Turnout Switch

What is the regular angle that a railroad switch outputs the curve at?

How many degrees does a railroad turnout output to? How many degrees does a switch cause the track to turn?

With switches, these angles are referenced to a portion of the switch, not the movable switch points where one may think, but is rather a ratio found in the switch “frog.” The frog is the portion of the switch where one flange-way bisects the other, allowing the equipment to pass over the other rail. It is measured from the heel of the frog and to the points of the frog where the flang-ways converge.

Consequently, switches are identified by this ratio found in the frog, whether 10 to 1, 8 to 1, 4 to 1, etc. The higher the number, the lesser degree of curvature. As a result, there are high speed turnouts with a high frog ratio. This is why switches are referred to as a #8, #10, etc.

However, the curvature found when proceeding on a diverging route through the switch is not the same as main track curvature. With main track curves, there is a “spiral” at each end, which itself is a curved piece of track but of lesser degree than the degree of the curve that it transitions to between straight rail and the curve. This spiral gets the wheel in a more advantageous position, “thinking” about turning, shall we say, before entering the curve. Easier on the equipment, rail and roadbed, which also means a lot less maintenance and better overall ride.

Good question!

ATLAS SWITCHES HO SCALE BRASS TURNOUTS LEFT & RIGHT ATL-8 $16.99

N Scale Left/Right Remote Control Turnout Switches / Atlas $8.01

Roco HO 1:87 UNDER FLOOR POINT SWITCH MOTOR For TURNOUTS 10030 With SIGNAL UNIT! $19.99

Roco HO 1:87 UNDER FLOOR POINT SWITCH MOTOR For TURNOUTS 10030 Handy & Nice! $14.99

LGB 12360 BRASS THREE-WAY ELECTRIC SWITCH TRACK/ Turnout $82.00

Peco PL-13 Accessory Switch for fitting to Turnout / Point Motor $4.67

KATO N SCALE TRAIN 20-500 TURNOUT SWITCH L@@@K $19.99

KATO N SCALE TRAIN 20-500 TURNOUT SWITCH L@@@K $19.99

Vintage Atlas N Scale Track Remote Control Turnout Switch 2 Right 2 Left Nickel $20.49

Asst ATLAS Electric switches CONTROLLER SELECTOR CONNECTER FROM OLDEST TURNOUTS $10.00

Life-Like HO 21335 Power-Loc Right Hand Turnout Remote Switch with NS Rails $15.00

Life-Like HO 21336 Power-Loc Left Hand Turnout Remote Switch with NS Rails $15.00

LIONEL TWO RIGHT MANUAL TURNOUT SWITCHES-works good-O-27 SCALE/ TESTED $13.19

American Flyer/AC Gilbert Vintage Post War Pair 3 Rail Manual Switches/Turnouts $2.95

Shinohara Code 100 Right Hand Curved Turn-Out / Switch #8 $12.00

DTD – HO SCALE WALTHERS LOT OF 5 948-8801 CODE 83 #5 LH SWITCH TURNOUT DC DCC $85.85

DTD – HO SCALE WALTHERS LOT OF 5 948-8801 CODE 83 #5 LH SWITCH TURNOUT DC DCC $80.95

HO Scale -SWITCH MOTOR FOR TURNOUT – PECO ELECTRIC $14.94

HO Scale -SWITCH MOTOR LOW AMP TURNOUT – PECO ELECTRIC $16.95

MTH 031 0-31 Right Hand Switch / Turnout 40-1004 EUC $24.95

MTH 031 0-31 Pair of Switch / Turnouts Right Hand 40-1004 & Left Hand 40-1005 $49.95

Lionel 5021 Left Hand Manual O27 Turnout Switch – NOS – Last One! $15.00

Lionel 5022 Right Hand Manual O27 Turnout Switch – NOS – Last One! $15.00

Peco PL-10 Turnout Motor (Switch Machine). NEW $8.83

IBL HO Cork Switch Pads, #1506, Wye Turnout $4.75

HO Scale # 12 LH switch or turnout Fast Tracks code 83 $33.00

HO Scale # 12 RH switch or turnout Fast Tracks code 83 $33.00

Atlas 241 HO Scale Gauge #4 Left Brass Mark 3 Turnout Manual Switch – NOS $8.00

Atlas 284 HO Scale Gauge #6 Right Nickel Silver Mark 3 Turnout Manual Switch-NOS $11.00

HO/N Tortoise 6006 6 Switch Machines turnout motors NEW $89.95

HO SCALE TRAINS 3 WAY BRASS REMOTE TURNOUT SWITCH $42.99

Fast Tracks Code 83 #10 Left-hand turnouts/switches (2) Brand new $50.00

N Scale Atlas #2704 Left #6 Remote Switch – Turnout $17.50

N Scale Atlas #2705 Right #6 Remote Switch – Turnout $17.50

HO 1:87 New Life Like Switch Right Turnout Snap Train Track 4 PCS. $4.55

Kato N Scale UniTrack Turnout Control Switch 24-840 $10.00

Atlas HO NS Nickel Silver Lot of 17 Switch Turnouts $32.00

HO Scale -LOW SIDE MOUNTED TURNOUT SWITCH MOTOR PL11 $24.97

HO SCALE TRAINS N/S #6 RIGHT HAND REMOTE TURNOUT SWITCH TRACK $19.99

HO SCALE TRAINS N/S #6 LEFT HAND REMOTE TURNOUT SWITCH TRACK $19.99

HO SCALE TRAINS BRASS 18/22 DEGREE CURVE RIGHT HAND REMOTE TURNOUT SWITCH $39.99

Atlas HO Left Manual Snap Switch & #4 Custom-Line Mark 3 Left Turnout,#s 860/261 $5.95

HO SCALE TRAINS NICKEL SILVER DOUBLE SLIP REMOTE TURNOUT SWITCH TRACK $69.99

HO SCALE TRAINS BRASS #6 RIGHT HAND REMOTE TURNOUT SWITCH TRACK $19.99

HO PARTS Eshleman Anderson Turnout Switch Point Links Size #2 16 Packages $10.50

Caboose HO #204S Operating High Ground SWITCH STANDS for Turnouts Five (5) Pkgs $9.99

9- Atlas nickel silver custom line switches, turnouts, and curved snap track $19.95

Shinohara , HO , Code 100 , NS , #6s & #5s, Turnouts / Switch Tracks $8.00

Kato HO Scale Unitrack 34 1/8″ Remote Right Switch/Turnout – 2-861 $44.00

HO & N ” ACCESSORY SWITCH ” for PECO turnout motors PL-13 $4.75

N scale “KATO” Unitrack Right Turnout switch track. $8.00

Kato # 24-840 Turnout Control Switch N Scale MIB $7.75

Pre-WW2 Marklin Germany O Scale Tin 3 Rail Track Turnout Switches R L 8 w Signal $9.99

Atlas TurnOut, Control Box,R&L Remote Control Switch, and various tracks, etc. $2.95

MTH 40-1056 RealTrax O-54 Left Switch Turnout (LH) $71.50

LGB Manual Switch, Right 15-Degree G Scale Turnout, R6 $204.38

Peco Lectrics PL-10W Turnout Motor (Switch Machine) $14.66

Turnout Control Switch – Kato 24-840 $6.80

Atlas HO Scale~Custom Line Mark 3~Nickel Silver~Right Turnout~ Railroad Switch $0.99

Kato USA, Inc. Turnout Control Switch KAT24840 $5.40

MTH 40-1044 RealTrax O-42 Left Switch Turnout (LH) $65.95

*1983 PRINT OF NORFOLK & WESTERN SWITCH FOR NO.8 and NO.10 WELDED TURNOUTS ! $2.99

*1983 PRINT OF NORFOLK & WESTERN standard 16′ – 6″ SWITCH FOR WELDED TURNOUTS ! $1.99

B.K. Enterprises~HO~5-RH-7A~#751a~Turnout/Switch Kits~NS~Code 70~On30 $9.95

Shinohara~Code 70~#4 WYE Turnout/Switch~HO Standard Gauge~Nickle Silver Rail $9.95

Shinohara~Code 70~HO~#5 X 4~Turnout/Switch~NS Rail~Left & Right Hand $19.95

ATLAS HO #4 RH & LH Turnout Switches w/ ATLAS Electric Switch Machines – 1 Pair $14.99

ATLAS HO #6 L & R Turnouts Train Track with Electric Switch Control – Set of 3 $25.99

HO #4 Right Turnout Train Track with ATLAS Electric Switch Machines – Set of 4 $28.99

Kato 24-840 Turnout Control Switch HO & N Unitrack New $8.79

ATLAS 2705 N SCALE SWITCH TRACK #6 TURNOUT RH CODE 80 $23.49

HOn3 narrow gauge model railroad code 70 WYE switch turnout RGS D&RGW EBT $23.95

HOn3 narrow gauge model railroad code 55 switch turnout RGS D&RGW EBT $23.95

Shinohara N Scale #6 Curved Right Hand Switch Turnout R/H 9mm 627 $15.00

Shinohara N Scale #6 Curved Left Hand Switch Turnout L/H 9mm 626 $15.00

PECO ‘OO’ 4 x PL-16 TURNOUT SWITCHES – UNUSED & BOXED $3.11

Shinohara N Scale #6 Double Crossover Turnout Switch 9mm 612 $25.00

HO Scale -SWITCH MOTOR FOR TURNOUT – PECO ELECTRICAL $14.95

LGB 12150 Left Electric Turnout Point Switch OB $60.47

LGB 12050 Electric Point Switch Right Turnout Track G Scale OB $60.47

VINTAGE LIONEL TRAIN TRACK TURNOUT SWITCHES SWITCH NR $9.99

Kato 24-840 N/HO Scale Turnout Control Switch $5.99

Kato 20-500 Unitrack Turnout Switch – HO & N scale $0.99

PECO LECTRICS PL-16 Turnout Switch WHITE – Set of 6 switches for operating motor $10.16

MTH 40-1055 RealTrax O-54 Right Switch Turnout (RH) $71.50

NCE Switch-KAT Kato Unitrak LGB Turnout Accessory Decoder 524-116 $20.95

Atlas N Scale #6 Right Turnout Custom Line Switch #2753 $13.95

Atlas 280 HO Scale WYE Nickel Silver Mark 3 Manual Turnout Switch-NOS-Last One! $8.00

N Scale Peco small radius turnout (switches) (1 pair). Used $0.99

HO Scale -SIDE MOUNT TURNOUT SWITCH MOTOR PL11 – PECO $24.99

KATO N UNITRACK #6 RIGHT TURNOUT SWITCH 20-203 $17.00

HO Scale # 6 LH switch or turnout Fast Tracks code 55 $29.00

HO Scale # 6 RH switch or turnout Fast Tracks code 55 $29.00

Kato 20-202 Unitrack Turnout #6 Left Track Switch New $19.95

Kato 20-203 Unitrack Turnout #6 Right Track Switch New $19.95

Kato 20-222 Unitrack Turnout #2 Wye Switch Track New $22.95

5977 Marklin Scale 1 gauge Right Turn out switch 22deg with 5916 track $89.50

5970 (5976) Marklin Scale 1 gauge Left Turn out switch 22deg with 5914 track $84.50

5971 (5977) Marklin Scale 1 gauge Right Turn out switch 22deg with 5914 track $84.50

Bachmann Trains HO 44559 Snap-Fit E-Z Track #6 Turnout Left Nickle Silver switch $34.59

Monster Feet $8.99 Stomp around Like a Little Monster ! Monster Feet: Stomp around like a little Monster! 5″ plastic Monster feet develop balance and coordination with silly stomping action both children and parents love! Great for full-body exercise and release of energy. Durable plastic stilt feet and adjustable straps. Durable plastic design for kids up to 110 lbs! Recommended for ages 5+ Adult supervision requir…

Thomas the Train: TrackMaster Switch Track Pack $11.99 Add to the adventure! Expand your Thomas & Friends TrackMaster Motorized Railway with the Switch Track Pack. These 7 pieces of track with switches lets you turn trains or change direction on any layout. You control the action– just flip the switch to change directions! Set includes: 2 Turnout Tracks (Left), 2 Turnout Tracks (Right), 1 SwitchTrack (Right), 1 Switch Turnout Track (Left), 1 Y-Trac…

Bachmann Trains Snap-Fit E-Z Track Remote Turnout – Left $11.13 ###############################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################…

Easy Model Railroad Wiring, Second Edition (Model Railroader) $21.95 Everything a modeler needs to know about wiring a permanent layout is covered in this how-to guide. Includes the essential techniques needed to wire a two-rail, DC-powered layout of any size or complexity. Each chapter includes photos, illustrations, and detailed schematics. Perfect-bound softcover; 8 1/4 x 10 3/4; 128 pages; 80 b&w photos; 160 illustrations;…

Practical switch work: A handbook for track foremen …

Simplified curve and switch work, …

Kato HO & N Scale Unitrack DC Converter $5.99 Use Kato accessories to complete or expand your Unitrack layout. Used with #24840 turnout control switch. Connects to the AC 16/17V accessory output on your power pack. Only one converter is needed to connect as many turnout control switches and crossing gates as your layout requires….