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Hi Lynn. My layout will be an engine terminal and yard which will be a division point between two divisions. [quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by wickman My Questions are these 1. should or is the service facility for the steam engines normally connected to the yard?[/quote] On the prototype, generally engine terminals are near the yard but seperate. [img] http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-2/1148725/engine.jpeg[/img] [quote]QUOTE: 2. If its not connected is it normal to be far away in its own area ?[/quote] There's a prototype for everything, so there is no hard rule saying that they have to be in the same location. If the railroad had the hard luck of having to locate a terminal in a inconvenient spot, the topography would dictate how a terminal is laid out. [quote]QUOTE: 3. how many rails are needed for a/d tracks can it be achieved with one track ?[/quote] Yes, if you only have space for one a/d track, you can make it work. It would be, however, a bottleneck and you will need a passing track somewhere down the line to hold arriving trains to allow the departing train to pass. [quote]QUOTE: 4 Does the engine thats pulling the train into the a/d track just drop the train to the a/d track and leave it there and go get serviced?[/quote] Not if it needs only fuel and water and it's through train, fuel and water should be avalible on the main or siding (but also available on service tracks) If the locomotive needs more than fuel and water, then yes it's cut off. If it's a through train and cars do not get switched but the locomotive is due for inspection and service, a freshly turned (serviced) locomotive should be waiting and quickly connected. Don't forget the brake test before departure. [quote]QUOTE: 5.( if shortage of room ) for the sorting yard is it normal practice in model railroading to have 4 short tracks rather than 2 long tracks then join the train up when ready to depart? [/quote] Unless you have unlimited space (and who does) it's normal practice to "compress" selected elements of a track arraingement. [quote]QUOTE: 6.For the yard lead should that track also be connected to the main line or to a siding because I would think once the cars are sorted for delivery I would think the switcher leaves the track and the main line engine would come in pick up the load then pick up the caboose and go make the drop offs.[/quote] It's best to have a tail track for switching moves to free up the main. As I said, there's a prototype for everything and a small yard on a railroad with light traffic could use the main, however there would be a yard limit point where trains would have to stop and receive permission to proceed. [quote]QUOTE: 7 If I have industries all over the layout which need cars dropped off and picked up would I plan to have the train which is dropping off cars to pick up the empties I mean would'nt the train become too long here and there?[/quote] If the train is not an express and would become too long for longest passing siding before the next yard, then a local train would handle the switching. [quote]QUOTE: 8 Is it a common procedure to have a yard and turntable way over on the other side of a layout far from the main industries or is more normal to try to fit the yard in close to the industries?[/quote] It all depends how much space you have. It would be more interesting and better for operations if the industries were away from the yard. [quote]QUOTE: I hope these questions aren't to dumb[/quote] And I hope my answers are correct. If not, flame on boys!
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