OK, I've been following the "modified Tony Koester method" for handlaying turnouts for a couple years now.  For me, this means pre-laying the ties on roadbed, with PC ties replacing wood ties at strategic points, i.e.

 Ok, so maybe I am doing something wrong here...  I've built a few #6 FT turnouts, and they work beautifully when I hold them in the air.  There is no binding and the points throw with ease.  When I spike them to the homabed or homasote and hook them up to my Tortoise (.32 throw wire), the points stick in both directions.  I know that the Tort is positioned correctly because I have a jig that I put together.

Has anyone else run in to this problem?  If so, what did you do to correct it?

Thanks,

Ryan

When Coalfinger Ken was over with the NCIOG group he was running his steam engine on the layout and discovered a REALLY bad track area on the uphill side of the plate girder bridge. Notice below that there is a big gap between the bottom of the level and the rail.

Let's face it, our current commercial track selection is pretty poor. Atlas and Walthers track lack the fine spike and tie plate detail that I am looking for, plus, the rail profile for both track types are complete wrong. Peco's Code 83 track system is much better than the previous two. The rail profile is very fine, and close to the prototype. Also, the flextrack exhibits decent spike and tie plate detail. The turnouts are also very nicely detail, however, at almost $40 a piece, they are cost prohibitive for all but the wealthiest modelers.