Adding a Switch Yard to Layout Question

[HAZMAT9]

Just finishing up my benchwork have a few dilemas, hope someone can help. I finsished my benchwork for the Granite Gorge and Northern out of the track book "Seven Step-by-Step HO Railroads" Item #13, HO Layout-28 by Atlas. The dimensions are 5' by 9'. In the same book, I was planning on adding HO Layout-26 which is the Southside Connecting which is a about 15.5" by 10' in length. I had planned on adding this to the front of the layout Granite Gorge as an add on and adding an extra main line for wider curves, which then would give me a total width of 6' 3.5". When looking at the plan, you essentially have the Granite Gorge railroad going from one town to the next across the layout's length while the Southside Connecting yard goes the entire length as well. Would this look out of place having a switch yard the same length as the length of the Granite Gorge? Just wondering if this would look out of scale. If so, I do have an extra 3' in length that I can attach to the Granite Gorge for a switch yard....the yard would be about 3' in length by 5' in width giving the entire layout a dimension of 5' by 12'. Any ideas either way, boy I'm stuck!! Thanks, Steve [?]

[ukguy]

hi steve,

well I am certainly no expert but my solution to your dilema is an easy one, if you have the space, use it. If you have the extra 3' for the yard then put it there, I know I would jump at the extra space..
In my opinion, (which you can take or leave) if you are having doubts about its proportion now before it is even built then it would be better to go the other route from the start (if as you say it is possible).
I have barrelled along on several projects already trying to pu***hat nagging doubt away as I went, hoping it would turn out OK, but that doubt is usually well placed and right and I have always ended up going back and fixing it later (which is much harder than fixing it before hand).
Just my 2c hope it helps some in your resolution.
Have fun.
Karl.

[HAZMAT9]

Thanks Karl for the info, what a task. I think that I'll add a few inches to the overall width for an extra mainline and go ahead w/ the switch yard added to the length. Anyone have any ideas on a switch yard for a 3' by 5' area? Many Thanks...Steve

[Anonymous]

Steve, I don't know how much space you have, but have you considered running your switchyard perpendicular to the main layout, instead of parallel to it? That would mean having a 5'x9' layout with a 10' "L" section on it. If you have the room to do this, it may be a viable alternative.
-Joe

[northern_blues]

Is it possible to pose any pics, Steve, so we can eyeball what your wanting to do?

-Dave

[HAZMAT9]

I've got my images uploaded to one of my sites although I can't figure out where to paste the images in regards to the commands...anyone got an example? Thanks Steve

[ukguy]

Check out this forum link hazmat9, it gives complete instructions how to post a pic within the message.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=20382

Be safe
Karl

[HAZMAT9]

Many thanks, I'll give it a try. Steve