As the title says, I'm looking for the AREMA diagram for a No. 6 turnout, 115 RE with 11' switch points. Need to know tie lengths and closure trail lengths in particular. I do not have any of the AREMA manuals to look it up. Thanks!

I don't, either. But the one you are looking for is the "Portfolio of Trackwork Plans".

http://prr.railfan.net/standards/standards.cgi?plan=58232-B&type=TRACKWORK
Not exact but should be close enough to work from, there are more here:
http://prr.railfan.net/standards/standards.cgi?plan=&rr=&type=TRACKWORK
Mike

Do you have a specific volume? We've got quite a few of the manuals in our library.
Herb Sakalaucks
Colfax Railroad Museum

Mike,

One of the PRR diagrams is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

Hi Rick
I found this information off the LB Foster Rail website it's not a diagram but has dimensions, the closer rail for 115lbs is in the (C) dimension. hope this helps you, Pat

Here you go. This is for straight switches. If you can't read it due to the small file size or need the data for curved switches, pm me. I hope this helps.

Actually, this plan:
http://prr.railfan.net/standards/standa ... =TRACKWORK

…is virtually exactly what Rick is looking for. While it’s a PRR drawing, it’s based on AREA’s former plan number 6-62, which was later withdrawn. The only issue Rick needs to be alert for is whether the toe length of his frog matches the dimension shown on the plan. If not, he’ll need to adjust the lengths of the straight and curved closure rails between the heel of the switch and the toe of the frog.

/s/ Larry
Lawrence G. Lovejoy, P.E.

I'd suggest being careful about posting AREMA/AREA drawings, they're copyrighted. Yes, I know the books cost a small fortune, I have a set.

Also keep in mind that AREMA Standards are anything but standard. The UP/BNSF Common Standard Turnouts are not the same as AREMA. Those can be found online, but they no longer support #6 turnouts. You can still find old drawings online, just takes some work.

This book by TransAlert has a ton of useful references in it, being pretty close to what you'll find in AREMA. http://www.transalert.com/cgi-bin/detai ... TDH&cat=13

The other thing to understand about AREMA is that they are NOT a standards organization like ASTM or ASME. AREMA is very specific that the information which appears in their documents are not "standards" but rather "recommended practices". They go on to explain that the practices followed by individual railroads, while they may differ from AREMA, are perfectly valid. The reasons for this distinction are many but revolve around legal issues. AREMA doesn't want the liability associated with setting standards and the railroads don't want the liability of failing to comply with a "standard", set by an outside organization, with which they might not 100% agree.

/s/ Larry
Lawrence G. Lovejoy, P.E.

"I'd suggest being careful about posting AREMA/AREA drawings, they're copyrighted." Bob, you're absolutely right. I should have known better. Even being published in 1955, S&B still has the copyright. Maybe they're legal team will give me a break since I can't read anything worthwhile from that scan.