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Trying to figure out if it's feasible to have a Wye configuration with different diameter curves on either side of the Wye - in this case, an O-36 FT switch on one side and O-31 FT switch on the other. The O-36 switch shown on the attached sketch (not to scale) is not there now and neither is the Wye, it is currently just an O-36 curve leading into the existing track. That is the existing layout.

My plan is to extend the layout to the West (left) across a door (lift-out bridge) towards the other side of the room with a reverse curve at the end (not shown) leading back across the door/bridge towards the East (right) and connecting into the existing layout via the O-31 switch and O-72 Wye.

The problem is that I have a fixed, extremely limited amount of space within which to work. The O-36 curve and existing track cannot be moved or changed other than to install an O-36 switch in place of the curve and to install the O-72 Wye at some location on the existing track. I can move the Wye North or South (up or down) on the existing track as needed to accommodate connecting to both switches, if feasible.

The reason an O-31 switch would be necessary on the West (left) side is that the edge of the layout is there and cannot be extended to accommodate an O-36 switch and an O-36 switch will not work in the existing space because it is too big and will extend into the door opening. An O-31 switch might work because it is smaller and has a "sharper" curve. 

I can cut custom fitter pieces of FT so that is not a concern - only whether the O-31 switch can be made to hook up with the Wye at some point on the existing track.

Any input is appreciated - thanks in advance.

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The use of an O-72 would be cool, but an O-36 RH turnout may be able to be used instead of it and save some valuable space.  The track planning gurus on the forum can probably figure this out in short order.  If you can custom cut filler pieces to go between any and/or all three turnouts, so much the better.  The odds of getting something to work are increased tenfold.

Mixed Freight posted:

The use of an O-72 would be cool, but an O-36 RH turnout may be able to be used instead of it and save some valuable space.  The track planning gurus on the forum can probably figure this out in short order.  If you can custom cut filler pieces to go between any and/or all three turnouts, so much the better.  The odds of getting something to work are increased tenfold.

Yep- it works

031-036-036

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I think you're out of luck. Here's what I believe are the smallest configurations possible and the one on the left with the Wye switch only works if you cut a 2" piece (red) to fit. Even so, with the left southbound track 1" from the edge, the left O-31 switch extends into the doorway. I didn't know the importance of the 33", so I just made the baseboards 33" wide and extended them down past the tracks. The blue configuration uses an O72 Wye while the gold uses an O36 switch. Both require you to add a corner wedge to your table.

rc2020-01-10 daz

 

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Thanks, Dave - that's what I was afraid of - so I'll have to rethink the project.

The 33" is the fixed distance from the west (left) end of the existing O-36 switch all the way to the edge of the door, where I would need the west (left) end of the new O-31 switch to stop so it doesn't extend into and block the doorway. So it's the maximum width along the wall within which to fit the two new switches and extension pieces while still connecting to a wye (or switch).

Assuming each new switch is 10" long, that would leave 13" of extension pieces to connect the two switches, but then it doesn't look like there's any way to mate the switch curves to the existing straightaway using either a wye or a switch.

Thanks, again.

Jan, I'm sure Richie will correct me if I'm wrong, but here's how I read his comments:

- the green O36 switch has to end 33" from the left edge of the layout
- right now it's an O36 curve down to the purple tracks
- the yellow O31 switch can't extend past the edge of the layout on the left
- the purple tracks are 1" from the edge and can't be moved

rc2020-01-10 daz

If my understanding is correct, I think it can be done, but requires using a Ross O31 Wye switch, 2 FasTrack O31 switches and cutting fitters on an angle, something SCARM doesn't allow. And I'm not sure how to connect the Ross switch to FasTrack.

rc2020-01-10 daz2

 

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That's right Dave - the total allowable space across the wall at the top from the end of the existing O-36 switch to the edge of the door cannot exceed 33" or the new west (left) side switch will start to enter the doorway space which I need to avoid.

That is correctly shown by Dave's yellow and green sections.

So, with that as the given, the issue is whether there is then a way to connect the two new switches to the existing southbound track via a wye or different switch. The wye can be moved vertically up or down the existing southbound track a foot or so to accommodate a fit.

FWIW, the centerline of the existing southbound FT track does not equally split the 33" width across the top. The centerline is 15 5/8" from the door edge on the left and 17 3/8" from the end of the existing O-36 switch on the right (totaling 33"); maybe slightly to the right by an inch or so of where it's shown on Dave's plans.

Thanks

Dave,

I interpreted rich's comments to mean that the wye had to fit within the existing space and not to block the doorway.  Also, the impact to the existing layout should be minimized.

I redid my first iterations and managed to reduce the distance a bit further.  At a minimum, all of these attempts give him and others ideas of what can be done.

It would be nice if Lionel made an O36 wye.  I don't relish trying to mate a Ross wye to FasTrack.

Jan

Richie Wye-Jan V1

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Richie, I'm going to make my pitch one more time. There is no doubt a Wye can be configured to fit the space between the doorway on the left and the existing O36 switch on the right. However, everyone seems to be missing the fact that the existing purple southbound track is fixed at 1" from the left edge of the layout (13.5: from doorway) and I'm not sure how far down you're willing to tear up. Also, the blue O36 switch on the right is fixed at 33" from the doorway and the clear O31 switch on the left is semi-fixed at the doorway. In fact, if there is going to be a lift out/up bridge, I submit that the switch actually needs to be at least an inch in from the doorway, if not more.

Anyway, O31 is the smallest FasTrack switch and O31 is the tightest FasTrack curve. One way I see to get a switch/curve combo to mate with the existing southbound track is by adding 2 short O31s going in opposite directions and I have no idea how many problems that might create. FasTrack doesn't have a flex track, but even if it did, adding one would simply result in a curve tighter than O31 and that would probably create it's own set of problems.

I did like Jan's idea of playing off the existing O36 switch, so I tried several iterations and settled on this one. The cut 30" track is just under 9", so I believe 2 pieces of 4.5" track would fit even though they won't connect in SCARM.

rc2020-01-10 daz3

Now, if you're willing and able to tear up more southbound track, here's the way I'd probably do things. It doesn't require any cutting, but does connect further down on the existing southbound track. There is a small "S" curve where the 1 3/8" and 1 3/4" pieces are between the half O36 curves, but this will be a relatively slow speed section, so I don't know how many problems that will create.

rc2020-01-10 daz4

 

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I've attached a few photo's so you guys can see the area of the layout that I'm working with. The extension will go across the door and there will be a lift out bridge across the doorway.

These are all interesting designs that I hadn't thought of before - playing off the existing O-36 switch.

I can't move the southbound existing track to the east (right), but I'll see what I can do with each design.

Thanks again guys.

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The other side of the door will be about an 18' straight run through the back of two closets then along my workbench and turning south and then back through an O-48 reversing curve. If I eliminate the O-31 switch and wye and I could just run the train straight through across the door to the west (left), but then on the return trip, the train would be heading against the normal direction of train travel on the layout and I have no way to turn it around anywhere on the layout; that's why I need to be able  to have the train come back and connect with the existing southbound track either with a wye or switch.

It is interesting that the O-36 would be shorter than the O-31.

The sketch of the full extension is at my office - I'll post tomorrow if anyone is interested.

Thanks

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