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How to Build Model Railroad Turnouts

Setting up your model railroad in one big circle or oval allows you plenty of space to create a model world, but it is not very realistic. Real railroads often have turnouts that allow trains to switch lines or enter railyards. If you want a more realistic layout, you can create turnouts to allow your model trains to more closely mimic their real counterparts. When setting up your turnouts, you must deal with both the track and the controls to allow you to throw the switch to guide your train.

Things You'll Need

Switch track
Wire
Wire cutters
Control panel

Instructions

- 1
  Select the type of turnout you want to create, such as a railyard turnout or a main-line turnout. This determines the turning radius of switch track you need. Choose a switch track numbered to reflect the turning radius.
- 2
  Attach the switch piece of track to the straight or curved tracks where you want the turnout to occur.
- 3
  Attach the controller to the switch with wires to allow you to operate the switch. Some switches come with a manual lever that you can use to change the direction of your train by hand. Otherwise, you will need to connect a powered control panel. Connect the power control panel by attaching a wire from the middle connector on the switch to the middle switch connector on your control panel. Connect the middle connectors on the switch and control panel to the same wire. Connect the interchangeable outer two wires to either of the outer switch connectors on the control panel.
- 4
  Test the switch. Plug the control panel into the power source after you have finished wiring the switch. Flip the lever on your control panel to the right to see if the switch flips to the main line or the turnout. If you want the switch to flip in the opposite direction, unplug the control panel and switch the outer two wires on the connectors of the control panel.

Model Railroads