Switches are rated in Numbers
Main Line High Speed track will use very large radius switches if possible. A number 16 is a 1/2 mile radius. In switch yards where space is limited they use as tight as required. LGB and Aristo make 2 foot radius switches. Never use them with anything but a 0-2-0 (more on that later).
4 foot radius will work but use only 5 foot or bigger for best results.
Some manufactures use the numbers but, it is only a guide and not really to scale. I don't think I'll be using true #16 switches since my lot is only 100 feet wide.
The Prototype switch sizes at left are from a wonderful book I bought at a used book store. The book is “Trautwine” the “Civil Engineer’s Pocket-Book” twentieth edition 1919.
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