An upcoming move means that I have to dismantle the old Lehigh Junction & Greenville RR (LJ&GRR) of the past two decades and reimagine it for the new location (going from 24 x 24 to about a 14 x 22 space).
On the current RR, the double track PRR mainline is behind and above (~3-4") the main yard. Looking at the trackplan database, there are examples of plans with the main line(s) both in front of and behind the yard. For an operating layout, I would imaging having the main behind the yard facilitates switching (including any 5-fingers switching that is required) while keeping the mainline trains running "in the background" but possibly having the main in front is better from a railfan (and mainline operator's) perspective.
I would be interested in hearing if there are any opinions or consensus on this issue ...
Mike
My mainline is in front of my yard. It does make switching a bit more of a challenge as you have to reach over more tracks to get to the cars. I don't worry about the frequency of trains moving on the mainline - there aren't that many, but the distance from the front of the benchwork to some sidings is longer.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Hmmm... I never really considered it.
On SGRR layout #1, the yard was in the center of an N scale oval.
SGRR #2, the "dream house" layout, also N scale, had the yard in front of the mainline trackage.
SGRR 3 & 4 did not have yards.
The "yard" on SGRR #5, HO scale "spare bedroom" layout was only two tracks, and was in between the East and West mainlines.
The yard on my final layout will be behind the double tracked HO scale mainline.
Everything always seemed to work OK.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good luck with your move, and trying to fit what once was, into what will be.
I like the main in front.
Mike.
My You Tube
I have had it both ways, although my third layout with the main running closest to me and the yard behind never was completed. It helped that that particular layout was also only 29" high. Yes, twenty-nine inches. As you get higher, your elbows and belly begin to become obstacles all their own. Then you have what's running right in front of them to contend with. When the yard is foremost, you can be a bit more careless and not knock your Niagara and three heavyweights over....or.......down.
I'm currently back to the folded loop design, central operating pit, trains run on double mains around me, and the yard and roundhouse are right there in front of me. I think I prefer that arrangement.
My main is in front of the yard. The total width of the layout is 2', so the yard is very reachable. I also put it at the end of layout.
Thanks for the replies all! One consideration is that I need to fit an 18" Bowser turntable and South River 6-stall roundhouse at one end of the yard - whether it will fit best inside the mainline curve in the corner of the room (mainline in back) or use the corner for the turntable (main in front) which seems like it might be the more efficient use of space (since the corner behind the mainline curve - 28"/30" radius - would otherwise be wasted). I was mainly wondering if people have had significant operating issues with the main in front of the yard. The yard will be on the long (22') wall on the lower level (40" height), on a relatively narrow 24" shelf, so reach shouldn't be an issue.
Looking forward to "downsizing" the layout - the current 600 sq. ft. was a bit much to maintain and there were some foibles and annoying whatnots mainly linked to hidden trackage, of which there will be little if any on the new layout. Much (switches, structures, trees, rockwork) can be reused so I hope that progress on the new layout will be relatively quick (still need to make the move and make some changes to the basement).
All five of my "yards" are staging yards, with the main line running between them. The yards are considered to be "elsewhere", so have no ballast, structures or any other amenities that a real yard might have. I could, if it were of any interest for me, "switch" them as yards, but their purpose is to originate or terminate trains, with rolling stock manually added/removed from those tracks. The mainline is where the trains run, and, as they pass through each town (or run within any one town) they do switching of the industries located there, then move on to the next location. Neither the main nor the yards affect the other, as I am the sole operator.
Wayne
Main behind yard for me. At 53" height it would be difficult to work the yard without arms interferring with runthrough traffic if the main were in front.
Alan
Freelancing the LK&O Railroad
I've put my main behind the yard (and also where the engine facilities and turntable will be) for reach purposes, to keep the turntable and roundhouse front and center, and also for more interest by breaking up the vire of the mainline train behing the roundhouse, coal tower, etc. Thtorugh trains pass behind these structures as well as cars sitting in the yard and it makes a bit of a view break.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Same thing happens when you pull the curve as far out as possible, it has to get sharper to keep the track closest to the benchwork edges.
My small 3 track yard is behind the mainline. I wanted to have a few industries served by the tracks, which would have been difficult if the mainline was in the back. I try not to have buildings in the foreground to preserve them from the big "elbow crusher"!
Simon