yards

[jrbernier]

My layout has a 4 track yard(double ended) that represents a small division point. I also have a 4 track 'staging' yard(double ended) and a 2 track staging yard off of a jct(stub ended). The 'on-stage' yard is big enough so that 4 locals operate out of it with no problem. One of the basic problems model railroads have is that we tend to use our 'classification yards' as 'storage yards' and plug them up!

Jim Bernier

[n2mopac]

I recently posted the trackplan for my new layout presently under construction which focuses on yard and interchange operations. Several people commented that they thought it was too heavy on yards, although all that looks like a yard here is not--some are operating trackage for single industries and the largest is a hidden double ended staging yard. Anyway, here's the link for anyone interested in taking a peek.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=59312

Ron

[jecorbett]

My main yard is a 12 track ladder that consumes about half of a 46 foot long wall. I have a smaller interchange yard at the other end of the layout. In addition, I have two looped staging yards at opposite ends of the main.

Unless it is a switching layout, can't imagine not having at least a staging yard. Otherwise, where will your trains terminate their runs.

[Pruitt]

My four staging yards are simple double-ended yards of three to five tracks each. They won't have yard leads - they're just for train storage. The two interchange yards two and three tracks, also don't need leads - they're "out in the weeds" where trains will pick up and drop off cuts of cards without any classifying of them.

My main classification yard will have seven body tracks, two reefer icing tracks, caboose and MOW tracks, a long switching lead, and a medium sized engine terminal.

[aloco]

I have no yard on my layout but I run a lot of switchers.

[Walter Clot]

My layout began with 5 modules that I made for part of my former club. When I retired and moved away, I added one more straight, 4 curves and a 4 x 4 circle off to the side. I'm reworking that area and when that and one other change is finished I want to add a 2 X 12 yard. I don't want all my rolling stock sitting in boxes. I want it out on the main, sidings or in the yard. I want to be able to see it! Appy Sou

[Anonymous]

IM in the middle of designing my layout and I would like to see some pictures of yards to get some Ideas of what to do...

my last layout didnt have a yard....it was way to small 4x8 and in HO my next setup is N and its alot bigger.

[tomikawaTT]

Industrial service yard at a major industry (colliery,) major division point (engine change, originates and terminates locals, interchange with the line that serves that colliery,) and three staging facilities that act remarkably like yards (If it waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck...) You could say, with considerable accuracy, that my layout is a bunch of yards and their connecting trackage.

[GAPPLEG]

3 track double ended yard to interchange from the Southern Pacific and my private Texas Mining and Industrial rr. You needed "other" for Spacemouse.[:D]

[Anonymous]

You CAN'T NOT have a yard. sure my layout is primarily continous run but what do I do with the cars that aren't moving- they're in the yard. I'm rebuilding my layout and my new yard is going to be 9 tracks (hopefully). It is based on a prototype yard, which is 9 tracks.

[TROOPERSMOKEY]

help!!
I have a free-lanced 20x16 in HO scale. it's double track with a reverse loop around a small town. each end of the layouts are 8.5x5 and 5x9.5. both are connected 2x13 on west wall and 2x16 on north wall and a 3x7 to complete the connection. i have 8 industries that will be serviced but no place to make up or break up trains. the second 5x9.5 has the new river mining co., and a concrete facility. minimum radius is 24in. with 22 at the reverse loop. i've attempted to seperate the double main line from passing along itself on the 2x13 by placing a passing siding on the west side of the inner track and a passing siding on the east side of the outer track which still allows for viewing trains passing as the main lines are next to each other on the front edge of the table. the double main line to the rear passes 4 industries. i enjoy switching but i also want to be able to take the trains at the end of the day. i can scan a drawing of my layout if anyone can seriously provide some guidance.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Oklahoma Train Nut

Maureen, are you modeling a fictional railroad in middle-earth? man that would be cool !

Yup. 3 of them actually, in N guage. The Old Forest Ry (Biritsh equipment) connects the Ered Line (German) with the GHL&G (American). The yards are at the two interchange points.

--Mo

[Nieuweboer]

My yard is (are) drawers in a file cabinet and a single long track which I call an interchange track. I make up a train by taking cars out of the file cabinet drawers,
putting them on the interchange track and alloting motive power to the train.
I'd love to have a real yard but would have to sacrifice valuable layout space to create a yard and since I love operation and switching industry-spurs I'd rather use the available space for this than for a yard.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Noah Hofrichter

The layout I have wasn't designed two years ago when I didn't know much for operation, It was design for continuous running. Now that I run some operations on it I wish I had a yard

All's not hopeless. You can add a drop leaf (hinged to drop down) yard to the long edge of the layout or use a module/dominoe, either permanent or removeable. Were there's a will...

[cwclark]

I wouldn't have a layout without a yard...that's half the fun of the hobby is switching the rolling stock around. I like to have index cards with "orders" on them...When a train comes into the yard I shuffle the cards and then bring out a road switcher and randomly pick out about 25 cards which have rolling stock numbers on them and it's destination..Then I make a train from the card indications and send it out to the various destination locations...Another train goes out...picks up the cars and then back to the yard again for reclassification...My new layout design will incorperate a "Wye" in it so that I can turn a train around before the yard lead tracks..since I model modern day railroads, this gives me the opportunity to do away with the roundhouse which is slowly fading away from the railroads and put in a diesel service area instead....chuck

[Anonymous]

I have one yard and plans to make a two track stub end staging yard to hold 20 cars on each track. Big enough to run my biggest train oout of view. I have one 5 yard track ith a two track car repair track , a branch line at each end and a 3 siding engine terminal. Fo or me having a yard is essential as cars need to be dropped off and classified to go to to the two main industry sidding plus the industrys along the mainline. Another good point about yards is when cars are not being used they are still on display on your layouts so visitors can still enjoy your fleet.

[AntonioFP45]

For good ops, even on a small layout a yard is needed.

Mine will consist of a branch coming off of the two track mainline with 3 to 4 "ladder tracks" long enough to hold 7 to 9 freight cars since I will be a little cramped for space. For me the yard will be essential as this is where I will make up or break up long distance and local freight trains. The mainline will be a continuous loop so the yard will be a final destination.

[n2mopac]

When complete my layout will have 6 yards represented. These range from a 2 track representation of an interchange yard to an online flat classification yard with 7 class tracks and an involved industrual district surrunding it. These also include a 6 track staging yard, double ended for continuous running.
Ron

[Anonymous]

I kind of wish I had a yard, but there is no room on my layout for a worthwile sized yard.

[Anonymous]

Maureen, are you modeling a fictional railroad in middle-earth? man that would be cool !

[Anonymous]

Just two very small ones. Each with just two yard tracks, one also has a small caboose track and RIP track. Roll dice for each car going into the Bree yard to see if it needs to move to the RIP track.

This is plenty of capacity for us, we didn't want huge yards, just enough to facilitate interchange between the three railroads on the layout.

--Mo

[randybc2003]

Very small yard for very small trains. 4-4-0 Am. Std. woodburners w/ 1-5 cars. One interchange track, main line, siding w/ "freight loading" spurs. Switching lead on the sidign, and loco service w/ wood yard, water, and station. Don't tell me I don't have a yard!
randybc2003

[dragenrider]

I'm not much on switching a yard. My old layout had a three track yard and it got pretty boring in a hurry. [|(] Now I just have a small industrial area with a few short side tracks that serve that need. It's enough to provide an interlude from highballing through my make believe world! [:)]

Any major switching is accomplished by one of my two 0-5-0 switchers. [:P]

[vsmith]

Two very small yards, one at each end of layout.

[GerFust]

All staging in mine happens in a separate cassette, due to space constraints.

-Jer

[ClinchValleySD40]

I've got four. I guess it depends on what you're going to run. If you just want to watch trains run, no yard needed. But if you're going to do any kind of ops, I'd think you'd need some kind of yard.

[trainfan1221]

I have a staging yard, and in the middle of my layout I have a larger freight yard. Although my layout is only 6x3 and a continuous loop, I feel the yards add a lot. They are fun to use and add operational interest when you switch them. As long as they are done well so things don`t derail.

[BRAKIE]

For me a layout without a working yard would be like walking in the snow with bare feet.

[ShaunCN]

I have very small yards at both ends of my layout.