Pros/cons running mainline through the curved part of the switch.

paul 2 posted:

Decided today to start laying out the track work for my section to go between two tables. Question.... is it better to run the mainline through the straight section of the switch.

Absolutely YES!

Would they be more chance of wear on the rails going through the curved part of the switch.....

Probably.

All help appreciated. Thanks Paul

Thanks for the info HOT WATER. This will help with my track plan......Paul

In the effort to save space and gain usable trackage sometimes you may need to run thru the curved portion of a switch or use a curved switch. 

Has anyone worn out a piece of track on a home layout?  Our outside loop has two 0-120 Ross turnouts for spurs off the straight portions.  John in Lansing, ILL

Not yet. (since 1955)

I have a Ross switch where I am using the curved portion as the "main line". The straight leg leads into a siding and rarely sees use.

In less than a year since using this arrangement, I have noticed extensive wear to the guardrail and running rails on the curved portion - and I really don't run my trains that much!

Running the mainline through the curved part of a switch is unavoidable in many cases.  I use Atlas track and haven't noticed any wear.  

NH Joe

My last layout (Fastrack) had a 060 switch on the main allowing access to either of 2 station tracks.  As a trailing switch it was fine but as a facing switch it became problematic not because of wear but because some wheels (locos and cars) would pick the switch.  My new layout mains have only straight through switches.

I have Atlas O-54 and O-72 turnouts (with solid nickel-silver rails) on the main lines of a 17-year-old layout. The turnouts are in the curved position about half the time and I can see no significant wear on any of the fixed or movable rails, or the guard rails, nor have I ever encountered a problem in operation through the turnouts. There is a slight discoloration at the bottom of the frog grooves, but this is equally evident on the curved and straight paths through the frogs and is probably due to contact between the edges of the wheel flanges and the frog. I don't think rail wear on the curved part of a turnout is noticeably greater than on a curved track of the same radius. I prefer straight-through operation on mainline turnouts but, in my experience with Atlas O track, additional rail wear on the curved path is not significant. I do think that turnouts, whether in the straight or curved position, increase the wear on traction tires and accumulate dirt at gaps in the rails.

MELGAR

I am using Ross switches with Gar Graves track. Since first posting my question a lot more responses came in. All helpful. I decided to not have the main going through the curve on any part of the mainline. Thanks to all....Paul