Garden Railway Forum

I have asked on my thread about points/turnouts, but I haven't received a reply yet. So I am posting this on the "Forum Help & Suggestions".

Which is better a Normal Right or Left Hand point/turnout or a "Y" point/turnout. The reason I am asking ? I am in a quandary on what to use on our line. I don't know if for the future a "Y" would be a better choice, as it can go to a buffer stop like you see on the real thing, or get the normal points and see if it will do what I need it to do. Baring in mind they both cost the same in monetary value.

It depends on your track plan, do you have one?

There is no answer to that question Rod, which may be why you had no replies.
The correct point is the one that fits the geometry of the track layout. If you subsequently change the layout then it may no longer fit unless your altered layout includes the same geometry at some point.
In my experience Y-points are far less versatile than one might think because you tend to need two reverse curves to get everything back in line. OTOH if the current layout requires, say, a LH point then a RH point won't fit and neither will a Y, simple!

Thanks Phillip. You have in a way answered my question, thank you.

This is my track plan BTW.


It has changed somewhat just like you have mentioned it may do. The point at the top right hand is a lot further on and the so are the other two now which have moved towards the left also.

The reason I asked, is the line at the bottom I was going to have it run back to the top right hand into the tunnel and have the other track from the point go over the edge of the scaffold board and go around the bush to the other side of the bush. But now I am going to in the near future, just have a continuous line instead.

This is after your'e comments Phillip.

I used a wye on a previous layout as it came straight on towards a hill located in the middle of the loop. Because of the topography a normal left or right wouldn't fit in the available space which was fairly tight. Constructing it was something different as were the several curved turnouts I built.

Thanks Dwayne. Thats sounds interesting, do you have any photos at all

Rod,

Here's a photo of it in place on my first layout. The switch to the left was a curved right hand turnout.

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Love the track work there!

Thats nice Dwayne, and it does nicely illustrate my point(!) that you can't just swap turnouts without considering the geometry. A LH wouldn't work nearly as well as the Y and a normal RH wouldn't work nearly as well as the Curved RH.

Really is nice point work that Dwayne.
Thanks for the photo, it does show how it should be perfectly. However I see that you have made your own points have you. I don't think you can buy curved points for 32mm can you

Rod... yes, I build all of my trackwork. Ties are ripped on my table saw using treated lumber that is soaked in a mix of old used motor oil & diesel for preservation. Spikes are #18x5/8" brad nails. Rail is code 250 aluminum.

It takes me about 2 hours to build a switch from start to finish. If I have all the components prepped beforehand, I can assemble one in less than a hour.

Thats brilliant Dwayne. Have you ever thought about selling them

Has I have said, "you can't seem to be able to buy them anywhere"..

Have never thought about selling them.

Have a small trial Dwayne and see what kind of response you get. If I had your skill at building them, I would mate.

Rod, it's fun so long as it's just for me. Doing it as a side business would make it a job. I am allergic to work.

Dwayne wrote: ↑Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:58 am Rod, it's fun so long as it's just for me. Doing it as a side business would make it a job. I am allergic to work.

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Dwayne wrote: ↑Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:58 am Rod, it's fun so long as it's just for me. Doing it as a side business would make it a job. I am allergic to work.

Ain't that the truth!

I wish I could turn them out as fast as you Dwayne, the turnout I currently have on the bench has been there for at least two months - and it's only half finished! There is a great satisfaction to the job though. You get what you want to fit where you need it to. (Still no excuse for me, the current project is a simple left hand out of straight turnout )

The current thinking in this country (and elsewhere) is that turnouts should all be 'out of straight'. Standardised, and simple. There are sound engineering reasons for this but it does limit the locations for junctions, particularly in such a small 'curvy' country as this! As a result it's still necessary for the design office to be inventive when 'like for like' renewals of some junctions go ahead. Last weekend we commenced some renewals just outside St Pancras, the first crossover to go in wasn't unlike the one Dwayne sent us a picture of!

Thanks for sharing the picture again Dwayne. Your trackwork is poetry in steel and lumber, I could gaze at it all day!

All the best,

Andrew