All --
Two questions were asked; here are my personal answers...
Turnout jigs force one to always use the same size turnouts unless you have
lots of $$ to invest in four or five pairs of jigs. Turnout jigs also produce
cookie-cutter turnouts -- not always conducive to fluid, sweeping trackwork. I
build turnouts in place to suit the situation. Generally I use prototype
dimensions for frog, points, and length from point tip to frog point, but not
always. Some of mine are curved. Some have tracks crossing through them.
I have stated many times before that building crossings and turnouts in place
is relatively easy -- often quicker than forcing a commercial turnout into
"special duty." I have given clinics on my methods and have written articles
too.
I freelance, sort of. The New York, Westchester & Boston was a real
heavy-electric railroad that competed with the NYNH&H, was bought by the
NYNH&H, and was systematically dismantled (mostly) by the NYNH&H. My railroad
represents an alternate history in which the NYW&B was not purchased. Instead
it has become a dominant Northeastern railroad, causing the NYC/B&A to reach
Boston via NYW&B trackage rights. The NYW&B has two main lines that cross --
New York City to Springfield MA and then on to Boston, and NYNH&H to Troy, NY
and then on to Montreal. I model the portion where the two lined cross,
sharing right-of-way for a few miles through Cornwall Bridge, CT. The New
York-to-Springfield line is single-track anthracite steam with Wootten
fireboxes (no diesels); the other line is double-track, electric only except
for switching by steam (no diesels). I also model a few feet of the
electrified Troy-Boston double-track main line, electrified of
course. My setting is the 1940s-'50s.
The New York Central and New Haven have trackage rights over portions of the
NYW&B. They are allowed to run diesels.
Dick Karnes
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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