Freight yard scale

[1train]

I am doing a basic layout using atlas track. If anybody out there has an idea for a freight yard regardles of the plan I would be interested. I am using the Union Pacific locomotive so I would like to keep it to the freight yards Union Pacific visit.
Thanks

[Anonymous]

You could try using terrasever.hoemadvisor.msn.com to get aerial photos of the yards you are interested in. Try the Bailey yard in North Platte, NE. However, I think you will find that, for almost any yard of any size, you probably won't have enough to model it.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

He is correct, unless you scale your yard back some. Ed (Cablebridge) and I have been working on a layout design that implemented a humpyard. We finally came up with a curved hump design to minimize space. With an 80 foot long layout, it still is not enough to actually model all of the yard, but we scaled it back enough to make it realistic.

Bailey Yard would be nearly impossible, unless you used the model for a club layout or a layout that would take up rooms of space. Bailey has 2 hump yards and 2 classification yards. Bailey also has monstrous auxiliary service yards. Bailey would take a warehouse to build correctly.

If you are really stuck on yard design, ask Ed (Cablebridge) and see if he can point you in the right direction. However, Ed is a busy guy with a family, so please be conscious to that.

Good Luck!

-Wolv33

[Anonymous]

I wasn't suggesting that Bailey be modelled, it was the only one I could think of off hand. You would need an arena sized layout to model it!

BTW, the aerial photo link should be: http://terrasever.homeadvisor.msn.com

[dknelson]

I suggest finding a copy of John Armstrong's book, Track Planning for Realistic Operation. He gives several ideas for yards with focus on the practical things you need, like a drill track as long as the longest yard track
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Dave has a good recommendation there. I bought the book and I must say it has a wealth of information for yards. Other sources you might want to try are search engines. If you type in HUMPYARD or HUMP YARD in the Google engine, you will get plenty of hits of information. I also purchased many books and videos on yards before I went head first into my track design.

Another good source for ideas are the railroads. Try the Union Pacific RR site-www.uprr.com and you will get plenty of info on Bailey Yard. It is quite helpful, even if you ARE NOT modeling Bailey. I got some good information using Google on Conrail's Selkirk yard.

Finally, try newsgroups and yahoo groups for information. There is one on just hump yards, and then there is mine on all types of yards. Mine is called YARDMASTER. I believe the other is called THE HUMPYARD. Not sure though.

-Wolv33