I have some spots where I would like to turn a train to run in opposite direction but to do that I need to travel some distance to make it happen. In the real world, how far would the RR's travel just to turn a train?
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
One example would be Mott Haven Yard on the New York Central. It was five-and-a-half miles to the north (railroad West) of Grand Central Terminal.
http://www.iridetheharlemline.com/2015/03/13/keeping-the-trains-clean-a-look-back-at-mott-haven-yard/
Sunnyside Yard on the PRR and Long Island was about four miles east from Penn Station in New York City. It had a baloon track for turning complete trains.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunnyside_Yard
More great photos and maps here:
http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/licity/licity.htm
There are other examples but those are the two that come to mind.
Good Luck, Ed
LIRR: From Patchogue, NY the wye at Speonk is 20 miles east, for example. http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/speonk/speonk.htm
As others have posted, you need a Y with a long tail, depending on your train length, or a balloon track.
On a freight trains, you just need a run-a-round siding.
Real railroads also had balloon tracks, usually around the yard and roundhouse.
Mike.
My You Tube
Also remember that about the ONLY trains railroads regularly turned were passenger trains. Freight trains, with a few odd exceptions (or unit trains), don't get "turned.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
There was a balloon track at Harmon, NY that was used almost exclusively by NYC Hudsons and Niagaras. Power would come off every eastbound (compass south) long distance passenger train and back into the engine yard on the west side of the tracks. The train would then be taken into GCT by a motor drawing its power from the third rail. After servicing, the steam power would back through the balloon track to head it back to the west (compass north, of course).
This balloon track had a bonus: It climbed a fairly steep grade, passed over the four track main and descended on the other side of the RoW. It thus accomplished both turning the power while avoiding having to cross four very active ttracks.
ChuckAllen, TX