Does anyone have some drawings or pictures for building a basic 4-6 track yard ladder? I am operating in HO and plan to use #6 turnouts. My layout is 12x12. I will operate freight and passenger trains. Should I have two separate yards? Do I connect each turnout to the next turnout or is there track in between? I’m new and lost!
Check this out
Do I connect each turnout to the next turnout or is there track in between?
That depends on your desired track spacing, length of the straight leg of the turnout and the angle the ladder is placed at. For a ladder placed at the frog angle the track spacing will be the length of the turnout divided by the frog angle. So for a #6 which is about 11 1/2" long the track spacing will be a little under 2". If you want to increase the track centres you either increase the ladder angle - your ladder tracks will start off with a short curve - or you add a short section to the straight leg.
Bill
If you want to take up the least amount of space a three-way switch with a LH and a RH turnout hanging off each leg is about the best. I have a 12’ x 12’ layout and I was concerned about space. it may look like a lot of space but a long ladder yard will eat it up quickly. Here’s how I did mine:
The three tracks at the top are for engine servicing. The 5 tracks in the middle are the main yard and the two at the bottom are for an intermodal terminal. With yards there are many options. The one thing you will have the most challenge with will be double-ended yards, due to the space needs.
As for 1 or 2, it all depends upon your overall operation. Two yards in a 12x12 space will eat up a lot of real estate. It can be done but it depends upon what else you are wanting to do.
i hope this helps.
jeff
Here are two photos from my layout. The first is a local yard, with 3 tracks a yard lead and industry spurs. You reach the yard from the siding.
This picture show one end of the main classification yard. I used Atlas #6 here. There are 9 classification tracks and a yard by-pass track. Looking away from the ladder is the arrival/departure yard and caboose track.
I think railroads usually have separate yards for freight and passenger service.
Thanks to all for your help. The advise and pictures were a great help. This forum is a Godsend to a new modeler like me. I have been a member for about a year and have learned much from the members.
I used #6 turnouts in the coach yard, and passenger tracks. I used some #4 turnouts in the freight yard, to save space. Be sure and include a long yard lead, to allow switching, without fouling the mainline. Also include a runaround track, so engines can get from one end of the yard, to the other. Also make sure your engine and caboose tracks are accessed from the yard lead. And allow a separate lead for the coach yard and depot tracks, so the passenger operations don’t interfere with the freight operations.
I put my ladder on a slight angle, to increase the length of the tracks, that’s why the tracks are slightly curved approaching the ladder.
I also used a compound ladder - the interior turnouts off the main ladder - in places to add more tracks without increasing the length of the ladder.
Nick