What I have here is my Northend loop (tunnel) with an inside passing track which accesses a small ladder/fiddle yard. Most of the industry at this end merchandise distribution, an icing platform, a possible scrap yard and a possible deisel fuel station. I have tried a few redesigns of the ladder yard that usually leads to more confusion and frustration. My mind has now become dark with ideas for this storage/fiddle area. If anyone can point out something obvious, or not so obvious, that would assist me in storage and operations, I am open to all ideas, big or small. Here is the first design..........then the second. Thanks in advance!!
Rich
Are or have you considered a scenic divider down the center. Though not part of a "track plan" it may give others some additional ideas.
Unless you have a specific industry or use for the area between the tracks just right of center, I think I would straighten that, using a straight turnout, but ending at about the same location. Have the next track parallel to it, might even be able to fit another track in, if it would help.
Just some thoughts.
Good luck,
Richard
Thanks for the input Richard and yes, I do have a RH turnout to replace that wye. Only issue with a divider is that there is tight access to the right because the house heater and water heater are located there, so no one would be viewing from that area anyways. I also uncovered a box full of old structures my dad built back in the 80's and 90's I think. Just when I think I have it figured out, I find something new and different, then it's back to the drawing board.
Hi Rich,
Here is my two cents...Left hand side of the yard why not follow the curve over to the right hand side with stub ends? You can break up the scene with some yard buildings or a loco/car service area - perhaps a scale berm or wooden fence with era billboards. hope that helps, keep us posted :-)
Regards
Angelo :-)
Freelancing MCRR/NYC Northern Division - Angelo
Angelo, I have considered continuing that curved spur over to the right side, but then connecting to the far right spur to create another inside loop. I ruled that out because I have such a hard time trying to couple up cars and locos on curves, makes me nuts. However, I do have a 2 stall engine house I could wiggle in on the right side, possibly fed by that curved spur.
If the purpose of the yard is--as you said--storage/fiddle, then the 1st yard is the most sensible: simple, straight spurs of maximum length.
Dante
Seems to me that the right side (in your photos) is too "busy". If there is restricted access on that side and it is not a viewing side, do you really need those sidings over there. Accessing the turnouts or making adjustments for coupling/uncoupling will likely entail reaching a long way over the layout from the left side and thus risking damage.
If those stub-end sidings on the right weren't there, or didn't extend so far back, then the scenery could build up toward that tunnel instead of just having the tunnel appear like a snowshed. Perhaps only one siding on that right side (the one with a "wye" into one track just to allow shoving back into what is below the photo margin) would allow crafting of a hill or forest that would actually accentuate what was going on from the viewing and operating side. Just a thought.
Bill
Hey Bill, thanks for the reply. I recently added all that busy stuff on the right side about 6 months ago and found out quickly those exact issues you described. I was running some ops today and I was thinking about removing the wye and the LH switch and just go with a single stub track. This would free up some real estate for some structures or possibly a slightly elevated livestock/farm business. It's amazing how blank my mind has gone for ideas in this area. I also have come to the conclusion that I just need to put away some of that excess rolling stock I am trying to jam everywhere. Again, all ideas welcome......
SS Express I also have come to the conclusion that I just need to put away some of that excess rolling stock I am trying to jam everywhere. Again, all ideas welcome...... Rich
I also have come to the conclusion that I just need to put away some of that excess rolling stock I am trying to jam everywhere. Again, all ideas welcome......
I understand, and it can be a tough order. Over time, most of us acquire far more rolling stock than can reasonably fit on a layout. Also, we tend to become attached to certain cars for their special lettering or our memory of where we found that model. Still, our model railroad needs to operate and looking at actual railroads can help. Operating railroads do not tend to have yards plugged with cars to the point that it becomes a serious puzzle to extract needed cars.
Look at the industries on your line and identify which types of cars service those businesses. Those will make up the vast majority of freight cars traveling on your railroad. A couple of those "special" cars may be passing through, but many can be put away and occasionally rotated onto the layout. Note: this process becomes even more difficult when you build a new layout that is smaller than the prior one - I used to have an ice house track and thus reason for those nice billboard refrigerator cars, but there is no space for that on the current layout so all of that artwork is carefully stored in their boxes.
More track, more turnouts, and more cars may not be the answer in forming a railroad that looks right to you.