Thinking about doing a layout with a full viaduct loop. Has anyone done one with turnouts on the viaduct? Only thing I have see is the viaduct station which seems like it is too big for just a single turnout? Or should I just chop up some straight and curved viaducts to make custom walls for the turnout?
I've thought about this myself... There are no viaducts in 19R or 28R (for #4 or #6 switches, respectively,) nor for 15 degree span curves, so you will have to custom make the curved side of the viaduct for the switch. You might be able to place the switch on a suitable length double-track viaduct, but that does not solve the angled joint to the diverging route. You could lay a single or double crossover in straight double track viaduct(s).
you can pop the track out of the viaduct lengths with minimal effort if you wanted to drop in a regular Unitrack turnout and modify the viaduct itself somehow. Would be an interesting project. You know, for someone else to try first
The single track viaducts retain the unitrack with screws from below. The double track straight viaducts I have (grey plate roadbed, no ties) had clips and maybe screws (it's been awhile) holding the plate to the viaduct base. The clips were released from below with a screwdriver or similar prying tool, IIRC. I plan on putting a dbl xover across two lengths of these on my mockup, which will create a reverse loop for me (in the shank of a folded dogbone layout). These clips will have to be cut off flush to put in the dbl xover. The 'bone shank's curves are single track viaducts side by side, rather than double track viaduct curves, because I have 105 degrees of curve with radii that were not available in dbl track viaducts (and only increments of 45 degrees of curve.) I also do not want the super-elevation that is included on doubletrack viaduct curves, since the curves are on a grade, and I do not want to entice string-lining when climbing the 3% hill with a long train. In the final layout, most of the viaducts will be removed, replaced with ground level tracks (taken from the viaducts) on raised terrain.
So I am going to try to take a #4 and use it to replace a 248 mm section viaduct. The straight leg should be pretty easy. I'm gonna try to get some 124mm viaduct to do the curve side. I'll have to see if I can heat it up and bend the outer edge to get the curve.
Turn the Kato Viaduct upside down with the smooth-side up and wallah you can attach a Kato T-word to the bottom of it. I did just that and was very pleased with it.
Not sure what you mean by "T-word" (I suspect it was spell-miscorrected). Kato S-Joiners are the joiners for the viaduct understructures, that also connect to the tops of Kato piers. They are included with single track pier sets, but are also available in packages of 20 pcs. There is some free rotation range between the connected pier and the S-Joiner/Viaduct, to allow for viaducts on grades as well as level (yet elevated) while the piers remain vertical.
Gave up trying to bend and glue the viaduct. Opted to go with just two straights with the inner walls cut off. They mount to the double viaduct piers. This way I can use it for either direction.
Nice work! The alternative double track viaduct understructures have a slightly different style and color that would not go as well with the single track viaducts.
Double track viaduct also has some slightly raised areas in the center after you take off the track. So it isnt ideal for crossovers. However if you cut one track off, you can just fit in a island platform for an elevated station. The slight elevation difference doesnt matter so much for that.
Great idea for an elevated station platform! My prototyped, folded dog-bone layout uses Viaducts for trackage that will eventually be on elevated terrain. I'm "getting ready" to do the terrain anyway, but if it gets delayed, I have two straight double track viaducts to support a double crossover that will create my reverse loop (I don't yet have the DCC hardware for the reversing loop anyway.) And yes, there are a couple of plastic clips molded into the viaduct base that will have to be removed with an Xacto knife to clear the underside of the double crossover (or even regular, ballasted Unitrack double track pieces.)
