Micro engineering track ladder system. How much space do I need?

[@mpeterll]

It looks like they fit just about as close together as I have done with Fast-tracks turnouts in tight areas. The difference is that all the difficult work has been done for you at the expense of being forced to use their geometry. Useful video.

[@normanrowe2831]

Hi ya Sparky. That’s very interesting and informative. I’m sure the person who asked the question and requested the video is very happy. See ya.

[@steve87thpsap]

Cool Sparky. Looks great for a big yard in small space.

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

Sparky , that is a very big yard , you will need a lot of switch machines

[@dbtech7914]

Great video. Sometimes the only way to figure out exactly how much space you have or need is to lay out the track and see what fits.

[@davidztog9011]

Wow, that's a lot of $$$ tied up in that ladder system, but it's a beaut, Dave. You must be planning to have all of your rolling stock set to go. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍

[@cp368productions2]

And you don't have to go one way or the other, yard tracks can be on both sides of the main allowing longer tracks in the same space. While each switch shortens the next track. Having one ladder or one on each end makes the last track significantly shorter. While if you do the main down the middle there will be a few tracks close to the same length on each side.

[@grandparails8858]

That's a nice big yard.

[@johnarthur6302]

I used the same system in my yard - I recommend your viewer go to the ME website and print off the free templates and play with them in their space. Those paper templates were really convenient in my opinion!

[@SchuylkillRiverValley]

They sure make a great looking yard. Useful info Sparky, thanks for sharing!

[@royreynolds108]

To get the most car capacity in a yard, both ladders need to be the same, right or left. This arrangement will give the most compact yard in width and length with the closest(minimum) track spacing. All of the turnouts in a ladder will need to be the same frog number. It is possible to gain a slight increase in each track length with a slight curve introduced beyond the first turnout and then including the same curve back into each yard track on each end of the yard. This complicates laying out the yard but does add car capacity. Just like the full size, the complication needs to be evaluated against the gain of capacity. Clearance points need to be figured.

[@TheTrainFreak]

That's a massive yard and much easier than cutting the straight leg on Atlas #6 turnouts. Looks great Sparky! - Jason

[@newlynnrailway]

Nice I plan something similar for a staging/fiddle yard using some older peco turnouts, I think with those it might be possible to gain one or two extra roads, but it`s nice to see it in the flesh.

[@DiggerEvans]

Wow Sparky that does look fantastic what a stock yard that will make

[@FlyingCrow]

As an FYI, 10 tracks are about the maximum you can get in 2 feet, whether you use #4 or #10 turnouts. The turnout size only makes a difference in the length of track you get. Great information, Sparky.

[@joeraderblackrockcentralrr]

thats a good size yard

[@mannyfernandez2921]

Very nice Sparky!

[@KerleyExpress]

nice big ladder system

[@robingagnon9659]

nice informative video, I always wondered how much space it would cover. Now I know what I need :) thanks for doing this

[@ModelTrainOutsider]

I am curious as to the many different turnouts. I saw them when talked about them before. My Marklin system has 2 turnouts... normal and narrow (then two more on curves). Very interesting. Makes an awesome stock yard.

[@fbrailroad4628]

That is a nice system and a great video, Sparky. Thanks for sharing, David

[@almarr4942]

Thank you Sparky, That was perfect.

[@KingTrump2024]

Awesome video, this is exactly what I wanted to see with these !

[@duanesforkandspoonrr10]

Nice looking yard....cool system

[@davestrains6816]

Yard looks awesome. ME make some very realistic track. Thanks for sharing. Dave

[@CONTAINERMAN68]

I was like Derek Alexander, getting ready to ask a how much space just the turnouts take, when you went and answered it for me! Good thinking! I have my ME ladder track system already! I just need to kick my ass into gear and get other stuff done so I can start my layout! Can't do the other stuff while it's cold outside though, will have to wait until spring. So maybe I can start building my layout by the beginning of winter next year? Thanks brother!

[@tombarnes7196]

Awesome, very helpful!!

[@derekalexander4030]

I was typing what is the length as soon as you said your first good bye and then you came back and answered it. Thank you for doing this and thank you to whoever asked you to do this, it was very helpful. I have a spot on my layout that I’m figuring out that will be just like this and where you put it on yours helped because I will have a return loop on the left end similar to where yours is. What is the radius of your return loop to the left of the yard throat? Do you know what amount of space it would have taken up if it wasn’t the Micro engineering ladder system?

[@sparky107107]

the radius I mostly use is 28"

[@possumbayou8238]

Those look great. Wish they mad it in nscale though. 😢

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid keep up good vids thanks lee

[@mels4796]

wonderful video

[@TheGomes412]

Great demonstration. Quick question, can any of these ladder tracks connect to regular ME turnouts, like a #6? Does ME allow their tracks to interconnect like that?

[@sparky107107]

I would say that all will do that, the only one that won't is the one that has the frog so close to the end

[@georgiasunbelt]

Really like the ME Ladder system…my only hang up was having to juice the frogs on all the switches…their is a tab to solder the wire to the bottom of the switch frogs…hopefully you have better success and don’t have to juice frogs

[@sparky107107]

i will be adding juicers, the problem I found was power. also have to run feeders to all the switches. and then also to all the yard tracks, The frogs are the easy part, I used a Dremel and cleaned up the connection spot

[@georgiasunbelt]

@@sparky107107 didn’t have to run feeders to the switches but did do the yard tracks

[@scotabot7826]

Could you show us a 5D right hand? Its different than the 5B and 5C, in that the 5D and 5E have 4 rail connections, unlike the 5B and 5C only have 3 rail connections, correct?

[@nwgwc]

Does this system come in code 100 HO scale?

[@sparky107107]

No

[@scotabot7826]

Is that code 70 or 83? Thanks!!

[@bobbokuhn9498]

Any chance you can tell mell how to connect these using atlas code 83 track coming from my main? Like any special modifications?. Thank you

[@sparky107107]

code 83 is good, should be able to connect right to the track you are using. just remove a couple ties if needed from the flex track and the switch, place on fish plate and join together, I always use insulated rail joiners on the switched rail of the switch and add feeder wires just afterwards.

[@almarr4942]

If you are going the other way, What are you doing with all those switches? LOL

[@sparky107107]

I ONLY LOOKED FOR CODE 83