Which turnout to use

[John Fed]

I am building a 2 loop layout on a 4x8 platform with an 18" radius inner loop and a 22" outer loop. I will purchase 2 left hand and 2 right hand turnouts to connect the loops and need help identifying which turnout to buy. My interest is the DCC type nickel silver with grey roadbed. Will the standard turnouts items #44130 and 44131 align properly so the 2 loops connect?  Thanks

[Len]

You can use one left and one right #6 crossover to do what you want. Something like this:



You could replace one, or more, inner straight sections with turnouts to create sidings or a yard.

Len

[jward]

I am building a 2 loop layout on a 4x8 platform with an 18" radius inner loop and a 22" outer loop. I will purchase 2 left hand and 2 right hand turnouts to connect the loops and need help identifying which turnout to buy. My interest is the DCC type nickel silver with grey roadbed. Will the standard turnouts items #44130 and 44131 align properly so the 2 loops connect?  Thanks

I would strongly advise against the use of those two. Using them as a crossover between the two loops will leave you with a nasty S curve your trains will not like. And even if that weren't the case, they give an excessively wide track spacing. You're better off using  #5 or #6 for this. They are far less sharp of a curve, and have build in straight parts to lessen the effect of the s curve to something that most rolling stock will run through without derailing. The use of 18" radius curves in an S curve without a straight of at least 6 inches is a well known source of derailments, yet it is a mistake most beginners seem to be attracted to like moths to a candle.

[John Fed]

Len and Jeffrey, thank you very much for your replies. Much appreciated!

[trainman203]

A long time ago I had to redo a yard to allow for a short straight section between the yard throat switch and where the curve started on the main line. I lost two cars of capacity in the yard but operation became so much better.

[Ralph S]

....The use of 18" radius curves in an S curve without a straight of at least 6 inches is a well-known source of derailments, yet it is a mistake most beginners seem to be attracted to like moths to a candle.

The reason for that mistake, is that the most used and most available EZ track curve is the 18- inch radius.   For added information, another mistake beginners make (and no one informs them of this) is using that second curved track as a siding for staging cars.  What they don't recognize is that it's hard to couple and uncouple a car in the curve.  The advice is not to use either curve track as a staging for cars.  Should be used mainly for leapfrogging or engine personnel changeouts, or as a second mainline.