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Changing from 18″ to 22″ Curves With Original Turnouts
Seb submitted this question for readers to ponder:
“I have an HO diesel loco with 6 (3,3) trucks. A couple of months back I converted the track from 18″ to 22″ curves and I decided to leave the original turnouts intact. This might be the cause of the derailments when the unit crosses the turnouts…not sure?!? I don’t want to replace things if I am barking up the wrong tree? Should I substitute the turnouts with #6’s [22″ curves] to minimize derailments?”
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4 Responses to Changing from 18″ to 22″ Curves With Original Turnouts
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Just some info: #6 are approx. 36″ radius. Your #4’s or ??? are something else. What you need to do is carefully observe the loco on the curved track of the turnout to see if that is indeed the problem. So, without actually seeing what you have, I would guess that #4’s are not the problem. But I am making a simple guesstimate here, based upon some experience, but not exactly.
Your turnouts could be the problem. I purchased an Athearn Co-Co diesel and ran it on Hornby track and to allow it to run through the turnout I had to file a bit off each bogie to allow that little bit of extra turn.
Did you use snap switches? Snap switches (Atlas) diverging route is equal to a 18″ Rad. curve. I would suggest either a #5 or a real #4. The other option would be a curved 22/18″ switch.
YES you should change the turnouts to better match the routed (curve portion of the turnout ) to the new 22 inch curves. That is where your trouble is coming from.
Don J USA