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What is the difference in turnout numbers? From what I have been able to discern, the larger the number the larger the turnout. But now the question: Why would I want to select a number 6 turnout as opposed to a number 8?
Happy New Year,
ST
The number refer to the size. A #4 being a very short one, a #8 being a longer one. It all depends on what you want your trackwork to look like. Realistic or conserving space to get the most out of it that you can.
Think about how a knight moves in chess. Two out, one over= a #2 turnout. Four out one over =#4 turnout. 6 out and one over = a #6 turnout. And so on.
And a #6 from Brand X is not necessarily the same in function to Brand Y. Commercial turnouts are generally needy of attention of some kind before they will perform well. Not always, but sufficiently often that the general rule is to expect to have to do some doctoring to get them to work reliably.
You also need to consider what size locomotives you have/want and the length of cars you plan to use, as well as where they will be on your layout (main line, spur, yard, etc.). The higher speed areas (main line) should have longer turnouts, whereas slower speed areas (yards) can have shorter turnouts.
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