Curved yards?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Does anyone know of examples in the prototype of RRs using yards that are essentially curved in their entirety?

Due to space constraints, I’m down to having either a two-track curved yard that can be doubled ended (which will also include a short RIP/engine service stub track) and handle plenty of cars, or a stub ended three-tracked yard that can handle about 3-5 cars per track.

A (forgive the crude drawing) figure is below that gives the general impression of the curved yard. The line to the outside is a mainline. The yard can double as a passing track, and is an interchange yard between a shortline (to right of yard) and class one (top). The curves are 28 inch and 26 inch radius, and coupling doesn’t seem to be a big problem based upon current tests of the layout option. It’s a small yard indeed, a shortline yard.

The curved yard allows more space for a town area and the mountain/aisle behind. Plus, I know that railroads overwhelmingly prefer doubled ended yards to stub ended yards. But would they build one on such a curve? Well, maybe it’s one reason why the line was sold off to the shortline. In any case, comments appreciated. I’m struggling to try to fit in a yard for operational sake within the space I have.

2

I have incorporated curved track into my main yard as to maximize trackage. I have seen this done in reality especially where tracks follow rivers or other obstacles like lakes or towns. Railways will always try to get the most out of realestate.

Fergie

3

Minnesota Commercial in St. Paul.

4

Interestingly, on the layout the right hand are is a river, and area to the left is to be a town. Thanks~!

5

Shawnee

Many shortlines aquire odd sections of railroads and glob them together to get something usable. When I worked in Eugene we interchanged with the Portland Western at the old Oregon Electric yard. This yard was used to interchange between the SP&S and SP. Now it is used to interchange between the P&W and UP, also the CORP grabs cars from there. Although not a main yard by any means the P&W uses it to switch out their cars for local industries. They even have a small depot and engine track. The reason for the odd shape is due to the fact that it sits on the curve betwen two mains that cross at grade. In your yard you could show the “old main” going straight south removed along with the east to wet main.

Be Wise Beware Be Safe

“Mountain Goat” Greg

6

A railroad will do whatever is necessary in a tight space, but their curves are a lot wider than ours. Part of the “art” of model railroading is determining how to present the essence of the railroad in our limited space. As long as your equipment couples and uncouples on your curves you’re okay.

Enjoy

Paul

7

I’ve seen the prototype do it when railfanning on Google Earth. (couldn’t tell you exactly where)
I’ll be doing the same thing due to space.

8

Bostic yard on CSX.

9

Greg - that’s a great idea…I could have some abandoned track going straight south, and I have some room on that space to do that.

The rationale for my shortline is that NS sold it off because a couple of industries went out of business (I’m modeling an abandoned old factory), and a branchline that drives off of it is an old, steep 3% grade servicing smaller industries - a small mine and a sawmill. The abandoned line south makes it all the more sensible, it could have served a large industry that went bust.

The yard is an interchange between the shortline Southern Alleghany and Norfolk Southern, and is also a switch yard for a local quarry and papermill just off the quick diagram I sketched.

Thanks ~

10

Yes curved yards are possible. In matter of fact they show a way to do this in “A Model Railroader’s Guide to Freight Yards”

However, be aware that Kadee magnets do NOT work on curved sections of track. You can also not couple on a curved track.

You’ll want at least a small short section for each lead on the ladder which will allow you to disconnect / hitch your train

Best of luck

Don

11

Don, saw the examples from that book, just that almost all of my yard track is on a curve, except for the lead. Most of those examples are larger classification yards, and it seems they start on the curve but ladder out straight. Didn’t seem to be much in that book for the small space model railroader. Alas. One example however, I think it was the Durham Southern shortline, gave me some ideas for this yard…that it didn’t need to be big to be effective.

Actually, set it up the yard curve for trial runs and coupling and uncoupling seems to be OK on the 28 and 26 inch radius. They certainly seem to couple well on those curves. Maybe I’ll learn otherwise in ongoing operation, but that part seems to be ok.

I’m taking heart here that there are indeed prototype examples o yards where most of the track is on a curve. I did think it was better to go with the double-ended option.

12

One point that may or may not be of concern is that magnetic undertrack uncouplers don’t always work too well and sometimes work when they shouldn’t when placed on curves. They also should be under turnouts. Don’t ask me how I know.

13

CSX’s Cayce Yard near Columbia, S.C.

14

Almost all the yards in the Appalachian coalfields are curved to conform to river and valley layouts…

CSX (Former L&N) Ravanna Yard near Irvine, KY

CSX (Former L&N) Hazard Yard at Hazard, KY

CSX (Former L&N) Crawford Yard near Hazard, KY

CSX (Former L&N) Dent Yard near well not really near anywhere, KY

CSX (Former L&N) Walsend Yard near Pineville, KY (curved at the north end)

CSX (Former L&N) Loyall Yard near Harlan, KY

CSX (Former C&O) Martin Yard at Martin, KY

CSX (Former C&O) Coal Run Yard at Coal Run, KY (more bent than curved)

CSX (Former C&O) Shelby Yard at Shelbiania, KY

CSX (Former Clinchfield) Dante Yard, Dante, VA

CSX (Former C&O) Danville Yard at Danville, WV

CSX (Former C&O) Russell Yard at Russell, KY

NS (Former CSX nee L&N) Middlesboro Yard at M’Boro, KY curved at north end

NS (Former N&W) Williamson Yard at Williamson, WV

NS (Former N&W) Weller Yard at Weller, VA

NS (Former N&W) Auville Yard at Iaeger, WV

The list goes on…

15

Shawn,

CPR’s Agincourt Yard is partially on a curve. Go to Google Maps, you’ll locate it in the north eastern part of Toronto, ON.

Gordon

16

The UP (ex Southern Pacific) yard in Dunsmuir, CA in the California portion of the Cascade/Siskiyou mountain range on the Shasta Route between California and Oregon. Not only is the yard on a curve, it’s on a grade (I think about 1.5-2%). During the SP days, it was both a helper and a division yard for trains heading north via either the Siskiyou Summit or the easier graded Natron Cutoff routes into Oregon. Lots of action, but oboy, you’d better make sure you’d set the brakes on the cars for set-out, LOL!

Tom

17

its impossible for me to do my yards and keep them straight. If your front end tracks are straight and can couple/uncouple fine, then as far as I care the tracks beyond could zigzag forever.

I would believe in more mountous areas you would find curved yards on the prototype. But the curve would be so wide its negligable. A model yard with wide curves would behave the same as if it were straight.

I will be doing a couple of yards and the middles have to be curved, maybe around a full half circle for one.

18

Thanks all…I’ll be looking up some of these yards on Google Earth to check them out. Fortunate for me that my line is Appalachian, and between a mountain and a river!

19

Bnsf , LPCHI terminal and yard in Elwood , IL . is a giant circle or better yet an oval .