Pls don't equate operation with planning. Perhaps ask yourself, what are you trying to accomplish with the layout? Also what industries you hoping to model? Answering these questions is critical.
You also might want to read the Kalmbach book about Freight Yards. That is a very valuable book to help establish some order in your yard, and help avoid the spaghetti layout shown above. I too am guilty of having too much track but having an overarching story avoids confused looks on visitors' faces.
It appears that you're trying to accomplish too much. I project the above will generate unwanted frustration and confusion.
Walt,
Some good advice there from folks who know their stuff.
Here's a few suggestions.
On the group of tracks 2-6, bend them up toward where it says "4A."
Combine the wye at 10 and 17 with 7. That should give you a longer tail track, probably a good thing.
Add in longer tracks going to the table end on the right between the relocated wye and Track 18. You should have space for that from curving tracks 2-6 upwards as mentioned earlier.
Is it possible to get some space for the engine terminal at the right, off the end of 4A? With your large wheelbase locos, squeezing them into the wye is really gonna limit things and if that was moved to some additional ground (if possible) on the right, things will work much better. Track off the tail of the wye could begin the lead into the loco service area, although you usually want two available (which could be off the right end of the passenger tracks and very handy if you can do it.)
Having the longer tracks added above 17/18 will also allow trains ready and set to go either direction on the main, sometimes a handy thing even if you're not really conducting operations.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Switch stand location on the ladders is going to be a bear. You said you were not much into operation, right? I guess that means you won't be switching out cuts or classifying cars. Even so, looks like too many short tracks with too much single purpose trackage. Much easier to critique yours than to do my own. Ha Ha
Charlie
I wonder if use of some 3-way turnouts would help with average storage track length.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
My frank reaction is -- too much stuff for not enough useful track. It is annoying having to move a bunch of stuff just to get one engine out, or to tie up the main line in order to make up a long train, such as your passenger train.
I see lots of tracks, but many are short and I suspect the actual fouling points would make them even shorter than they look. A turnout costs too much if all it gives you is just one car, or two cars, storage.
If your passenger cars are fixed consist trains which never change, that is where hidden staging on perhaps another level is really useful. As for the freight cars, I would explore perhaps some of the ideas you see at modular display layouts where the cars are taken off the layout. Having every single wheel on the layout at all times is going to cost you flexibility and fun, I suspect. So do what you can to get some of those wheels off the layout, and that calls for imaginative track planning.
Dave Nelson
OK guys, looking for some input and advice from yard-design experts. It will be a few months before I dive in to actually building the yard but want plenty of time to think it out before-hand.
I've got all the mainline sections built and operating (phases 1-3) and now concentrating on mine construction and scenery on phase 3. Next step is to add the yard. I can already tell I am going to be a collector, and will need a lot of room to park locos and trains. Right now I have:
I am not into operations and my railroad is a one-man show. But I want to make use of the available space to stage, store and create trains with minimal use of two-finger movements. I have read John Armstrong's book so I have a basic understanding, though I need to get it back from Dad next time we visit and read it over again.
The room is open on all sides of the yard area so access to all yard tracks will be good. I know the lead-ins are not ideal but working with available space. Also I will start with phase 4 and then expand to 4A when needed.
You guys that have "been there", what tracks are not likely to be very useful and therefore wasted space? What could I do to improve operation? What is missing?
Huntington Junction - Freelance based on the B&O and C&O in coal country before the merger... doing it my way. Now working on phase 3. - Walt
For photos and more: http://www.wkhobbies.com/model-railroad/