Atlas 55 track geometry question

[OldEastRR]

I'm wondering if the Atlas 55 11 degree Xing is a good fit for making a double-track crossover junction.



Top (LH) switch is a #7, bottom is a #5, the Xing is 11.25 degrees. according to AnyRail it should work for keeping the horizontal double tracks straight and parallel. The diverging track is no problem, it goes into a curve so I can adjust the offset easily. Think this will work? I don't have the Atlas components to try it out, just planning at this stage.

[davefoxx]

I'm not sure about the crossing geometry, but it seems to me that those turnouts need to be the same angle.  There's no way that the #7 and #5 will lead to a pleasing looking double track junction.  You may even run into clearance issues between the double track branching off to the left (diverging side of the turnouts).

Hope this helps,
DFF

[Cory Rothlisberger]

(Sorry the track pieces look choppy. Had a hard time holding the phone still while taking the pano  )

It looks a bit funny, but it does work.

You technically could put a #7 in the place of the #5, but you would have to finagle the curvature of the diverging route a bit...

[basementcalling]

Part of the reason it works is the geometry of the turnouts sharing the same length and dimensions, if not frog angle. Looks like an interesting junction.

[mmagliaro]

I was going to say that (that it's interesting).  I don't think it's funny looking at all.  In fact, I think it has the look of some very "railroady" busy trackwork and I like the look of it.

That 11.25 degree crossing, however, I'm not a big fan of.  I used one in a small layout a few years ago, and
the shallow angle means a very long dead frog area.  If only it were metal and could be powered.

Those long shallow frogs also have a long "no man's land" and are not built to really tight tolerances so they invite derailments.
Make sure every wheel on every engine and car is really dead-on with the NMRA gauge.  That crossing is very unforgiving
of wheelsets that are even on the narrow side of "in-gauge". 

[OldEastRR]

Thanks for the picture of the actual trackage. The reason I used 2 different frog# switches shows quite well: the switch throwbars/headties don't wind up jammed on top of each other. No matter what method you use to throw the bars it should be easy to install it. Considering the switch points can't be linked to throw in the same direction the same time.
It's important that the through route tracks be exactly parallel since the junction is part of a long stretch of straight track. The diverging routes curve immediately after the junction, so there I can fiddle with each track's radius and come out them parallel at the end of the curve. The only alternatives to the Atlas version is either Peco switches/xing (thick ties and rails) or build my own Xing (ugh!).

The Atlas Xings don't have metal frogs!?!?!? The switches do? --- hey Atlas, what's the deal?

[Doug G.]

I like the looks of it too. Busy trackwork always looks neat to me. When you see a train glide through there smoothly...

Also, the upper switch could be any number, a #7, #5, #1 , and the alignment would still work. You just need to correct the track coming off the diverting route of the upper switch. In fact, with the alignment as presented, the track coming off the #7 would eventually intersect the track from the #5 switch/11 degree crossing if a little correction curve was not included.

Doug

[rschaffter]

(Sorry the track pieces look choppy. Had a hard time holding the phone still while taking the pano  )

It looks a bit funny, but it does work.

You technically could put a #7 in the place of the #5, but you would have to finagle the curvature of the diverging route a bit...

Now THAT's Customer Service!   

[basementcalling]

(Sorry the track pieces look choppy. Had a hard time holding the phone still while taking the pano  )

It looks a bit funny, but it does work.

You technically could put a #7 in the place of the #5, but you would have to finagle the curvature of the diverging route a bit...

Corey, any idea when another shipment of the 22.5 degree crossings will arrive? They are near about impossible to find anymore.

[Doug G.]

Now THAT's Customer Service!   

Yeah, that's what I wanted to say but forgot. Not unusual for Atlas.

Doug

[glakedylan]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207333535640662&set=pb.1353852889.-2207520000.1437899577.&type=3&theater

bottom turnout must be a #5 to match the geometry of 11.25 degrees
it can be done, also, using 2 #5s

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11745525_10207333535640662_3157276198685605909_n.jpg?oh=9d09c5c83a7713145c7f1dcca1bba930&oe=560EEB72

fwiw
sincerely--
Gary

[Doug G.]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207333535640662&set=pb.1353852889.-2207520000.1437899577.&type=3&theater

bottom turnout must be a #5 to match the geometry of 11.25 degrees
it can be done, also, using 2 #5s

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11745525_10207333535640662_3157276198685605909_n.jpg?oh=9d09c5c83a7713145c7f1dcca1bba930&oe=560EEB72

fwiw
sincerely--
Gary

Yes, correctomundo.



Doug

[Atlas Paul]

Now THAT's Customer Service!   

Oh great, now he is going to want a raise.

[u18b]

The Atlas Xings don't have metal frogs!?!?!? The switches do? --- hey Atlas, what's the deal?

How could they be metal??

You would get a short.

The only reason a frog can be metal in a turnout is because it has a mechanism to change polarity when the switch points move.

But a crossing has no moving parts.

If you hand laid a crossing--- then THAT could possibly be all metal if you powered the frog with a Juicer.  That thing detects the polarity of the incoming loco and flips the polarity as needed.

Of course Atlas could do that to-- but that is the point.   The crossing would have to come with something like a frog juicer.

[babbo_enzo]

How could they be metal?? You would get a short.
The only reason a frog can be metal in a turnout is because it has a mechanism to change polarity when the switch points move.

If you take a check on Atlas web site for code 55 turnouts, you see the frog is "metal" and Atlas provide a side connection for change polarity ( the little "ring" aside the frog ). Atlas ( and as I know nobody ) provide electronic juicer: it's up to you provide a switch (electronic, manual or whatever you like)

About the crossing , you're correct: it have "plastic frogs.