Rigid split switch operated by a #140 M switch stand carried on 15ft tiesOverview
The following pages outline the methods I have used for making trackwork for my American HO layouts. The construction techniques are shown applied to a United States Steel Co. #8 turnout, but also shown is information to enable the builder to make a #5, #6 & #7 turnout. As the turnout is built to NMRA HO standards, the major compromises involved are the overscale clearances in the frog vee (which means prototype toe and heel length cannot be closely followed) and check rails and the lengthening of the switch rail to affect the desired clearances. I have not modelled any toe blocks, flangeway fillers or rail braces. These could be modelled cosmetically by anyone desiring extra realism.
Materials
The method uses code 75 flat bottom rail soldered to home-made copper clad ties, a floating tie-bar system and a jig for filing rail to shape. The following materials were used:
|
flat wooden board |
drawing paper,pen etc. |
copper clad circuitboard material |
cored solder |
liquid flux |
|
hardwood block |
panel pins |
code 75 rail (or similar) |
fixative spray |
PVA |
|
fine-point marker pen |
sticky tape |
nickel silver or brass strip 1mm wide |
very fine emery paper |
|
Tools
|
Band Saw (fine blade) |
25 watt soldering iron |
Dremel-type mini drill |
Cut off disks and arbour |
Fine toothed files |
|
Flat pliers |
Fine bladed piercing saw |
Hair grips (small) |
NMRA Gauges etc. (HO) |
G -clamp |
|
X-acto type backsaw |
straight edge ruler |
tweezers |
|
|
Prototype turnout data
Rigid split switch operated by a #140 M switch stand carried on 15ft ties
Bolted rigid frogs showing point rails, flangeway blocks and planed flare.
Names of the parts of the frog below
Calculating the Frog Number
Plans showing the position of the ties on the #8 turnout.
Combine the two drawings at point "x". A timber schedule is given below the two plans.
Timber schedule
|
Frog # |
9'-0'' |
9'-6'' |
10'-0'' |
10'-6'' |
11'-0'' |
11'-6'' |
12'-0'' |
12'-6'' |
13'-0'' |
13'-6'' |
14'-0'' |
14'-6'' |
15'-0'' |
15'-6'' |
16'-0'' |
16'-6'' |
|
5 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
6 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
7 |
7 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
8 |
7 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Turnout Rail Elements (half ins measurements discounted)
|
Frog # |
Switch Rail Length |
Lead-switch pt. to frog pt. |
Frog toe |
Frog heel |
|
5 |
11'-0'' |
42'-6'' |
3'-6'' |
5'-5'' |
|
6 |
11'-0'' |
47'-6'' |
3'-9'' |
6'-3'' |
|
7 |
16'-6'' |
61'-1'' |
4'-8'' |
7'-3'' |
|
8 |
16'-6'' |
68'-0'' |
5'-1'' |
7'-11'' |
Go to next page