Yard revisions- comments/suggestions?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hello.

I recently moved from doubletrack mains to singletrack with passing sidings. In doing so, I also am adding a helix and second level. Both of these caused some major yard revisions to occur.

Here is the plan:

Track capacities are as follows:

(sorry about the giant font, for some reson only one line will resize)

YARD LEAD 5 *PLUS SWITCHER

TRACK 2-ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE 15

TRACK 3- 13

TRACK 4- 10

TRACK 5- 7

TRACK 6- CABIN 5

TRACK 7- LADDER- KEEP CLEAR

TRACK 8- RUNAROUND

TRACK 9- STORAGE/SUPPLIES 5

TRACK 10- OVERFLOW/RIP 6

TRACK 11- COACH STORAGE 3 *80 FT

TRACK 12- SUPPLY 5

A few notes about the diagram-

The black area at the top is the pantry (on the other side of the wall), which leaves a convienient alcove for my new helix.

The bottom is towards the middle of the room.

The piece of track that looks like an edited switch going West into the yard from the main to the A/D is not there, it was a goof. The overflow yard ladder switch is directly connected to this switch, and as a result, all yard body tracks are actually about 9" longer and all storage/overflow tracks and service tracks are shorter.

My turntable is a 14" scratchbuilt, not the 9" Atlas, so the centering and s

2

Even enlarged it is hard to tell what the labels are on the tracks. So I am only guessing on some of these things.

Even so I believe you could make them even longer if you used a compound ladder on the left side.

Well not really. You have that snap switch in there which is also part of an S-curve coming through the cross over and onto the left ladder. That has an 18" radius equivalent and something like a 16" radius pinch point in it. Why oh why would you mix using Atlas #6 (slightly less that a real #6) and Snap switches (a #3+ equivalent)? A better compromise would be to use custom line #4s (about a #4.75) everywhere. As I recall they have a 36" overall radius equivalent with a 22" radius minimum tight spot in them.

The icing track is a single ended siding and it has no service track to get the ice into the ice house? If ever a railside “industry” is a candidate for a double sided siding it is an icehouse. Ice houses on single ended sidings are usually those right next to a cold warehouse, packing plant, or the actual source of the ice.

It looks like the coal dump/service track is too close to the two engine house leads. There needs to be more room for the coal tower conveyor there unless it is to the inside of the coal facility. Does the roundhouse not need more servicing tracks - parts, lubricants, etc in, junk out? No ashpit service track?

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Thaks for the comments TZ,

Hmm, the original jpg I posted is 2560x1024, and takes up both of my 17" non widescreen monitors.

I’ll check to see if photobucket is limiting the size.

Got it, had to rename file. Now if I can just fix the diagram…

You are correct about that one snap switch in the path to the service area. However, I have backed BLI 4-8-2, and 2-10-0 as well as P2K 2-10-2 locos through those ladders (and that S curve).

The reason I’m using snaps is that I get more length on the body tracks as well as less overall length of yard and slightly more space between tracks. I did testing with Atlas CL #4, Walthers (Shin) #5 and Atlas #6 (CL and SS), and there was no distinct advantage in tracking those locos, so I went with what gave more useable body track length.

I’m willing to live with the iceing track as I can place an ice house directly behind it. It’s really just a place to store refers as well as add a bit of operational interest to outbound traffic. I would, however like a longer freight house track. this is one of my errors, as the two are actually on the same switch from the yard lead, and the house track only holds one 50" car.

The coal dump/ash track is 2 1/2" spacing as are the service tracks, this is one of those areas where RTS didn’t like my trackwork, and didn’t show correctly. This is a big improvement over the last yard, that had no ash or coal track. My coaling tower is the walthers cylindrical model, with the hoist and dump shed. I haven’t placed the shed, yet, as there was NO room on the last version. I’ll definately make sure it fits before I spike any thing. The end of the second storage track is right near a supply house, so that could receive those, although pulling any stored cars would add time. The overflow/storage tracks are also a mista

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I would think that a larger yard lead track would be the best move. Could you move the freight house and icing houses to come off of Track 1. Then run around track is always helpful but I wonder if it is not taking up too much space that could be used to enlarge the size of your classification tracks.

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Well, since you are running steam I don’t see whether it is oil or coal fired. I would tend to move the ashpit onto the inbound engine track and perhaps leave the spur for the hopper. Otherwise a good plan with lots of operating potential.

You might want to add a second track in the coach yard to aid in turning/switching long passenger cars. Good job! John

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I’d make the yard a stub end so you can have longer bowl tracks. Put the icing track on the bottom so its parallel to the main. This way cars needing to be serviced can be quickly placed, the rest of the train can be worked in the yard, then the refers can be cut back in just before the train leaves.

Put the yard throat farther to the left, leave two through tracks next to the main (coming up from the helix) so you can have an a/d track/switching lead without fouling the main. Consider moving some of the engine servicing tracks to the left of the yard throat…i.e. coaling tower, sander and water, leave the ash pit up by the round house end.

EDIT

I monkeyed around with it a little, keeps the through yard but opens it up quite a bit. Extend the switch lead around so it parallels the westbound main for as long as you need, then add a switch so the lead ties back into the main. This allows it to serve a dual purpose as an a/d track when necessary.

Lee

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Looks good, i wish i had this much room.

The one thing that I would have done differently on mine was with the engine facility vs yard location. I do very little switching in the engine facility and alot of switching in the yard, therefor on my next layout the yard will be in front and the EF will be tucked back away. Not sure if this is even an option with yours but worth the thought. Also, if you are using a stub end yard lead, I would make it as long as the longest yard track.

8

Thanks for all the comments suggestions.

Here’s a corrected image that more closely matches the actual current layout.

I didn’t have a chance to add the labels.

RTS still didn’t like some of the slight angles, and in reality the gentle curve works out very well.

The body tracks are quite paralel in their curvature, and it allowed me to use a #6 as the first ladder switch on the left side. * I thought I Planned for that!

I will definately have to look into that coal dump, as it is on the wrong side of the tower, and yes the track spacing is narrower than I’d like it.

I remeasued the lead capacity, and I can clear a Proto 0-6-0 and six 40 footers before the crossover from A/D gets fouled and eight cars will clear the points of the first ladder switch.

There is a passenger station directly below the main, positioned so that through trains can use the A/D as a passing track if it is clear and there is a train at the passenger station, and so the power can cut off and go to service if required.

Something else I didn’t show was that the facia slants in starting where the main straightens out coming out of the helix, so the benchwork goes back to 24" from the wall to clear a sofa.

I think I may change the freight house to a seperate spur, like I mistaken;y drew on the first plan.

My coach storage is for two coaches and a baggage, for the local, which is dispatched from this station and returns. The bagage, loaded, is then swapped into a through train.

Through pass trains will

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Here are some pics.

The first one is looking layout West from above the turntable pit. Here you can see the alignment and the clearances.

The second one is a bit blurry. It’s back farther and a different angle. In this, you can see the curve of the entire yard.

The third one is looking East from the switch lead. I couldn’t see behind the camera for this one, but it looks OK.

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I like the track layout. That will be a great yard and engine shop. Is the lead track long enough to service the latter? Might be it can follow the main track in the curve to gain some length.

How about the switch machines? Will some stay visible on top of the layout?

11

Thanks for the positive comments.

I have only “fiddled” with this yard, and haven’t had to do anything under time constraints or with multiple operators.

I feel better knowing I actually have 8 car capacity on the lead.

Typical trian lengh for locals should be 6-8 with occasional 9-10 (10 car passing sidings).

I envision inbound/outbound cuts to be 4-6 cars, but who knows [:)]

As stated, I can’t extent the yard lead without severly shortening the entire yard.

Those Atlas switch machines are currently there for positive allignment of the points. My plan is to either have ground throws or facia mounted controls, although I have a couple of pix of PRR interlockings in New Jersey that show a strikingly simmilar remote switch control “box”.

My plan for the interlocking leading from the helix/continuous run to the yard is to use Hump Yard “armstrong levers” to simulate the tower controls. This will allow the yardmaster/dispatcher to control acces into the yard and make sure there are controlled meets going into and out from staging. I also plan on installing signals. That will be “fun”.