Hey guys! I’ve been modeling for a few years now but have finally been able to create a larger layout. So I’ve never designed a functional yard before. I have an XtrackCAD of the table dimensions and the basic layout shape. If anybody has suggestions or wants to take a crack at designing my yard for me, send me a message and I’ll give you the drawing and what I’m looking for.
Please enter size of area that is available. Some people can design quite large. [:D]
Yard design tends to be DIY – regardless of scale modeled – here’s some for starters…
[1] The Ten Commandments of Model Railroad Yard Design by Craig Bisgeier at the Housatonic Railroad is a concise yard design webpage.
[2] The Art of Model Railroading by Frank Ellison is a Landmark Layout PDF-download. Frank Ellison was decades ahead of his time – Note the flow of his layout plan, and how freight yard design, and spurs, form a complete operations picture.
[3] Freight yards by John Armstrong is a neat Information Station PDF-download, and; Frank Ellison also authored a PDF-download there called Realistic freight operations.
Sorry guys! I suppose that would help. The dimensions for the yard is 69" by 36".
Hi Steiny,
you could post the drawing of the table and basic track plan on here.
A yard usually has a well defined purpose. So drawing a yard without knowing what has to happen there is an impossible question. Not only the use of the yard should be known, also the kind of mainline you are modeling. Is it a one train a day branch or a busy mainline with several trains every hour of the day?
Track Planning for Realistic Operation by John Armstrong could also be a great source of information.
BTW the length of the yard (96") seems to indicate you are a N-scaler.
Smile
Paul
Are you looking for a flat fee proposal or just my hourly rate? [(-D]
Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Kalmbach’s book, The Model Railroader’s Guide To Freight Yards, by Andy Sperandeo. It is loaded with information about designing and operating a freight yard, and there are plenty of illustrations as well.
After you design the yard, come on back with a diagram of it along with questions that you might have for us.
Rich
Hi!
Like so many others on this Forum, I’ve been playing with trains for as long as I can remember (mid '50s) and had a number of layouts. A big part of the fun to me was designing the layouts. Heck, while some guys were drawing planes and cars in school, I was sketching out layouts…
My urging to the OP is to scale out the available space, make several copies of the outline, and have at it yourself. When you come up with something you like, post it on this forum for us to review and critique. Trust me, it will mean so much more to you if you lay out the groundwork, than if you have someone do it for you.
My advice is way out there. Then again, you might not be able to afford books right now. But then again, some people like to see things.
My suggestion is to lay out the track.
Side by side. Actually see how much room there is or isn’t. Have fun in other words. Its more than likely cold outside, not enough money and not enough ideas to spark your own imagination. So here’s my two cents worth.
Lay out the track, place buildings out there that you think should go into your yard. Lay out your switches as well. See how things are suppose to work as they do in a Train Yard.
Also, when you read the above mentioned of the ‘The Commandments Of A Yard’ or what ever it is called, keep in mind your own layout.
What is it you want to do on your layout. That is, OK… your train comes off the Main Line. Now what?
OK… that’s at your Arrival set of tracks. Now what is it you want to do? Is this a heavy freight line to pull off the main… and have lots of room on your Arrival tracks? In other words… do you have the Arrival tracks long enough for your long line of freight cars. Can your diesel unhook to pick up more freight? Can you unhook to leave freight there… perhaps Over-night freight? You’ll need a building for that.
Maintenance buildings… are they going to be in your yard? Will you have access to the Yard lead from the Arrival set of tracks?
Also take into consideration the time era of your train yard. If this is steam era, you’ll need the various sand / coal pits… ash dump and a water tower… along with some maintenance area.
Now I won