of course model RRs are space constrained. but reading the MR and LDSig books only describe yards where all tracks, classification, arrival, departure, are parallel to one another. The CSX and NYC don’t look like that.
these yards are miles long. they have lengthy arrival tracks that can hold entire trains that converge at a hump leading to numerous shorter classifications tracks that are accessible on the opposite end by several drill tracks. Parallel to these are departure tracks.
there is no east/west yard. the Selkirk arrival tracks are at the west end of the yard and there is a track leading to them from the east end mainline.
trains from the arrival track are pushed thru a hump where they roll into classification tracks. The CSX yard hump was rebuilt using a new system that doesn’t require retarders.
the drill tracks are used to move blocks of cars to departure tracks creating trains.
the prototype design of have lengthy arrival tracks leading to a hump and then classification tracks is not described in the model RR books.
with this understanding i took advantage of the 20+ ft of shelf space i have to plan a yard like the prototype (in orange) and am disappointed to not have read about this in MR books, magazines or forum.
I understand that most layouts don’t have sufficient space, but some do and it makes sense to explain the compromise for model RRs.
Any model railroader can model a yard if he puts his mind to it. But it can be extremely challenging in HO scale to do a decent job if the decision is made to include an arrival and departure track as well as a drill track depending upon the length of the trains using such a yard.
If you have been able to accomplish that in a 20-foot space, you are to be congratulated. I tried to do it on my current layout using a 25-foot length space and essentially failed. On my old layout, it took 42 foot around a curve in the layout to construct something reasonable.
Where I have seen effective yard setups is on club layouts, especially those with 100 feet of space or more to accommodate a large classification yard.
On my railroad, Lignite has a yard. It is not a sizable yard, but it is a hump yard. In about 6 feet. Somehow I feel like I may have crammed a little too much trackage in the layout…
have you seen yard built the way i describe with arrival and classification tracks that are not parallel? Even Tony Koester’s NKP yard looks like it has A/D tracks parallel to the classification tracks.
Unfortunately, it is so unfinished that even I’m unclear where the hump yard begins and the track piled on the layout ends! I’ll get back in a while when it’s progressed further, especially once I get some turnouts.
Probably, but offhand I cannot name one, prototypical or model. When I modeled a classification yard on my old layout the A/D tracks paralleled the yard tracks, albeit on a curve. I think that most are parallel.
those books strongly suggested building symetrical dbl-ended yards so that 2 switchers could work each end.
but i tried to explain that one end of a yard is used to classify cars and the other end with drill tracks to move blocks of cars when building departing trains. Again, not explained in those books
Ahh. How often is a “modern prototypical yard” built today? I would have thought that the older yards are still extensively used. Here in the Chicago area, the yards are now surrounded by residential, commercial and industrial settings.
Selkirk was upgraded duing the Penn Central merger. the CSX yard was recently upgraded to handle traffic rerouted while the Baltimore tunnel was upgraded (lowered) to handle dbl stacks. Altoona use to be much larger.
i believe there are plenty of existing yards that are laid out as I explained. However, that are many older yards that serve purposes other than major classification.
the numerous classification tracks in modern yards (Selkirk has 70) are not very long, they hold blocks of cars that need to be switched elsewhere as blocks and a train is made of many blocks. Multiple classifiation tracks may be used hold blocks for the same destination, handling the variable # of cars for a destination
but in my case, and i think this is more typical in model RRing, each yard track is for a train. In my case, the shorter tracks are planned for the locals and the longer tracks for trains back to staging.
i believe a work loco (?) will pull the train out and the yard switcher will add a caboose.
Greg, I think some of the books that are out there haven’t been updated in quite some time. As modelers, we have to use the space we have and go from there.
I have a double ended yard with 12 sets of ladder tracks that can be accessed from each end, depending on how you enter the yard. All tracks are stub ended. East ladder has 6 tracks; one of which has a salt loading building at the end. The West ladder has 6 tracks as well. The longest west ladder track can hold 10-12 cars depending on the length of each car.
In addition, I have 4 arrival/departure tracks that can hold 10-14 cars including a pair of engines depending on the track.
During my op sessions, the yardmaster can build his trains on the A/D tracks or the largest track on the West Ladder. Same as when he’s breaking down an inbound train.
My sessions work well and no real bottlenecks in the yard. My 2 Yardmasters have been at it for a few years, so they know it well…
Neal, very nice photos and good looking yards. Your ballast looks just fine, especially considering that it is a working set of yards. Thanks for posting those photos.
