Brad Butcher wrote: > True I had thought of that, but my reading had tainted my > opinions. In McCelland's book for his origional layout, he > talks about using numerous #4's, 5's & 6's, but later saying > he replaced many #4's after haveing alot of problems with > operation with them and that in hindsight he would use #6's > as the minimum. Then in the article about the 2nd incarnation > of the V&O he started in the early 2000's he talks about > using #8's as a minimum on mainline turnouts and yard tracks, > with some #6's for industries. I had come to have this > philosophy after reading this and the other books by > Armstrong and Koestner (spelling? I'm at work) didn't refute > this idea. But as you say, a #6 straight may actually be more > operationally effecient then a #8 compound, I will look into > it. Thanks for the idea :) I highly recommend #8 minimum for all your mainline turnouts/crossovers. #6 turnouts off the main for industries would suffice. The bigger the turnouts, the better. Lister Joe Braun has some staggeringly HUGE turnouts (Joe, what's that one crossover you have - a pair of #18 turnouts?). They operate great and trains look awesome running through them - but boy, do they eat up the layout space! > Yeah I had heard something about this, as well as atlas > #4.5's. I am using Walthers as a basis, which I believe are > shinosura's. I've heard good things about micro engineerings > track and turnouts, but the paramater file for them is > limited to just 4's & 6's. I'm not sure about XTrkCAD, but 3rd Planit has a full library of various vendors' track components, so when you design with them, you will know exactly the correct orientation of all the pieces. > Good advice about couplers and wheelsets. I must confess to a > bit of ignorance on that subject. I have known about Kadee > couplers since I was a kid, but I really don't understand the > different sizes and what they mean. Nor the nuances of other > brands either. Unfortunately I don't think this is a subject > I will really be able to wrap my mind around until I get some > hands on time if you know what I mean? Some things are just > better to have someone show you then talk about. In a nutshell: "Standard" Kadee: #5 "Scale Head" version of the #5: #58 There's also the "whisker" version of the #58 (I believe it's the #158) where you don't need that bronze coupler centering spring that you drop into the coupler pocket. All else are variants of the above. :) Kadee's website describes them well. - Paul The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List http://EL-List.railfan.net/ To Unsubscribe: http://Lists.Railfan.net/erielackunsub.html ------------------------------
This HTML page is © 2000-2009 Blue Moon Online System and The Railfan Network
This page and the data contained therein may not be reproduced
for any form of commercial use without the explicit permission
of J. Henry Priebe Jr. or his duly authorized agent.