Trackwork on the Dixie Central

The NMRA's Achievement Program under A/P Model Railroad Engineer Civil requires the following:

#3. Construct for Merit Judging, scratch built scale models of any three of the following, and demonstrate their satisfactory operation:

• Turnout - point or stub
• Crossover
• Double Crossover
• Single Slip Switch
• Double Slip Switch
• Crossing
• Gauntlet Track
• Gauntlet Turnout
• Dual Gauge Turnout
• Gauge Separation Turnout-Narrow gauge splitting off from dual gauge.
• Double Junction Turnout-One set of parallel tracks diverges from another.
• Three-Way Turnout
• Spring Switch
• Operating Switch in Overhead Wire
• Other ___________
  

  Commercial frogs are not permitted to be used in any of these items. These models may be built and demonstrated as part of the layout or separately.

On this layout I've decided to complete this part of Civil by doing the following:

• Three Way Turnout
• Curved Turnout
• Crossing 30 degree

Since one of each is represented (by design) on the Dixie, I'll build them here and make them operable. Three-ways look very intimidating, but they aren't. Its just one turnout laid on top of another. The curved turnout is a bit more tricky than a tangent turnout, but not that tricky. Crossings are a pain in the butt. I've built three of them, one being a dual gauge version. None of them worked well, so I'm going to make this one fit in the same place as a Walther's Code 83 30 degree. That way if it doesn't work well, I can tear it out after judging and put in the factory model.

Click On Track Diagram to Enlarge

As for the rest of the track we'll be using Walther's Code 83 track. The layout contains over 50 feet of track (54 feet to be exact) in order to meet the A/P Civil requirements. We'll need the following Code 83 items if you are not going to hand lay any track:

3' Tangent Sections = 17 sections for 51'
#5 Turnout Left Hand = 4
#5 Turnout Right Hand = 2
#6.5 Turnout Curved Left Hand = 2
#6.5 Turnout Curved Right Hand = 1
#6 Three Way Turnout = 1
30 degree crossing = 1

If I hand lay the curved turnout, crossing and three way then I need:


3' Tangent Sections = 17 sections for 51'
#5 Turnout Left Hand = 3
#5 Turnout Right Hand = 2
#6.5 Turnout Curved Left Hand = 2
#6.5 Turnout Curved Right Hand = 1

I'm going to use the Fast Track templates on line for these three below. Fast Tracks is a company that provides turnout and track laying tools for sickos like me that like hand laying track. Click on the item below to go to the template.

• #6 Three Way Turnout
• #6 Curved Turnout Left Hand 24/18 rad
  
• Crossing 30 degree

The curved turnout will be used for the locomotive maintenance track since it is not as critical.