ndbprrI suspect that most shortline yards were built by the predecessor and not a capital outlay by the shortline after taking ownership.
Fun facts..
A lot of today's short line track is owned by a port authority and the short line operates the track by contract.These contracts can be renewed or can be rejected by either party and the bid for a new operator open.
Thought I would throw that tidbit in..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
cuyama Never mind. Just Larry being Larry.
Never mind.
Just Larry being Larry.
You started the dance not me.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Big Boy ForeverI have that book circa 1999 edition.
The page numbers changed with editions. In the Third Edition, have a look at the top yard in illustration 2-9 (page 26). This could be further simplified (depending on the situation on your layout) by eliminating the passenger siding and the caboose track (just park cabooses on the track that is labeled “runaround”). The double-ended tracks can be used for A/D and for classification. A longer switch lead than shown is handy if the main line will be very busy.
If you are still talking about an isolated desert shortline, though, even that may be much more than you need. Or you may need a different arrangement to take into account the interchange pattern. It’s not possible to say for sure without seeing a track plan -- one size does not fit all when it comes to model railroad (and prototype!) yards.
Here is a similar small yard based on the same principles.
As others have noted, as little as only a track or two might serve as a yard for smaller shortlines. In some cases, the shortline might use the interchange tracks as the “yard”, sorting cars for delivery to its own customers. And both Armstrong’s and the above design have more engine service than you may need for a one- or two-engine shortline.
The Ballard Terminal is one such shortline, with only a runaround at the Class 1 interchange and one other double-tracked industrial siding that could be used as a runaround.
The best way for you to get useful advice would be to post your track plan and describe what you want your layout to accomplish. Otherwise, you’ll hear a lot of generalities, some of which are even correct, that don’t really pertain to your needs.
Best of luck with your layout.
cuyama Big Boy Forever I remember reading something by John Armstrong the famous model RR designer. He said that most model railroaders don't have the space to model a complete short line RR, let alone a class one. BRAKIE John Armstrong was mistaken since many of us have had a main line yard and industries on a loop layout Brakie, your point has nothing to do with what the original poster said about Armstrong. Armstrong's basic premise is correct -- most modelers don't have room to model a full shortline, let alone a Class 1 -- so we have to pick vignettes and elements. Since dozens of Armstrong's track plans look exactly like you are describing, how could your example possibly prove Armstrong "wrong"?
Big Boy Forever I remember reading something by John Armstrong the famous model RR designer. He said that most model railroaders don't have the space to model a complete short line RR, let alone a class one.
BRAKIE John Armstrong was mistaken since many of us have had a main line yard and industries on a loop layout
Brakie, your point has nothing to do with what the original poster said about Armstrong. Armstrong's basic premise is correct -- most modelers don't have room to model a full shortline, let alone a Class 1 -- so we have to pick vignettes and elements. Since dozens of Armstrong's track plans look exactly like you are describing, how could your example possibly prove Armstrong "wrong"?
Actually it does..
John was wrong period.
Of course I realize your lack of small short line knowledge will be the real issue here--just like Johns.
cuyama Big Boy Forever Still, it would be nice to have some of the features of a yard, like classification, arrival departure, lead track, service tracks and whatever other aspects make up a yard. If you look closer at Armstong's Track Planning for Realistic Operation, you'll see how he combines those features into a relatively small amount of trackage in his example yards. Smaller railroads (real-life or model) don't necessarily have dedicated tracks for each of those functions.
Big Boy Forever Still, it would be nice to have some of the features of a yard, like classification, arrival departure, lead track, service tracks and whatever other aspects make up a yard.
If you look closer at Armstong's Track Planning for Realistic Operation, you'll see how he combines those features into a relatively small amount of trackage in his example yards. Smaller railroads (real-life or model) don't necessarily have dedicated tracks for each of those functions.
I have that book circa 1999 edition.
Can you tell me which plans you are refering to?
Big Boy ForeverStill, it would be nice to have some of the features of a yard, like classification, arrival departure, lead track, service tracks and whatever other aspects make up a yard.
Big Boy ForeverI remember reading something by John Armstrong the famous model RR designer. He said that most model railroaders don't have the space to model a complete short line RR, let alone a class one.
BRAKIEJohn Armstrong was mistaken since many of us have had a main line yard and industries on a loop layout
BRAKIE Big Boy Forever That's where I'm coming from, especially for a yard and some kind of a mainline operation with industries. Still, it would be nice to have some of the features of a yard, like classification, arrival departure, lead track, service tracks and whatever other aspects make up a yard. John Armstrong was mistaken since many of us have had a main line yard and industries on a loop layout..Many small club layout has the whole 9 yards as well. If you wait and wait and wait and wait some more for that "dream layout" that fills a basement it may never come to pass..I call it "Dream the impossible dream". So,use the space you have wisely even if it means you can't model the Rockies or the Appalachians.Model instead the items that will give you operations like a yard and industries. You can model a complete small point to point short line on a "U" shape around three walls layout complete with a mixed train daily....Or a branch line of a major railroad that features a mixed train daily.
Big Boy Forever That's where I'm coming from, especially for a yard and some kind of a mainline operation with industries. Still, it would be nice to have some of the features of a yard, like classification, arrival departure, lead track, service tracks and whatever other aspects make up a yard.
John Armstrong was mistaken since many of us have had a main line yard and industries on a loop layout..Many small club layout has the whole 9 yards as well.
If you wait and wait and wait and wait some more for that "dream layout" that fills a basement it may never come to pass..I call it "Dream the impossible dream".
So,use the space you have wisely even if it means you can't model the Rockies or the Appalachians.Model instead the items that will give you operations like a yard and industries.
You can model a complete small point to point short line on a "U" shape around three walls layout complete with a mixed train daily....Or a branch line of a major railroad that features a mixed train daily.
Good advice
I wasn't including Model RR clubs. One in my area has 5000 square feet of model railroad, so that's a different story.
Big Boy ForeverThat's where I'm coming from, especially for a yard and some kind of a mainline operation with industries. Still, it would be nice to have some of the features of a yard, like classification, arrival departure, lead track, service tracks and whatever other aspects make up a yard.
I remember reading something by John Armstrong the famous model RR designer. He said that most model railroaders don't have the space to model a complete short line RR, let alone a class one. That's where I'm coming from, especially for a yard and some kind of a mainline operation with industries. Still, it would be nice to have some of the features of a yard, like classification, arrival departure, lead track, service tracks and whatever other aspects make up a yard.
If I hit the Lotto, I won't be asking questions like this.
ndbprr A short line probably only needs one track to put the cars in order for delivery.
In my life long study of short lines I found short lines vary.
The tiniest may not even have a yard while a moderate sized short line may have one 7 or 8 track yard plus a engine service area complete with a two stall engine house-think Pikestuff's 2 stall engine house..
Short lines are very fascinating and no two seems alike even if operated by the same short line operator like GWI or R.J.Corman. .
Big Boy ForeverHowabout small yards for Shortlines? What would be still considered a yard, but only have a few tracks?
Yes,a "yard" can be one track on a short line.
One track?
Yuppers. I know of two short lines that uses a one track yard. One uses the old #2 main line as their yard track another uses a old passing track.Both short lines "engine house" is a active shipper's dock track lead.There's a electric box that contains a power cord for the locomotive's winter preheater.
The definition of a yard is an area with multiple tracks where cars are stored, sorted and loaded/unloaded without interfering with road operations. It is also a place where motive power is stored and serviced. A yard can be any size you want it to be.
Yards can be huge like Colton near me, where big Boy 4014 was for a few months, 5 miles long, big hump and many tracks. You got service tracks and facilities for locomotives and damaged cars, arrival tracks, departure tracks, baloon tracks, wyes, and in the past, caboose tracks, now obsolete, and other tracks on and on.
So here is a question for the train company operation scholars here:
Howabout small yards for Shortlines? What would be still considered a yard, but only have a few tracks?