EZ Track Geometry?

[Griffin (TheBlueSnowplow)]

hi-
trying to get a little e-z track temporary layout created that i can mess around when i come home next year from college, i know i won't be able to commit to a serious layout so this is the next best thing; anyone know if there is a graphic of some sort that explains how the different switches and track lengths fit together? something like what LGB did here:



i'm using nickle silver track by the way..

thanks in advance

[Len]

It's not the greatest, but this is the Bachmann HO EZ-Track Demo from the RR-Track software:



Len

[Terry Toenges]

I don't have a graphic for this but here are the HO E-Z Track dimensions:

Bachmann EZ Track straight pieces
Nickel Silver with gray roadbed                                              Ties are 1/4" on center
Part #         Length inches         Length millimeters     Number of ties
44510......................9" rerail power...............228.6..................33 ties
44511......................9".....................................228.6..................33 ties
44512......................3".......................................76.2..................10 ties
44513......................2 ¼.....................................57.15.................9 ties
44514......................4 ½".................................114.3.................18 ties
44528......................9" rerail no power.........228.6...................33 ties
44548......................9" auto-reverse..............228.6..................33 ties
44579......................2"......................................50.8....................8 ties
44581......................9" bulk 50 pieces...........228.6.................33 ties
44584.....................36" bulk 25 pieces..........914.4
44591......................2 ¾"   Hayes bumper......69.9....................9 ties
44592......................Assortment (592 1-5)
44592-1...................¾"....................................19.05..................3 ties
44592-2...................1".....................................25.4....................4 ties
44592-3...................1 ¼".................................31.75..................5 ties
44592-4...................1 ½".................................38.1....................6 ties
44592-5...................2".....................................50.8....................8 ties
44597......................9" power insulated gap.228.6..................33 ties
Steel with black roadbed
Part #         Length inches         Length millimeters     Number of ties
44410......................9" rerail power...............228.6.................33 ties
44411......................9".....................................228.6.................33 ties
44412......................3".......................................76.2.................10 ties
44428......................9" rerail no power..........228.6.................33 ties
44481......................9" bulk 50 pieces...........228.6.................33 ties
44486.....................36" bulk 25 pieces..........914.4
44491......................2 ¾"   Hayes bumper.......69.9..................9 ties

Bachmann EZ Track curved pieces
Nickel Silver with gray roadbed
Part #               Radius inches                   Track length   Radius millimeters  Number of ties
44505......................15" (12 pieces for circle).................7 27/32" track.........381........................31 ties
44501......................18" (12 pieces for circle) ....................9 7/16" track.........457.2............... 34 ties
44580......................18" bulk 50 pieces....................................................................457.2....................34 ties
44549......................18" auto-reverse.......................................................................457.2...............34 ties
44529......................18" rerail no power..................................................................457.2................34 ties
44502......................18" rerail power.......................................................................457.2................34 ties
44503......................22" (16 pieces for circle).................8 5/8" track........... ..558.8...............30 ties
44583......................22" bulk 50 pieces....................................................................558.8...............30 ties
44519......................26" (20 pieces for circle)................ 8 5/32" track..............660.4...............33 ties
44506......................28" 18 deg (20 pieces for circle).... ....8 25/32" track...........711.2...............35 ties
44509......................33.25" 12 deg (30 pieces for circle). ...6 31/32" track...........844.55..................28 ties
44504......................33.25" 18 deg (20 pieces for circle). ...10 7/16" track...........844.55.............42 ties
44508......................33.25" 6 deg (60 pieces for circle)........3 15/32"....................844.55..................14 ties
44507......................35.50" 18 deg (20 pieces for circle).....11 5/32" track..........901.7....................45 ties
44532......................½ 22" (32 pieces for circle)....................4 5/16" track............558.8....................17 ties
44531......................½ 18" (24 pieces for circle)   .................4 23/32" track..........457.2................17 ties
44530......................1/3 18" (36 pieces for circle)................. 3 5/32" track...........457.2................11 ties
Steel with black roadbed
Part #               Radius inches                Track length     Radius millimeters    Number of ties

44401......................18" (12 pieces for circle) ....9 7/16" track.....457.2......................34 ties
44480......................18" bulk 50 pieces............................................457.2..............................34 ties
44429......................18" rerail no power...........................................457.2......................34 ties
44402......................18" rerail power................................................457.2......................34 ties
44403......................22" (16 pieces for circle) ...8 5/8" track.........558.8......................30 ties
44483......................22" bulk 50 pieces............................................558.8.......................30 ties

Bachmann EZ Track turnouts (switches)
Nickel Silver with gray roadbed
Numbered turnouts diverge one part per number in their name. A #4 turnout diverges 1 part for every 4 parts in run.
Part #               Size                  Straight Length     Number of ties
44557......................left #4   with 2 ¼" str........10" long..................41 ties str.
44558......................right #4  with 2 ¼" str..........10" long..................41 ties str.
44561......................left stndrd/w 18"rad cur.......9" long....................33 ties str    
44562......................right stndrd/w 18"rad cur.....9" long ...................33 ties str
44565......................left #5....................................11 1/2" long...........47 ties str. 46 ties div.
44566......................right #5..................................11 1/2" long...........47 ties str. 46 ties div.
44569......................wye #5 w 2 ¼" str.................11 3/8" long............45 ties  
44559......................left #6....................................15 1/2"....................62 ties
44560......................right #6..................................15 1/2"....................62 ties
*44575.....................left crossover #6..................21 1/4" long ...........85 ties
*44576.....................right crossover #6...............21 1/4" long ............85 ties
44139......................left #4 DCC..........................10" long..................41 ties str.
44140......................right #4 DCC........................10" long..................41 ties str.
44132......................left #5 DCC..........................11 1/2" long...........47 ties str. 46 ties div.
44133......................right #5 DCC........................11 1/2" long...........47 ties str. 46 ties div.
44134......................wye #5 DCC.........................11 3/8" long...........45 ties
44135......................left #6 DCC..........................15 1/2" long............62 ties
44136......................right #6 DCC........................15 1/2" long............62 ties
*44137....................left crossover #6 DCC.........21 1/4" long............85 ties
*44138....................right crossover #6 DCC.....21 1/4" long.............85 ties
*#6 Crossovers are 2 3/8" between track center lines.

Steel with black roadbed
Part #         Size                                                         Number of ties
44461......................left stndrd/w 18"rad cur......9" long.......................33 ties str
44462......................right stndrd/w 18"rad cur...9" long ......................33 ties str
     
Bachmann EZ Track crossings
Nickel Silver with gray roadbed
Part #         Size                                         Length                      Number of ties
44540.........................30 deg. Crossing long...........11 59/64" long...........................41 ties
44543.........................45 deg. Crossing short...........3" long.......................................8 + 3 center.ties
*44542.......................60 deg. Crossing short...........3" long......................................12 ties
*44542.......................60 deg. Crossing long (old)......................................................41 ties
*44541.......................90 deg. Crossing short ........2" long with 4p 2" straights....8 ties
*44541.......................90 deg. Crossing long (old)......................................................23 ties (?)
*Long and short 60 and 90 crossings are both being sold under their same respective part numbers.
Steel with black roadbed
Part #         Size                                         Length                        Number of ties
44440........................30 deg. Crossing long........ 11 15/16" or 11 ¼"......................41 ties
44441........................90 deg. Crossing short........2" with 4p 2" straights.................8 ties

Bachmann EZ Track special packs
Nickel Silver with gray roadbed
Part #         Package            Pieces
44596..........First Railroad Track Pack - World's Greatest Hobby
...............................................................Building Your First Model Railroad DVD
...............................................................9p 9" straights
...............................................................1p 9" rerailer power
...............................................................1p 9" rerailer no power  
...............................................................20p 18" radius curves
...............................................................2p 3" straights
...............................................................2p standard turnout - left
...............................................................2p standard turnout - right
...............................................................2p Hayes bumpers
...............................................................4p switch wires (green)
...............................................................1p terminal wire (red)
                                                                           
44594..........Expander set            
...............................................................4p 9" straight
...............................................................4p 18"radius curve
...............................................................1 left manual turnout
...............................................................1 right manual turnout
...............................................................2 Hayes bumpers
                                                                           
44547..........Reversing System        
...............................................................4p 9" straight reversing
...............................................................4p 18"radius curve reversing
...............................................................2p 9" straight
...............................................................2 Hayes bumpers
...............................................................Power pack and variable speed controller
...............................................................Illustrated instructions
                                                                                 
Steel  with black roadbed
Part #         Package            Pieces
44487..........Figure 8 Track Pack - 76" x 39"  
...............................................................21p 18"radius curve
...............................................................1p 18" curve rerailer
...............................................................30 degree crossing
                                                                           
44475..........Over-Under Fig 8 Track Pack - 78" x 36"  
...............................................................19p 18"radius curve
...............................................................1p 18" curve rerailer
...............................................................4p 9" straight
...............................................................14p graduated pier set
...............................................................power wire
                                     
44494..........Expander set            
...............................................................4p 9" straight
...............................................................4 18"radius curve
...............................................................1 left manual turnout
...............................................................1 right manual turnout
...............................................................2 Hayes bumpers
                                     
44597..........First Railroad Track Pack - World's Greatest Hobby
...............................................................Building Your First Model Railroad DVD
...............................................................9p 9" straights
...............................................................1p 9" rerailer power
...............................................................1p 9" rerailer no power  
...............................................................20p 18" radius curves
...............................................................2p 3" straights
...............................................................2 standard turnout - left
...............................................................2 standard turnout - right
...............................................................2 Hayes bumpers
...............................................................4p switch wires (green)
...............................................................1p terminal wire (red)

[jward]

The standard switch is 18r 30 degrees. It was intended to be a drop in replacement for both a 9" straight and a full 18r section. However, the points are inset 1.5" from the end, so if you want to complete a circle using the curved route, you'll need to insert a 1.5" straight 180 degrees opposite the switch.

The #4 is roughly 15 degrees.

The #5 is 12 degrees.

The #6 is roughly 10 degrees.


Using basic geometry, you should be able to plan a layout with that info

[Terry Toenges]

Jeffrey - That degree info is good to know. If you don't mind, I'll add that to my E-Z Track dimension list.

[kelzie]

Hi, new to forum and to modeling, so apologies if I'm doing this wrong.  I can't figure out how to start a new thread, but my question is close to this topic so hopefully someone will be able to provide an answer here.  I am planning a 5x9 layout using EZ track, with a double track main line oval around the perimeter.  Outside track will be 28" radius, inside 26" radius.  I am hoping to use the EZ track crossovers, one on each of the long straight sides.  With the track curves of these radii, will the crossovers line up with both tracks? That is, are the two straight tracks on the crossovers the right distance apart to line up with my curves on both sides of the layout?  (Obviously I can line up both tracks on the first side easily, but if I do so, will the distance between the tracks on the other side of the layout be the right distance apart for the crossover on that side?)

[Len]

Hi, new to forum and to modeling, so apologies if I'm doing this wrong.  I can't figure out how to start a new thread, but my question is close to this topic so hopefully someone will be able to provide an answer here.  I am planning a 5x9 layout using EZ track, with a double track main line oval around the perimeter.  Outside track will be 28" radius, inside 26" radius.  I am hoping to use the EZ track crossovers, one on each of the long straight sides.  With the track curves of these radii, will the crossovers line up with both tracks? That is, are the two straight tracks on the crossovers the right distance apart to line up with my curves on both sides of the layout?  (Obviously I can line up both tracks on the first side easily, but if I do so, will the distance between the tracks on the other side of the layout be the right distance apart for the crossover on that side?)

Just using the curves, in a word, no.

To do what you want requires some "fitter" pieces to get things to line up. Add 3/4" straights to both ends of the outside loop leg of the crossover. This is to get enough spacing between the parallel end curves to prevent sideswiping. Add 90deg of curves to each leg of one crossover. On the inner loop add a 4-1/2" straight, on the outter loop add a 3" and 2-1/4" straight on each end. Continue the curves around to the opposite crossover. Add additional straights to the sides and ends to get the loops spread out to where you want them.

Len

[kelzie]

Thank you, Len, for the advice.  May I get a bit more?  You mention adding straight track in several lengths--do you mean to cut regular snap track to the appropriate length and somehow supporting it, splicing it in between bieces of EZ track, or just cutting up pieces of EZ track to the correct lengths?  I don't see that EZ track is available in the lengths you mention.  You say to add 3/4" straight extensions on the OUTSIDE (28") track on both ends of the crossover (there will be 9" straight pieces on both tracks at both ends of the crossover).  Will I need to do this on the other crossover (other side of the layout) too?  Or will I just be cutting straight pieces to fit on that side?  You also mentioning adding 4-1/2" straight on the 26" curve and 5-1/4" straight on the 28" curve, obviously I would need to add this on both ends of the double track oval.  This would then make the parallel tracks line up with the 2nd crossover from both directions (with straight track added as needed to reach the crossover)?  I hope this makes sense as the language has gotten complicated!  Thanks again for the advice.

[Len]

The 3/4" straights are included in the 44592 Connector Track Assortment. This is the basic double track oval using the curves you mentioned with the #6 crossovers. The 2.25", 3", and 4.5" straights are needed as shown on both ends of the loops:



You can add additional straights of equal length to both loops to lengthen and/or widen them to open more space in the middle.

Len

[Trainman203]

I chose EZ track for my mainline track work for a 18" x 50' layout 10 years ago, to get into operations ASAP.  It did that very well but the geometry of the sections forced an unprototypical S curve that I've disliked ever since, where a gentler flowing curve would have looked  so much better.  That is one big flaw with EZ track, and any sectional track really..... the design constraints forced by the fixed geometry of the sections. 

I'm not going to redo the S curve at this point, I'm eventually moving, within 2 years, and the layout will come down then.  The next layout will be code 70 rail to suit my branchline.