How do you turn around your steam locomotive on a point to point layout? Do you use a WYE and a run-around track? Or, do you have a better solution? I never really gave this a thought until I started doing my design on paper. I imagine you could have a turntable at the end, but at BOTH ends of a long run???
You want them cab leading (moden diesels)… you turn them round both ends. Unless you are running pairs back-to-back when you can just run them round.
A Wye takes a lot of space… could point it into a corner…
A wye is a good choice, but only if you have enough room past each switch for the locos AND some cars so that you can turn the whole train, and not just the loco. For a loco only, try a turntable,and place it in a designed loco servicing facility with backshop or roundhouse, etc.
I think most folks eventually come to realize that, unless they are drop dead set on a yard and industrial complex, then some sort of design that permits occasional, if rare, constant running (in a loop) is desirable, especially for guests, and especially if you want to leave the trains running while you fiddle with CV values on the fly or want to check how the train handles switches, etc… Sometimes it’s just nice to watch the little critters roll past…again, and again.
My 2 cents.
I plan to have a complete loop with a dropdown bridge, but there will also be some point to point locations. So with a STEAM engine, how do you reverse direction without a wye?
You’d need a turntable or what’s called a ‘balloon track’, which is basically a reversing loop within the yard limits.
Well it was not uncommon for a steam locomotive to run tender first from a stub end branch line where there was no way of turning the engine.The head brakeman would ride on the deck of the tender and protect the reverse move.Also,some times a reverse move was made simply by backing the train with the caboose leading-this is still being done today on CSX NS and all other roads you can think of including some short lines where a long reverse move is made.
Remember a diesels does not need to be turn as it will operate in either direction…This happens every day on local switch turns…
Also most point to point to point layouts have yards on both ends…This is not the case with a out and back layout.
***,
I agree with Crandell. Operations really make the layout. But the ability or luxury of allowing your layout to go into “cruise control” is a nice plus to have. I also like the idea of the turntable over the wye. A servicing facility (e.g. roundhouse, water tower, coaling tower, sanding tower, diesel fueling platform, ash pit/conveyor, inspection pit, backshop) really adds a lot of realism and will make your layout more believable.
Tom
MOST RAILROADS are still single track and point to point.and ran steam up 'till 1950 -55.
Turning of steam engime’s was done via turntable’s, also Wye’s (where there was more room), and in some cases baloon track’s. Many ''modeler’s" run their empire’s in unprototypical 'loop’s for simpification reason’s.
Today’s Road Diesel’s, which run forward or backward’s, have made ‘turning’ engine’s obsolete.
If you run steam era, a roundhose and turntable make’s it much more real, but also reqire’s more use of one’s modeling skill’s. - Exception is Atlas’ 9" TT which s is too small for most steam engine’s.
Please guys,don’t knock a real point to point layout…You see once you operate on a point to point layout loops will no long matter…Trust there is nothing like a single track with passing sidings layout…
Of course I realized many modelers hasn’t had the fortunate pleasure of running a train on a pint to point layout where you go from point A to point B passing through scenery only once instead of running endless laps through the same scenery and ending your run where you started…[:D]
Brakie,
Point (to point) taken. If I had a bigger layout and a nice looooong run then I would consider a point to point layout. I know some folks will even try it on a 4 x 8 layout like mine. That small -for me - would make the layout more work than fun.
Tom
There was a very interesting balloon track at Cincinnati Union Terminal which was used for the passenger consists. It ran around the outside (back) of the roundhouse and the whole train was pushed or pulled around same to reverse the consist. The engines were turned on a truntable.
Actually it is yet another of the many compromises faced while modeling. If you don’t have the room for wye’s, turntables or baloon tracks, you’ve got to "five finger’ the turnarounds.
Sky hooks and 0-5-0 switchers??? [:D]
(You already had enough serious replies, the thread needed some levity.)
Regards
Ed
The bottom line with ‘point to point’ operation, that steamer should be turned at each end. That will require a wye, turntable, balloon track(rev loop), or using the big ‘0-5-0’ switcher to ‘turn’ the engine!
Most of my trains move from ‘staging to staging’, so the ‘0-5-0’ handles things after the operating session is complete. Some jobs do originate at a small yard that is ‘on stage’, and there are turning facilities there and at the end of a branch to ‘turn’ the engines. Running the branch local out of the yard and up the branch, turning it, and running back to complete the run give a sense of ‘completeness’. Most operators seem to like to run small way freights anyway.
Jim Bernier
Jim:
I couldn’t agree more.
I ‘collected’ and ran 4-8-4’s 2-10-4’'s and even a 2-10-10-2 (ego trip?) but had as much fun running 2-8-0’s and 2-6-2’s with fewer cars - actually more.
A 2-10-10-2 with 4 car’s also doesn’t look right.
Jim,There are exceptions…How about a urban industrial switch job that went up some industrial branch in a big city? How about a branch line that was reduce? Then there is mine runs,Ballast trains,work trains, wreck trains,interchange trains and yes some urban locals.
Only modelers get overly concern about turning locomotives…Of course if there was a way to turn a steam locomotive then naturally that would be done.
I can not stress enough that railroad operation knowledge is golden.
OK, my table at one end is a full 4’ X 8’, as is the other end of the room,so I have room for either a wye or a turntable. As I have 6 steamers, and will undoubtedly get more, what do you guys recommend?
Without actually seeing a draft of the plan, I’d be inclined to suggest a turntable at whichever end has the bigger engine terminal, and a wye at the other (just for variety).
Regards
Ed
ED, that is my thinking also at this point. Walthers just came out with a real nice Turntable and barn, I am thinking that this would make a real nice Christmas gift!!
The problem with a turntable is most people add a roundhouse to it, giving it a large footprint. You can have just a turntable with NO roundhouse if you are modeling the end of a branch where the trains just turned and engines didn’t tie up over night.
Dave H.
can steam engines be hooked up back to back like diesel?