Wye 0w5 wye

Tom TeeOGR Forum Member

Ever pick up something at a swap meet that only enlarges your already burdened work load?

Well I got this neat little rural coal trestle with no idea as to where it will go. It occurred to me to tie it onto one of my yet to be built towns, however there was no room for it or so I thought.

I thought to hang it off the edge of the curved benchwork but had the problem of the 144" radius mainline at that point and a need to only be able to use a wye turnout to git 'er done. The diverging leg had to be much sharper to clear a yard entrance below so where does one pick up a 60" X 144" unequal wye?

Soooo...I picked up the phone and called Brad Strong at Signature Switch. He says "no problem" give me a sketch.

Well, I scribbled two curved lines on an old brochure and he sends me this absolute perfect problem solver with color coded wire drops soldered on. When installed I will shoot another photo. This is what I just opened:

My artwork??Opened fedEx package New baby!!Brad's artwork/details My artwork/details??Roughed in position

Just cannot express my appreciation enough for all the custom fitted turnouts Brad has built for me in the last six years. Thanks go out to Jim Allen for hooking us up.

Still working up the grade getting to this last town. Hope the undertaker can wait.

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3/13/185:56 PM

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PRR ManOGR Forum Member

very cool Tom. glad it worked out for you!

3/13/186:30 PM

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flangerOGR Forum Member

That solved Toms problem...and Brad has solved a couple for me as well. I like how he maintains computer files which I can call reference too as a basis for a new component I need. He is a very worthy resource for us 2 Railers.

Bob

3/13/186:38 PM

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Tom TeeOGR Forum Member

Following is how I normally get switches made. First I make crayon tracing, then I receive C.A.D. of the turnout full scale and have FedEx print it for me 1:1. Then I lay it in place to confirm rail alignment. After confirming exact fit I OK it's fabrication. Brad is batting 1000 at this point. Every switch fit perfectly. Probably about 50 one of a kind turnouts and a few pedestrian #6's.

The tight yard situation needed switcher runaround so we spliced in an extension.

Templates check out for accuracy.

Signature switch built with a built in curve before the points. Kinda weird but necessary. Mostly 40' boxcars and a small center cab so all can make the "S" curve.

This turnout has a spiral easement and a fixed radius.

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3/13/1810:06 PM

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Jim ScorseOGR Forum Member

Now you've done it. You've inspired me to get Brad to make up a couple of curved crossovers that I've been procrastinating on.

3/14/1812:26 AM

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Tom TeeOGR Forum Member

JIM, Brad's curved turnouts help make for smooth juncture of any rate of curvature. These various tracks were laid out to blend without regard for the need to conform to any stock radii turnouts. The rail heads were paper traced which guided Brad's fabrication of this flowing throat:

Turnouts can be made to allow slicing in half for lift outs. Note also six of Brad's custom radius fully soldered curve "Snap Track" sections each with two pair of color coded soldered leads which provides for stable curved ROW at lift out. They make a quick precision drop in installation for a curved lift out.

Joint track is laid into Aileen's wet adhesive, weighted and left to dry. Then using a flex drive Dremel the joints are cut with a slight lift out angle which provides for smooth operation.