The original part of my layout (8 yrs old) uses Atlas Snap type under-layout switch machines but I'd like to move into the 21st century. So if anyone has any tips in this regard I'd certainly like your input. A fellow MR has pointed me to the Tam Valley Depot products which I am completely unfamiliar with. Meanwhile, my next challenge is to select a switch motor. Keep in mind the ME turnouts have the geometry of a #5 and really look better. Out of curiosity I tried the same compound ladder configuration with templates for Atlas #4 turnouts and came up with about the same answer, 30". Long story short, I ended up with a 5b, 5b, 5b, 5b, 5b arrangement which gave me a ladder length of just a tad more than 31", a gain of almost 9" at each end of the yard which I can really better use to store trains. So next I tried to use the ME turnouts in a compound ladder configuration. ![]() Do this at both ends and I've used up a whole lot of scarce train room real estate. distance from the point end of the first 5b to the end of the curve beyond the 5e where all sidings are running parallel). Now, using the templates, I laid out the ladders using a 5b, 5c, 5d, 5d and a 5e turnout which resulted in a ladder length of about 40" (i.e. With a fixed spacing of 2 3/16" centers between tracks this works out to a yard width of about 14" or so to fit in my 16" wide benchwork width in the yard area. My design is for a through yard of a main and 5 sidings with a lader at both ends. Okay folks, per my post of 11/10 above I printed out the ME templates and went to work to try and apply the Ladder Track System to my layout expansion yard design.
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