ladders

[Anonymous]

I need some info how to build a ladder for a switch yard. Something like 5 or 6 tracks is what I need. Thanks,
Larry

[Anonymous]

What kind of info are you looking for? Size of the turnouts to use? Spacing?

A simple ladder just has a series of turnouts of the same size, where the point end of the next one in the ladder is attached to the frog end of the previous one so that the curved route on the turnout leads to the yard track. The first turnout in the group (on the mainline) has the curved route leading to the ladder. After the last turnout, you need a curved section of track to lead to the last ladder track. Assuming your ladder is 'above' the main, the turnout off the main would be a left-hand route; all the rest in the ladder would be right -hand. Reverse that at the other end if it's not a stub-end yard.

Beyond that, there's complex ladders that are easier to understand if you can see it rather than having someone explain it. And there's other tracks you can add off the ladder, for engine servicing, etc, etc. One of the Atlas track plan books has a couple of pages in the back of the book that shows how to construct various crossovers, parallel sidings, curves and ladders using the Atlas turnouts.

And then there's the track planning bible, John Armstrong's "Track Planning for Realistic Operations" that has everything you need to know about designing track plans for mainlines, yards, passenger terminals, etc, etc. It's available from this website, just about every LHS and online model rr vendor, and should have an honored place in your model rr library. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Thanks joe, I wasn't sure if it was built from turnouts or it was a special kind of track section. Thanks.

[cwclark]

Something else you may want to consider installing on a yard "ladder"..if you put a series of diodes in the switch machine controls, each turnout you switch can line all the turnouts up to that particular turnout with the click of one switch...(it's an automatic ladder turnout alignment control system)... this helps prevent running against a misaligned turnout so you won't derail during heavy yard switching movements...there are two publications that explain how to wire the diodes..."Easy Model Railroad Wiring" by Andy S. and "How to Wire your Model Railroad" by Lynn Westcott....Chuck

[trollw]

There is a very good article on yards, ladder arrangements, etc., in the December issue of Model Railroader magazine.

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot gents. I just got the magazine and saw the article on yards and running a session. Very helpful,Thanks again..