Interchanges

[CSXFan]

I would like to model a small interchange between 2 class 1 railroads. The lines are parallel to each other and on the same grade. Is a pair of crossovers enough or do I need something else. In other words, what would the prototype do? Pics would be very helpful.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Check out the Manville Yard interchange in Manville, NJ. It's a small yard on the CSX Trenton Line that interchanges with the NS Lehigh Line.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what the RR do at the location.
If they run RR to RR you only need suitable coonections.
If they hand of f whole trains you can go for the same... but at least one main (possibly two... three... even all four... may be tied up while the hand-off takes place.
So we move on to providing roads to make a straight (whole train) hand off on.
This can be a 5th track between the two double mains (OOPS... just realised that I've assumed double mains... same applies for single x2 or ixsingle and 1xdouble)
That extra track can link to the mains at both ends on both sides... both mains at one end... a main at each end... both mains at one end and one or the other at the other end.
(Hope you followed that ... must learn to post sketches... email me how someone PLEASE!)
Okay... you can also put yard tracks between the two mains (something like your pic) and you have all the same connections choices.

Then...
You can put the 5th siding outside the mains on one side instead of in between... you will obviously have to get across one main to connect to the other... adds interest.

Then you may only want to hand off cars not whole trains. This will need trains to meet to make the interchange unless you provide a siding or spur to hold the cars in.
BUT... handing cars off into a siding ties up the main again... so you might make somewhere to put the train into while it cuts out the cars.
The thing with this option is that only one of the 2 RR might provide the facility... there are then options for who does the switching. Most times there will be a clear distinction between seperately owned yards/sidings and jointly owned facilities.

If you're still with me...
Something you might like to do is work out what traffic is moving from where to where... this will tell you how much facility you want to make and begin to determine your layout.

If you have unit coal trains they are likely to run from (for example) NW on one road to SE on the other road with run-through power. This needs a straight junction to keep the heavy train rolling. this might be a brand new junction put in for the traffic. this may be in addition to a prior arrangement... it might partly disrupt or even wipe out a chunk of the prior arrangement.

Then again a few cars might come from S on one RR and go back S on the other.

There are lots of other combinations.

You also have a possiblility of a move swapping locos as it changes RR and/or direction.

OR... you can have the mains cross each other at grade... then you start to get connections like with a double slip (puzzle switch)... Again these can be straight connections to run through as back at the top or you can fit a single siding or a yard into the pattern.

hope this makes some sense and helps.

Then again...
You could reckon that your interchange is a mile or so from a big yard on one road and mid-route between yards on the other road. this way you can have it serviced by a switcher from the yard for small numbers of cars and, maybe the odd run through of a whole (unit?) train.

[West Coast S]

I'm thinking along the same lines of a parallel interchange, it looks good on paper and accomplishes my goals, I have no active yards per say, just staging, with the three track yard lead comprising the parallel connection, this will require a 15 and 17 dgree crossing to recross the main and a second staging lead that sneaks off from view. With a run through siding it can also be used for switching moves such as dropping off and picking up, all told I have three sources for interchange, one devoted to a empties in, lumber loads out, the third to cycle surplus reefers and replicate a connection with a larger carrier and the major one for secondary staging yard duty.

Dave

The variety and amount of operating oppertunities should prove informative

[CSXFan]

Thanks for the help

One of the lines is a double main and the other is a single. I ended up placing a spur off the single track near the double main and putting a couple of crossovers on the ends.

[nbrodar]

The simpliest way is to add a siding between the two parallel lines. The crews would drop cars on one end of the siding, and pick cars off the other.

Nick

[pcarrell]

This was drawn for another purpose, so ignore the turntable. The rest of this track arrangement would be quite typical though.

click to enlarge

[johncolley]

I am accepting all sources of info re: track layout, structures, and typical daily operations for the in-line interchange GN-WP at Beiber, CA circa '47-'50, for the ongoing purpose of building a Free-mo module set, starting with the north end and depot, I intend to proceed south through the yard and may later include the S turn and Pit River Bridge.

[ndbprr]

Over in Indiana is an interchange between the South Shore and CSX and is about the simplest I have seen. The South Shore crosses CSX on a bridge and then drops down grade around a curve to a station. About 100 yards west of the station a turnout parallels the main disappearing east around the curve under the bridge parallel to CSX. It joins CSX about 1/4 mile down the track. I often see forty or fifty caol hoppers parked there waiting for interchange. Couldn't be any simpler.

[markpierce]

This year Kalmbach published a paperback book titled "Junctions" which includes a chapter on interchange. Page 77 contains a track arrangement the same as drawn above where there are two parallel railroads..