hi all , was looking at somebodys layout plans just and was woundering what a team track is ? also any other track names i should be aware of would be a help too… thanks andy
A “team track” is typically a siding with a loading / unloading area which is shared by two or more industries or customers. That distinguishes it from a factory siding that serves that factory’s loading area only. If a customer has modest shipping requirements, he might arrange for a box car to be delivered once a week or so to a local “team track” where he could go pick up his goods.
I think someone explained a few months ago that the name comes from the team of horses that would typically have been used to drive the wagons to the track and back. Nowadays, the trucks might be driven by members of the Teamsters’ Union.
There are…
Main tracks
Westbound, Ebound,S,bound and N,bound… which at the location you see them may physically be going in the opposite direction.
There can be Second and Third main tracks.
There are Yard tracks. Yards are designated by purpose… Freight, loco, intermodal…
A “House Track” would have a freight house either at the end or astride it.
There are various loops… a loop is not the same as a balloon track… it runs (mostly) parralel to a track to which it is joined at both ends… usually by a facing and then a trailing connection in the direction of travel.
(A facing connection is a switch that “faces” a train with a choice of which way to go… the route ahead diverges in the direction of travel. A trailing connection converges in
the directionof travel… if it is not rigidly linked to the means of moving the blades it can be “trailed” through from either approaching side… the wheels will pu***he blades out of the way… provided the cars are heavy enough and the blades free moving)
A Wye track is a combination of tracks forming a triangle which allow a loco or train to be turned round… instead of using a turntable for the loco.
A baloon track is just that… baloon shaped… it too allows locos or trains to be turned around… often used for on-the-move loading or unloding of unit coal trains.
A spur is a track of varying length from a car to several miles… it may have one or several loading/unloading points along it.
A blind spur is a dead end track.
A yard lead is the bit between the main and the yard roads including the switches.
A yard lead can also be/provide a blind spur (parralel) to the main tracks to allow switching of the yard tracks without going onto the main tracks.
That should get you started 
Main tracks usually get names from the Rule book/timetable.
Other tracks, especially within a yard, gat names from the job they do… a sand track or diesel rac