While I have dreams of having a vast railroad empire one day when I have the space, I thought that I should at least start with something to learn the tricks of the trade. After much playing around with various designs, I have come up with the following that fits into the space that I have of 40 inches x 16 inches.
The setting would be modern day, but using diesels and steam.
The idea is that this is a small rural village off the main line that has some historical value and get visited by a tourist steam train.
There is also s freight service that serves the local industries.
Trains come in at middle left or right where they get placed in the yard for classification. From there the three industries at the top are services.
I assume N scale, as what you have drawn cannot possibly fit in HO. I also assume you really have more than 40" of length (at least during operations) as there is no space for the train to use the turnouts at the center left and right.
At an absolute minimum, your runaround tracks and switching tails (leads) must hold one car and one locomotive. Anyting less than that will not work at all. At one car plus engine, you basically have a switching puzzle or game, not a realistic operation, because you can only move one car at a time.
I strongly recommend you simplify the trackage - fewer but longer tracks. Have one run-around (not 3), hopefully holding at least 2 cars plus engine or 3-4 cars total. Switching leads at either end, for the yard, and for the switchbacks should have the same minimum capacity.
I would get rid of the switchback spurs in the lower left first.
Frank,3’ 4" x 15" would make a simple one industry ISL with several spots in N but,no where near the OP plan.
A GE 44 or 70 tonner and (say) 40’ PFE reefers would work.
Basically you would move the loaded reefers of produce from the loading dock to the icing track,then to the interchange track…A maximum of three turnouts with a 14" lead…
The proposed plan has track overkill for such a small area.
My advance would be to re-plan it and remembering less is better.
But,I want four industries,on my ISL…Where,am I going to put,my 30 three bay hoppers and 25 plus tankers,let alone,the box cars?? I was kicking around the notion,of making another ISL,I had one once,about 1962,in a bedroom,office,shelf a little less than,eye level,factories everywhere…It was a lot of fun…
Your two shortest class tracks look like they barely hold two cars. Try eliminating the one closest to the edge, which would allow you to lengthen the next one a bit.
Does the angled runaround serve a purpose? Eliminating it would allow you to lengthen your yard tracks as well as the other runaround track.
Now,I like that one,much better…Except,the turnout on the far left,is useless…You would have to have a flip-up there,in order to be useful,unless of course,that is your plan…Maybe a flip up on both ends,of the same track??
