Or design by the squares. You’ll find the needed information in John Armstrong’s Track Planning For Realistic Operation
An older plan by me, the cassette can’t be omitted.
The length of the lead or drill tracks has to be sufficient. The plan above does not lean on that much on switchbacks like in your original plan
Smile
paul
Thank you very much for the much needed help guys. I honestly didn’t expect such insightful and prompt feedback. I really enjoy the yard that was included on the “patch”. Furthermore, Paul, you’re plan is basically what I am striving to build. Instead of the cassette, I have space to add more operation in that area.
Paul,
How do operations play out on your track plan?
There is also Empire Express by Haddon Software. Easy!
Dante
Hi Alex,
2)The cars are then divided in two cuts, one for the facing spurs along the upper wall, the other cut for the trailing spur to the freighthouse. Here the small yard is handy.
Then the cars from the facing spurs are pulled and placed on a free yard track. After this is done the cars heading for these spurs can be spotted before their dedicated doors.
Then pulling and spotting cars for the freighthouse and team track is done. This will require some extra run-around moves.
the outgoing train can leave the area, back to the cassette.
The above could be made more complicated when the yard also is an interchange with an other RR. The number and length of cars can add a lot of problems. Anyway the maximum trainlength, due to limited length of the cassette and the run-around-track will be playing its limiting role here.
The engine service and drill track too can cause complications. If oil or sand are brought in by rail its length might partly be unfit for use. Pulling cars on this track might be needed before working the freighthouse track. The small yard comes in handy again.
BTW “How To Design A Small Switching Layout” by Lance Mindheim might be a good investment.
Smile
Paul