll use Brad for all future switches.

Marker, you are welcome.

He has is now building a curved three track single crossover from track #1 across track #2 onto track #3.

Just for caution he printed out a full size cad for a test overlay of the curved diamond and two turnouts for the  three  right of ways.  He had nailed it dead on. 

He is also building seven one piece solid tie diagonally slit pieces of curve tracks for a junction lift out.  You think it - he builds it.  Plus he is real easy to speak to.

He's a pleasure to deal with.  Brad and his company are a rare find!

He has is now building a curved three track single crossover from track #1 across track #2 onto track #3.

I hope he adds some pictures to his portfolio, I'd love to see that!

Custom curved turnouts with any radius combination and Brad's latest cereation, a 12 point double slip switch.

Color coded drops as ordered ready to install.

Absolutely OUTSTANDING!!  Could be the centerpiece of many layouts.

Just one thing though.  Been following the Dead Rail Society proceedings (battery power).  This crossover with all the wires and what will be attached to them speaks volumes about one advantage of Dead Rail.

Sorta kidding.  That crossover is a work of art.

Google "how to wire a double cross over" pick the Fast Tracks option.  This will take you to an animated wiring schematic which will show you how to use four Tortise switch machines to correctly power the needed rails for each manouver.

This thumbnail sample is one of the several full screen frames available from the Fast Tracks web site which are animated using color and movement to depict how the power is routed for each set of point movements. 

Yes, Dead rail is much simpler but with a roster numbering in the scores the pocketbook rules. tt