I'm planning on having some dual gauge trackage in my layout, HO/HOn3, and was wondering about some nomenclature concerning track. On walthers.com there is some dual gauge stuff called transition track, right and left. Is this track where the narrow gauge diverts from the standard gauge? Almost like a turnout without points.
If not how is this accomplished?
Kirk
"Moe, Larry, the cheese!", Curly
I think what you saw was for rail sizes, as in going from code 100 to code 83 to code 70. As far as dual gauge track goes I believe Shinohara still makes it for HO. Be aware that there are two different configurations where the third (narrow gauge) rail is either on the right or the left. And Walthers doesn't carry this. I'm not sure who does. Try an internet search or calling one of the big train stores like Caboose Hobbies.
-John
A transition track shifts the "common" rail (the one used by both the standard and narrow guage rolling stock) from one side to the other. It is not a "turnout" like set-up at all. I expect rather than a turnout like end of the dual guage, many situations might just end the standard guage rail at some point such that the track that continues then is only narrow guage.
I'm sure, however, there are a great many variations that were acually used in different prototype situations.
Cheers and happy holidays to all. Bill S. CEO Captree Central RR
I haven't seen the Walthers page, but a transition track is required because one rail is normally common to both gauges so to get the narrow gauge train across from using one standard gauge rail to using the other (eg at trackside platforms) you need a "transition track". Where you want to separate narrow gauge from standard gauge you need a (special) turnout because one rail is common to both gauges. If you can't buy this piece of track ready made, you can lay a narrow gauge turnout into standard gauge track so that the rail with the point is common to both gauges. The diversion is normally from the side where the common rail is, so that you only require one frog assembly.
Regards, Greg.P.
This is what I was looking for. How does the European nomenclature compare to the US? The have HOm and HOe Is one of these HOn3?
Kirk
"Moe, Larry, the cheese!", Curly
Which Tillig item is what you were interested in? My understanding is that the Tillig "shift" is properly called a "draw" in the US, and that the "bifurcation" is just one of many varieties of a "dual gauge turnout" in US nomenclature. GQ
HOm is intended to represent metre gauge - it is in fact the same as TT gauge, 12mm. HOe is intended to represent the smaller gauges circa 800mm/750mm etc - it is the same as N gauge, 9mm. (I refuse to convert those to US measurements ;-) HOn3 is not normally used/offered in Europe, the gauge is 10.5mm.
Regards, Greg.P. NZ.
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