help to decide Switch between 36, 48 and 60" fastrack loops

so you mean , if my largest curve is 60 i should use 60 switches or even a bigger one and also will 60 work with the 36 curve

Thnaks

If you are making the connections where the tracks are parallel, then it doesn't matter what radius switch you use, just make them both the same or you may have difficulty getting them to connect.  As rattler said, the bigger the radius the better.  It makes for a more gradual transition and that is better for larger engines.

Great thanks! another question on the same lines, if the two loops are 36 and 48 and needs to be connected where they are parallel, will two 60 inch switch fit in as the distance beteen the tracks is only 6 inches. is there some generalization around it?

thanks

Puc

Here's one way to do it.  Come off the O60 to the O48 loop with 4 O48 switches and from the O48 to the O36 loop with 4 O36 switches.  This method prevents the train from going through an S curve as it switches from one loop to another.

Another way to do it is with O72 switches.  You have the slight S curve but it's not a problem for trains to navigate (like it might be if you used O36 switches for instance.) However, this method uses a lot more real estate.

Here's another (better) version using the O72 switches.  It's more compact and gives a better transition from one loop to the next.

Thanks for this. this is very helpful. so basically it means that when tracks are parallel, curve size does not matter. as long as they are same.

in the first option i could have used a 48 inch as well, correct?

in the second ption, when you said a lot of real estate, you meant within the loops itself, right?

Is there some resource or book which i can refer to to learn more about these. for most of you, its second nature but for someone like me who is just 30 days into this, this is mind boggling

Thanks

Puc

If you're planning to use Fastrack, I like the first design James posted, "Puc1" because it avoids S-Curves altogether by using a Left Hand switch connected to a Right Hand Switch (and vice versa)  for the transition between loops.

The 072 switches are more gradual than the 036 and 048 switches, but create an S-Curve when used in pairs (2 Left Hand switches, or 2 Right Hand switches)

If you were planning to use Atlas, Ross, or MTH Scaletrax, then you could use the numbered switches (like Atlus # 7.5) and the transitions would be much more gradual than using a pair of 072 switches.

-bruce

Hi Bruce, for the transition between loop, will both the swiches be not RH or LH rather than 1 RH and 1 LH

I'm not sure what you mean by curve size no mattering.  It makes a difference in Puc1.  Since the switch is integrated into the curves then you have to use switches that match the curve radius.  For instance you can't (not easily anyway) use O36 switches to go from an O60 to O48 loop like in Puc1.  But you could do that in Puc2 and Puc3 since the switches are not part of the curves in the loop.

Yes, I meant within the loops.

There is a book on fastrack plans but the one I'm aware of doesn't have very good reviews, so I let others with experience make a recommendation.

On Puc1, you'll need two RH and Two LH when going from one loop to another.  A LH and RH go together on the left and a RH and LH go together on the right. 

If you want I'll design a layout for you in RR Track (an autocad software) and that way you'll know exactly what to get.  I just need to know what size layout you want to build.

Thanks James for offering to help!!basically i do not have a fixed layout and have to dismantle it every week. i have couple of 36 and 10 and was planning to order some 48 and 60. i did buy the rr software but did not use it till i saw your drawings. after that i spent the entire day trying to figure it out and this is what i came up with. i decided to do it a little differently then what i was initially thinking.

the three loops are the 3 rooms in my house and the straight track is the hallway. the one in the magenta color is an additional track which i can use some times otherwise i will have only the gray track.

can you please help me a litle in the plan.

1. the smallest room have o36, i do not know how to join the other track

2. the 2nd and the 3rd room i put the 72 Y switch, but somehow the track is not getting conncetd to it. i tried all curvers but it does not connect to the Y side. can you please tell me, what i am doing wrong.

also kindly provide feedback/critque/suggestions as this is my first plan and i am not very creative so was lost after a point

thanks in advance

I can't open the file.  I'm guessing you have RR Track version 5.  I have version 4 which isn't compatible.  If you could post up a jpeg that would help.

In order to connect to the O72 Y you have to use the 1 3/8 fitters.  Your track software should show a 1.375" makeup straight listed with the O72 Y and O72 and O60 switches.  These pieces have part of the roadbed removed so they can fit into the center of the Y, otherwise the roadbed from joining pieces would hit each other.

There is a book by Robert Schleicher, "The Lionel FasTrack Book" that I have found very useful in spite of its shortcomings.  My own layout is a slightly modified version of a 5x9 plan in this book.  The book does a fair job of introducing the reader to the basics of block control and wiring.  It goes into depth about the geometry of the system and takes you from simple loops to more complex layouts.

Be warned that some of the layout diagrams in the book and/or component listings are wrong.  It is a good idea, especially for the more complex layouts in the book to translate the design to your own track planning software.  That way you won't be surprised that you need 3 of those pesky 1 3/8 pieces (or whatever) to close a loop only to find that you don't have enough of them.  I have dealt with this problem by accumulating a small box of various size pieces that I can use as "fitters" if I need them.

Anyway, you might want to look for a copy of the book.  If your hobby shop has one, look through it first to see if you think it might be of use to you.

Harsh,

I've been playing with your track plan.

Trial 2 is a corrected version of Trial1 with the 1 3/8" fitters on the O72 Y.

Trial 3 I added a couple of O60 switches so your trains can reverse direction.

Trial 4 I took out some of the track made redundant by the switches that make the reverse.

thanks James, do you have any suggestions if we take the oval on the left (36 tracks), how will the middle and right ovals can be connected

Not quite sure I follow your meaning.  Are you asking about what would happen if we remove the O36 loop and how then would we to make the ovals on the middle and left complete?  I don't think that would be difficult.  I just need to play with the plan a little bit to make that happen.

yea, i mean if the section on the left with o36 curves do not exist and only the sections in the middle and right exist

thanks

Harsh

You could do something like this.