john_ibw Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 I came across this picture on FB. Apparently its call a triple crossover. Made in Indonesia by some dude in HO... couple of triple crossovers such as the ones below make the configuration above...i thought it was cool...there is also a video on this dude's FB page... Can we use a set of N turnouts and create the same triple configuration? 1 Link to comment
john_ibw Posted May 20, 2014 Author Share Posted May 20, 2014 And wiring them for operation is going to be a task by itself... Link to comment
kvp Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 (edited) A tomix finetrack version: It has 8 coils and each route has to set 2, 3 or 4 coils. The turnouts are power routing and fully isolating, so setting a route will connect the right circuits and disconnect everything else. For control, i would either use a diode matrix with simple push buttons or 8 pole push buttons (2 poles for each coil that has to be set), or simple buttons with relays. 7 routes are possible, so 7 buttons are needed. Edited May 20, 2014 by kvp 2 Link to comment
dottney Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 All I can say is holy cow (or should I say holy spaghetti ). Sure am glad I'm keeping my layout simple with a double crossover and a couple of 3 ways as the most complex turnouts. Dave Link to comment
Martijn Meerts Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Don't think this is a common setup, or at least, not in Japan ;) It should be quite doable to scratch build using maybe Peco turnouts as a starting point. Link to comment
kvp Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Actually this type of turnout setup is used where there is only one express track for a normally double tracked line with side platforms. Trains alternate between the express and the normal tracks depending on stop patterns. It's a bit dangerous, since the express track is bidirectional, but most of the time this is solved by having express trains only in one direction depending on the time of the day. Triple tracked operation was used for example on the New York 3rd avenue elevated and afaik there were examples on the chicago elevated too. The japanese strategy is usually to separate directional traffic, so they usually build 2 full express tracks when there is a need. This lowers the chance of head on collisions. Link to comment
Mudkip Orange Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Three-track is pretty common throughout NYC, although a lot of it is not in revenue service at the moment. Several of the Chicago METRA radials are likewise three... the center track doubles as a passing track + freight track for peak-direction unit trains. Link to comment
Mudkip Orange Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I don't think the Japanese preference against 3-track has to do with fear of head-ons so much as it does with their desire for simplified trackwork. Your typical multitrack Japanese line is only signaled for one direction on one track and the crossovers are minimal... contrast that with European/US practice where every track is bidirectional and the approaches to major stations are a thicket of double-slips. 1 Link to comment
E6系 Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Hello Mr kvp, Nice solution. Pity the spacing is so wide. I really love that unit that John has found. Link to comment
john_ibw Posted May 23, 2014 Author Share Posted May 23, 2014 From a prototype perspective, it is probably out-of-place for a Japanese layout. But, it sure looks good and a candidate to model... KVP, nice work with the Tomix...thanks! Link to comment
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