Toy train operating and collecting

Anyone here build an operating hump yard?

I've never heard of one built in O scale hi-rail - which doesn't mean that it hasn't been done.

About 40 years ago, the late Ed Ravenscroft (past President of the National Model Railroad Organization) built one in HO, complete with pre-set track assignment switches and pneumatic retarders (compressed air jets blowing upgrade to slow cars coming downgrade.)  I got to see it in operation once - and was about equal parts impressed and appalled.  Maybe the gremlins were out that day, because the operation was anything but smooth.  After seeing the boxful of relays (pre-microprocessors) and hearing the paint compressor running, I decided to stick with flat switching.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

Boyd:

Anyone here build an operating hump yard?

Actuallly "building". Right now its all manual. Uncoupling will remain so (like the real thing). This is based on the modern era Frontier Yard located in Buffalo NY.   Here in addition to humping this track is also used just like a yard lead.  Therefore it was designed to handle even auto racks.

the basic recipe is foam, luan board under track and Atlas track. It was necessary to bend a 40 inch Atlas piece in vertical manner at ends to make the smooth grade at top.  Don't try this with tubular track

Sort of.  Old layout was in full basement and had plenty of room.  Had separate benchwork added to the side of the main layout.  I "dropped" the level of the back end of the benchwork so all tracks were down hill.  Had lighted bumpers at the end of each track section.  Circle at begining so train came in and turned, uncoupled and could leave or pickup new train.  Had switcher siding so it could come out and take train.  Uncouple track at beginning of yard.  Switches were thown to send each car on to the several yard tracks.  All gravity down hill.  Now no braking like real yard.  Did have enough down hill slope to close couplers.  No such room now with present layout. 

 Pardon my ignorance, but what is the purpose of a hump yard?

LocoPops:

 Pardon my ignorance, but what is the purpose of a hump yard?

 

Oh, I'm gonna be good.......

A hump yard is a way for a railway to separate out cars from a train.  A train is backed over a raised area: as each car goes over the raised area it is disconnected from the train and rolls down the "hump" into the yard, where it is routed to its proper waiting area.

 Thanks for the info,  Spank.   Those railroad guys are really clever.

Bill,

Very impressive and realistic operation and stock.

Thank You,

Ralph

 thanks Ralph,

 Modern era (1990's+) Hirail isn't real big in these parts

Bill,

Still, some train goodies left down in the South East of N.Y. here, but not as much as years ago.
Model railroading, like the real railroad, is going by the way side.
Even the R.O.Ws. are being built on.

I don't know if it's because of local ordinances, or just stupidity, but we had a few places of business which had old cabooses on their properties, resting on a piece of track and now they're gone.

Ralph