Model Railroad Turnouts
Model Railroad Turnouts
Model railroad turnouts allow you to divert your trains off the mainline and on to a branchline. The turnout, or switch, has within it a movable section of track called a frog. This frog “breaks” the track and switches the track and thus the locomotive and train to another direction.
Model railroad turnouts are available already built, with plastic ties, or you can buy just the track mechanism with 3 or 4 ties holding it together, and add your own wooden ties. Very time consuming but if realism is your objective, this is the way to go. Also, you have complete control over your track, it is totally custom. Check out Railway Engineering's offerings at: www.railwayeng.com.
Another decision is whether to go manual or electric. Actually, with the simplicity of electronics, and the wide range of DCC controls, I don't see why anyone wouldn't go with electric, unless cost is a big factor.
A switch is considered closed when the train is set to go straight ahead on it's present track. The switch is thrown when the train is set to be diverted off the mainline and onto the branchline. Switches are usually called right or left hand throws depending on the direction the train will go if the switch is thrown. A right throw switch will send the train off to the right, and vise versa for left.
Another type of switch to be aware of is the wye switch. A wye is used to turn trains around, and it consists of a long stub of track connected to a mainline. The wye switch comes in straight, but goes off to the left or right, not straight ahead.
Where did the term turnout come from? In real life, switches are called switches not turnouts. In model railroading however, switches have come to be known as turnouts so as not to confuse model railroad builders who already have many electrical switches to keep straight.
So fill your layout with model railroad turnouts, use a lot of them in yards, sidings, and main and branchlines. Decide if you want manual or electric controls, and if you feel up to it, hand lay the rails and track.
For a great all around guide to model railroading, take a look at www.modeltrainhelp.smmsite.com |