Y Points

[steamyjim]

A very silly question today!

I am still collecting track for the construction of my line, and have found a few Peco Y-Points possibly going cheap. The problem I have is that these will be used as offshoots from the main running line or as a passing loop on the main line rather than a diverging section of the line. Obviously, standard LH/RH point would be the better for this, but if these are cheap they look like a good option.

I am unsure of the geometry of these points, and how the will look in use like this. How far off of a straight line is one of the branches of a Peco Y-Point?

Has anyone here used Peco Y-Points for what I have in mind?

I am not asking if it's possible to do it as it obviously is - I'm just wondering how much you need to kink the track off the straight to do it, and what that looks like.

Jim

[tom_tom_go]

Download AnyRail software for free and you either build or print out 1:1 templates of Peco SM32 track.

www.anyrail.com

[Graff B.]

Hi Jim, somewhere in my back issues of 16mm today there is an article on how to use/reconfigure the Y points as normal L/R points. When I get a moment I'll see if I can find it.

[Soar Valley Light]

Hi Jim,

According to Peco's own website there are two sizes of turnouts out of straight (right or left hand). The small radius ones are 38" radius and the medium ones 60".

As I suspected, the Y or, more properly, symetrical turnouts have a greater radius of 95". This would have an equivalent radius out of straight of 47.5". That means that a symetrical turnout of the same length as as a 47.5" radius one out of straight has twice the turnout radius. I may not be explaining to well but it's only basic geometry.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to go to all the trouble of straightening a symetrical - just buy a left or right hand out of straight standard turnout! There is nothing that says an 'out of straight' turnout is what should be used for a loop. There is a lot to commend the use of a symetrical with it's gentler radius.

There is a school of thought on the standard gauge that trains should enter a loop on the straight road and depart by turning back into the straight main. This was because an arriving train could be 'running quite well', where as a departing train would only just be getting away and therefore negotiate the curve at a lower speed. It doesn't hold up where a train is a non stop though. Some places with loops which were only used infrequently or for freight to get out of the way of passengers had a straight main all the way through and a loop that turned out at one end and back in again at the other. Where greater speed was potentially required on both roads the symetrical turnout was the obvious solution.

The symetrical is a great way of achieving a much gentler radius in the same distance.

I hope this helps, if I've left you even more confused please say so and I'll do my best to explain myself more clearly.

Andrew

[steamyjim]

Andrew - Thank you for your detailed reply! I wasn't considering the use of the Y-Points in my return loops, but as you say, the geometry of the Y-Point is better suited to use on a return loop allowing a full circle to effectively be produced rather than 3/4 of a circle and then a straight.

I think I will make my passing loops with Y-Points if I can get these ones cheap - if not I will just wait it out for some cheap LH/RH points as I do really prefer the look of a running loop made that way.

Graff B. - I'd certainly be interested in seeing that article!

Tom-Tom-Go - Have you ever used Anyrail? I'd downloaded it before and struggled to get my head around it!

[GTB]

If you go to the Peco website and look in the 'Technical Advice Bureau' section you will find they have downloadable templates for all their turnouts, including the large scale ones.

http://www.peco-uk.com/page.asp?id=pointplans

These print out at full size on two A4 sheets for playing around to find out what will fit in the available space.

Graeme