How to split one line to two parallel lines with EZ-Track? #6 crossover

[railer256]

I read some posts on the #6 Crossover (Thanks for the information, I had determined yesterday that this crossover was not power isolating and now I will be making it so).

I am looking to use a #6 for a passenger station line but trying to run a single track into it (so there is a passing side/split near a branch line that is used for a passenger station).

I am trying to find a way to do a small parallel line from a single line - the remote turnouts are much too divergent in path to allow it.  I am trying to run a single track into it (so there is a passing side/split near a branch line that is used for a passenger station).

I am looking for a way to do a small parallel line from a single line - the remote turnouts are much too divergent in path to allow it.

i.e. They turnouts are like this
...|
\=|
...|

and would need to be like this
.\|
..|

The result is I end up using at least two 11.25" circle radius to try to loop back close enough that they can align to ANOTHER turnout split (this is NOT what I want AT ALL)

Does anyone know if the #6 Wye can be used for this?  i.e. will this work or is there an issue with the connection points not lining up?

.....|
..../.\  <- #6 Wye?
...|.\.|  #6 crossover
...|..\|  #6 crossover
....\./  <- #6 Wye?
.....|

[skipgear]

I'm not sure but I believe that is why the wye was created. The cross over is a nice piece of track with no purpose. Bachmann doesn't make two radius curves that nest to facilitate a double track layout. A 12-13" radius needs to be created so the crossover can be used in a double track scenario. Until then the wye is the best solution, although 2 wye's, and the crossover needed to make what you are trying to do will take up close to 4' of layout space and really leave no room for an actual train to set.

Instead of using the wyes, just use the crossover as your #6 turnout for the passing siding. You can use the unused legs of the crossover for a storage track or a small freight and or mail handling facility near the station.

[Joe Satnik]

Dear Railer,

Skipgear has some good insights. 

Bachmann's N EZ-Track line is missing some pieces needed to make it useful.  Only time will tell if they add them. 

(It is more exciting and profitable to design a new loco than a needed new track piece.) 

If you want to make some fancy track configurations, you will have to build them with a more complete line, such as Atlas Snap track and cork roadbed. 

If you want to interface Atlas with your existing N EZ-Track, just cut out some of the middle of the cork roadbed to accommodate the N EZ-Track plastic roadbed tab.  Use a marker to darken (camouflage) the top of the tab.

Kato (katousa.com) makes well-thought-out and fairly-complete attached roadbed track systems, but you pay a bundle for them.

To use the Bachmann #6 crossover as is, you would need to widen the inner oval by adding straights halfway around the curve.  The curves wouldn't be perfectly concentric. 

Perhaps some day they will figure out what new radius curve is (or new radii curves are) needed to match their crossovers to form concentric ovals, keeping in mind NMRA guidelines for track spacing....

http://www.nmra.org/standards/sandrp/s-8.html

(N Scale scroll to bottom of page)

Another option would be to put a L and R crossover on the same side of the oval.  To avoid "S" curves, the order should be: Right turning outer curve, right crossover, left crossover.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik

[railer256]

Thanks very much skipgear / Joe, you gave me the information I was after:  that I can't buy an answer   So I invented my own.

I ended up solving it sufficiently to do what I was after, I will post a pic of the layout as time allows since this may be useful to someone else.  I've got one piece of non-Bachmann track in place - a solitary bit of Flex for a parallel into a station housethe rest is Bachmann (though I ran out of 11.25" curves and swapped in 3 Atlas ones for now but will pick up 3 as that will be inside a mountain and I'd prefer to lock).  I needed one adapter piece but I just cut a piece of 30" down to the precise size I needed, re-threaded the rail after sanding down the ends and bingo. 

Now I am looking to see how to change the crossovers so they are not dual power feeding but that the switch can be a power route.

I suspect this may be a fairly complicated layout using straight EZ-Track, so the pic is likely to be useful to Bachmann as an example of things achievable with just EZ-Track.