rail yard

[Anonymous]

I have very little space left but want to add a switching yard, round house and engine house. I will not be able to have a main line run through this yard but will have to back trains in off of a nearby mainline. I am thinking of using three- way switches at either end of the yard thereby giving two storage tracks and a center track on which to build up a train. I will probably add some more storage tracks and the round house- engine storage facility off of the two outside tracks.

Is this prototypical of any rail yards or should I not even worry about it and go with my imagination.

Also who, besides peco, makes a three way switch????????

Any thoughts???

[Jetrock]

Three-way switches are only used if there is no other option space-wise, and one oddity about the Peco three-way switch is that it's only about half an inch longer than two short-radius switches. So you could just use one left-hand turnout, then one right-hand, and get the same sort of effect in about the same space.

[roadrat]

Is this going to be a double ended yard or stub ended, If your going to be backing trains in you might as well make it stub ended. use all the switchs on one end and give your self a few more classification tracks. I don't know if the real railroads ever do it this way but alot of model railroaders do.

Happy Thanksgiving

bill

[Anonymous]

I used a Peco threeway switch with an Atlas roundhouse with excellent results. I was space saver since it did not want to chew up space with a turntable.

Larry

[nbrodar]

Your situation is not unheard of, particularly in developed urban areas.

Nick

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice,

I will sometimes be pulling my trains into this yard. I figure if i leave enough room beyond the second three way switch i could use either side of this three rail yard as a run-a-round, correct?

[nbrodar]

That is correct.

Nick

[Anonymous]

dont know if this helps at all but http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nyc/nyc-rryyd-blr.jpg

that looks like a 3 way switch right at the beginning and the yard looks like it was built of 3 way switches.

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nyc/nyc-rryyd-alr.jpg

[Anonymous]

The yard where I work is almost exactly the same situation it sounds like you are in. We don't have any 3-way switches but, trains from one direction have to back in the yard while trains from the other pull in.

You'd be amazed at what is and is not prototypical.