Points on my layout ?

dude2112

dude2112

Registered
Hi to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR.....
I currently have two ovals in my loft which I will extend to three after some re-configuration...

My question is however... I currently have my outer oval running clockwise as is the norm ( I am informed ) and an inner oval running anti-clockwise. I would like to have my points running in-line with the direction of these lines as switching rolling stock over would be straight forward....i.e right hand points, but have been told I should have left hand points as that is proto- typical.
Can anyone tell me if this is correct and why before I buy my points....

Cheers Andy.
 
dude2112 said:
I currently have my outer oval running clockwise as is the norm ( I am informed )
Click to expand...

What kind of norm is that, I wonder? There is nothing prototypical about trains running round and round. Similarly, I don't understand that about the points: they direct a train to where it needs to go. Left or right will depend on topography, places of population, etc.

To my mind, this is where the Golden Rule applies: s/he who has the Gold makes the Rules. That is you. It is your railway, you make the decisions.

Did I misunderstand your questions?
 
On a fast main line it is common to put pointwork in in a trailing direction for safety. The vast majority of G scale is not a fast mainline :o - so dont worry about it. Stick them in where they are going to be most useful to you.
 
"Outer loop clockwise is the norm" might be the case if you're representing left-hand running on a double track I suppose (eg. british railway main lines). I'm far more used to right-hand running on my German themed N gauge layout, so for me the outer loop runs anti-clockwise. My garden line, on the other hand, is single track and hence bi-directional.

Trailing points are preferable from a safety point of view as has been mentioned above, but obviously facing points are unavoidable where you want to divert the train without reversing.

It's your railway, design it and run it how you like!
 
??? The best use of trailing points is for dead end sidings.... that way, you can at least shunt them.
 
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