O-84 or wider Fastrack Switches?

I wouldn't mind some O84 switches.  

Wider radius curves would be a good addition to the track catalog.  But 84" is not necessarily the ideal diameter.  With the larger diameter curves there is less overhang from large locomotives so the track centers could be closer.  The switches should be coordinated with the curve track so the track centers produced by switches used to make a crossover will match the track centers of concentric circles of the track.  Hopefully the manufacture of the track will think out a logical design.

I think #4, 6, and 8 switches would be more useful. Especially when making a crossover.

I think the #5 turnout like Atlas O makes would be the next logical evolution from o-72 switch.  I have this turnout in Atlas O and I like it a lot.

 

For people running scale modern equipment and big steamers, I think there would be sufficient interest in this.

Not addressing your point exactly ken but the following has worked well for me over time........

 

I have 084/072 and 072/054 curved/curved turnouts that Frank Curtis custom made for me many years ago. I use them for entrance/exit to the Service Yard off the 084 and 072 curves of my inner mainline[the turnouts are recycled from former large layouts now gone]. The entrance/exit turnouts are located diagonally across the layout from one another. One of the curved units is seen below where it enters the Yard  just to the right of the enginehouse and further below to the left of the House..

 

I use a 20"[80'] car and 8-drivered Mikado to test negotiation of all of my turnouts. 

 

On a small 9x16 round-the-wall layout such as mine, where I retained wide end-curve arcs, the curved turnouts enable full use of the length of the inner track system space for a Service Yard on one side and a Village on the other side of the layout. The outer mainline curve is 096 with 096 turnouts to Spurs servicing the corners[originally open triangular space but now a Denin Mill in one and Sawmill the other..

Thanks for the post and pic Dewey!

I am in favor of wider radius track and switches. I have an around the basement wall, shelf layout, in which I can accommodate very wide track. I was disappointed when Lionel came out with 031 curves--this is going the wrong way! But, I understand the need.

Ken-Oscale,

   Until Lionel designs the Fastrack switches to accommodate my original Lionel Tin Plate Trains they can keep their Fastrack switches.  I want all my different O gauge trains, to run correctly on the layouts I build. 

PCRR/Dave

 

I would like to see a #5 for crossovers before a O84 switch

lack of wide[r] radius switches are just one of many reasons i stayed away from fastrack .limited curve diameters are another.  if your stuck with using fastrack,your best bet right now would be ross.i think they have something like a 84 or96 switch.-jim

Over the years, Gargraves Flex Track has been my solution for wider curve arcs of up to 0156 as well as for tight Streetcar curves. 096 is the largest turnout I have used and now have two on my current little layout. To start I used Curtis turnouts and later Ross with the Gargraves track[I gave most of my old Curtis units from a dismantled layout to Will down in Raleigh when he came back and completed his N&W layout].

i do not recall the Curtis turnout # on the high speed crossover shown on the layout being dismantled below. But I could fly thorugh them easily with either a "J" or Ps-4 leading a long passenger car consist.

[I used warm water and cleaned the glued ballast off those 4 turnouts].

.

I'm not interested in O84 Fastrack turnouts.  I rather see number turnouts like #4, #5, #7 for Fastrack.