Southern Pacific Switching Layout

[Brakie]

justin....Large radius turnouts take up a good stretch of real estate. I use them only on the main line where trains will be going through at speed. On a switching layout, mediums, or even small turnouts will work just fine...Unless you have some humongous engines/cars.

What type of locomotive are you going to use for switching and what size freight cars? If you are using 4 axle diesels and freight cars under 65 feet or so, mediums should work fine. A dash8-40B might be a bit big, but Gp40's-Gp60's should work fine and any Gp built earlier than a Gp40 will be even smaller.

Actually the SD7/9,SD24,SD35/SD38,SD40,SD40-2 and SD45 will work on Atlas #4 Custom Line switches as well.

Freight cars up to 72' will work on Atlas #4s Custom Line switch as well..

How is this possible?


Simply put they are made to negotiate a #4 C-L switch since that is probably the most popular size switch for small layouts.

As you can see the #4 C-L switch is rather smooth flowing.