General Discussion (Model Railroader)

im building an n scale layout that is 30 x 96.  i dont have enough room for a turntable in my frieght yard.  what other ways are there to turn a train around?

thanks

A Wye Track, a Balloon(also known as a reverse loop) Track or the 0-5-0, also known as the Big Hand of God method. Be aware that anything that will change the direction of the train(except the turntable, that you don't have room for) will also cause a short circuit, if using DCC, you can use a reverse loop circuit module. In DC a simple DPDT(Double Pole Double Throw) toggle switch will work, but the reversing section has to be an isolated block, with the DPDT switch controling it's polarity, and must be switched while the train is(any powered units) completely in the isolated reversing section. a reverse loop in DC sounds more confusing at first than it really is, and after a while you become used to using it.

Doug

The only choices are a truntable or a wye track - both will take up space - or picking the loco up and turning it around.  Why not just run the locos forwards and backwards in the same orientation?  I see this happening all the time in freight yards.  You would then perhaps want to have a parallel passing track for the loco to run around the rolling stock.  This also happens all the time on passenger trains when they reach their terminus.

Alan

i think ill just leave them running in the same orentation.  i think thats my best bet.  thanks for all the help

sal

spassalaqua:

i think ill just leave them running in the same orentation.  i think thats my best bet.  thanks for all the help

sal

  If you are running diesels, run two or more together with the end units facing opposite directions, then to "Turn" your locomotives you only need a run around track to get past the train that it came in with.

Doug

hardcoalcase:

Another option is the use of a cassette, which is a section of track mounted on a block where a loco or an entire train can enter the cassette and be manually turned or stored off-layout for staging.

In a fiddle yard, a British expression for a staging yard where the operator actually moves the engines and cars around without using a switcher locomotive or otherwise pretending to be what you'd see on the prototype, an engine runs off the end of a track onto a cassette or piece of track mounted on a board, and simply turned around.  Some fiddle yards feature a shiny 'white board" surface and the board has felt mounted on the bottom, like a black board eraser, so it skates around with ease.  This also means the engine can be both turned and placed on a differen track.  Electrical contacts power the cassette or board when it is mated to the tracks. 

Dave Nelson 

A turntable only needs to take up as much space as the turntable itself.  One track leading to it, engine on, turn it, engine off going the other direction.  Doesn't have to have a roundhouse or other tracks.  Actually it would take much less space than either a wye or reverse loop.  You do need a passing siding of some sort to get the engine back to the other end of the train.

Have fun,

challenger3980:

n DC a simple DPDT(Double Pole Double Throw) toggle switch will work, but the reversing section has to be an isolated block, with the DPDT switch controling it's polarity, and must be switched while the train is(any powered units) completely in the isolated reversing section.

That won't work as stated.  The reverse loop is certainly isolated, but you need to add two DPDT switches.  One for the mainline, and one for the reverse loop.  The reversing switch on the power pack is NOT used.  The reverse loop track polarity is aligned with the mainline using the reverse loop DPDT switch.  Once the train has entered the loop, the mainline DPDT is thrown.  Then the train can exit the reverse loop with the track polarity properly aligned.

Once you get used to it, it's an easy procedure.

 The OP should be aware, however, that reverse loops and wyes are land-hogs.  His best bet, I would think, would be the "fiddle yard" suggested above.

gmcrail:

The reverse loop is certainly isolated, but you need to add two DPDT switches.  One for the mainline, and one for the reverse loop.  The reversing switch on the power pack is NOT used.  The reverse loop track polarity is aligned with the mainline using the reverse loop DPDT switch.  Once the train has entered the loop, the mainline DPDT is thrown.  Then the train can exit the reverse loop with the track polarity properly aligned.

That method will work if there is only one block controlling the non-reverse-loop remainder of the railroad and if only one train/locomotive is operated at a time.  On the typical DC layout with multiple trains and multiple blocks, the reversing section needs a polarity-reversing switch (DPDT switch works well) and the direction switch on the tran's throttle needs to be reversed too.  One doesn't reverse the remainder of the layout if one expects to operate multiple trains at the same time.

Mark

 With DCC, you get an auto reverse circuit, put in a reversing section (isolating enough track to accommodated your longest locomotive lash up and then some) then you wire it up and forget about it.  It works on a reversing loop, or a wye track. 

Here's a look at my wye junction which can serve the purpose you speak of...

The whole area (n scale) occupies about 4 square feet...

Lee

With the dimensions you've listed, I assume that you're going for a loop.

So, add a few staging tracks (use the fiddle yard method) behind a hill or backdrop for through traffic. Occasionally, the through trains can set out cars for a local at the yard. The local's locomotive has no real need to be oriented if it is a small turn, so send it out with the train and have it run backwards into the yard on the return trip.

The Narrow Gauge Man

In passenger operations, a turntable was sometimes used to turn a diner, observation, or any car  that needed to be facing a particular way. 

While a turntable uses the smallest amount of real estate (compared to a wye or a loop), it imposes limits on the length of cars or locos than can be turned.  Turntables tended to be too short for newer generations of equipment, which can create interesting operating problems.

markpierce:

gmcrail:

The reverse loop is certainly isolated, but you need to add two DPDT switches.  One for the mainline, and one for the reverse loop.  The reversing switch on the power pack is NOT used.  The reverse loop track polarity is aligned with the mainline using the reverse loop DPDT switch.  Once the train has entered the loop, the mainline DPDT is thrown.  Then the train can exit the reverse loop with the track polarity properly aligned.

That method will work if there is only one block controlling the non-reverse-loop remainder of the railroad and if only one train/locomotive is operated at a time.  On the typical DC layout with multiple trains and multiple blocks, the reversing section needs a polarity-reversing switch (DPDT switch works well) and the direction switch on the tran's throttle needs to be reversed too.  One doesn't reverse the remainder of the layout if one expects to operate multiple trains at the same time.

Mark

I'm sorry Mark - I may not have been clear on that.  I was thinking of a situation where you were running off a power pack.  If you are running multiple trains at one time, there would be one DPDT control switch on the panel for the reversing loop/block, and a DPDT in each cab for normal train direction. The biggest factor is that the reversing section cannot be powered through the DPDT switch for the non-reversing block(s) in each cab.  Directional switching within the reversing sec/block/loop must be handled by the independent  DPDT for the reverse loop/block/section.  If each cab is using a normal power pack, you must add another DPDT switch for reversing train travel direction in the non-reverse part of the layout, and NOT use the built-in direction switch on the power pack.   

And obviously only the approach (or exit) block to the reverse "area" (easier than typing "loop/block/section" every time ) need be reversed (or polarity-pmatched) while the train is in the reverse area. 

It's a lot more complicated to describe than to do, believe me.  If I can find it, I'll be happy to post a circuit diagram...

 If all you need to do is send a freight train back the way it came, you only need a run-around track in the freight yard.  The train comes in and pulls onto the arrival track, the loco cuts off and pulls ahead, backs around the train on a siding with turnouts at both ends, rejoins the arrival track at the other end (the arrival track is now the departure track) and re-couples to the train. It is facing the other way, but we assume it can run in reverse as easily as forward.  If you are in the modern era, no need to move a caboose;  if you use a caboose, a few extra moves and the caboose can be on the other end, too.