Yard Design

[trestrainfan]

Do you like deciduous or evergreen trees?

Just kidding. ;)

New in the hobby and trying to learn. I've read a few comments concerning yards when someone shows their layout on the forum. That has starting me thinking about planning layouts and designing yards.

Are there any good books or back issue magazines that discuss yard design and layout? I'm interested in the theory, as to why a good yard is laid out in a certain way, as well as the more technical details such as how far adjacent tracks should be spaced apart, etc. I imagine yard design varies somewhat depending on the objective, so any comments on different types of yards would be great.

Any comments from those with real life train knowledge or toy train expertise as to their experience on what works well and what to avoid is much appreciated.

[chuck]

Unless you get specialty switch tracks like Ross 4 way or double slip units, yards eat up a lot of real estate.  If you do have these, they tend to eat up your wallet/budget .

Is the yard going to be used for show, or actual "work", or just a place to store cars/trains.  Prototype yards are large often with double ended "ladder" tracks.  There are receiving yards, classification yards, and departure/transfer yards.

http://www.gatewaynmra.org/frt-yard.htm

 

[lionelsoni]

My impression of prototype yard design is that it is desirable to route the main lines outside and around the yard, so that yard activities don't interfere with through traffic.  A double-track main line can be split, with one track on each side of the yard.  A proper yard should have classification tracks, which can be single ended, and some double-ended tracks for arrivals and departures, as well as specialized tracks for storing locomotives, cabooses, bad-order cars, etc.  I have 5 short storage tracks near the yard lead; and half of my 8 main-yard tracks are double-ended, with 2 of them connecting to each of the main lines, which run on either side of the entire area.

The yard throat is unusually compact. The yard is along one side of the room and the yard lead is across the adjoining side; so the throat fits into the corner between them, and a train entering the yard changes direction by 90 degrees. The throat uses only 28 inches in O27 and has the unusual property of not getting any longer as you add yard tracks. Here are some pictures of the throat:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/741190/ShowPost.aspx

Prototype trains are 10 feet 8 inches wide, which is 2 2/3 inches in 1/48 scale. I have my yard tracks 2 7/8 inches on centers with no problem.

Here is some philosophizing about yards:

http://www.housatonicrr.com/yard_des.html

 

[dwiemer]

Bob and the guys can correct me about this, but I believe Model Railroader (part of Kalmbach) is going to be offering a "Realistic layouts" book soon that talks about yards.  I have several books at home that have a lot of yard information.  As stated in other posts above, they take up a lot of room, so most modify downward and have several tracks that they can either store trains on, or use these sidings for operating cars.

dennis

[jimsrpo]

The book "Track Planning for Realistic Operation" by John Armstrong has always been my "bible" for planning.  I believe it is still available.

Jim

[kpolak]

Kalmbach's Realistic Model Railroad Operation is an excellent guide to this and all aspects of the hobby...They provide both theory and layouts.

Also, in the big book of Lionel they provide an example of an arrival track, 5-sorting tracks, and (4) seperate tracks for each destination city.  (1) track for each city (this example).  The road loco would uncouple the train at the arrival track, and the switcher would sort the cars and rout them to the appropriate city track.

Kurt

PS  You might also try the Trains forum for yard operations.

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/111/ShowForum.aspx

 

[cheech]

I am not a purist. I just like to operate model trains. and to do it, i deduced that i needed yards.   I have two types of yards in my layout. Operational and Storage. and they take up a lot of real estate on the layout.

Operational yards are off of a mainline loop, loaded with action accessories simulating an industry, small i, like unloading/loading culvert pipes, moving logs up a loader, barrel off a ramp into a car....or the mth oil tanks and oil filling items...or the intermodal crane activity....  You generally need space,special tracks like an operating track or lining up a car neatly to the accessory so it can function.  Needs toughtful design. i have six of them at various locations on the layout.  Another type of operational yard would cover engine maintenance, like the lionel steam clean grind or loco backshop...lots of space to do this

Storage yards. this is where you keep the engines and cars that are not running. power off most times so as to not burn out the engines or the lights in the passenger cars. Mine is under the table, block controlled, one path in and a lot of left hand switches connected 36 inches apart form another switch that accomplish a turnaround. TMCC makes it possible. I wake up the engines, and bring them table top for their daily work, then send them back for slumber at days end.

I'm sure they have names in the industry, but that is how i use them in the layout world.

ralph

 

 

[trestrainfan]

Wow! Thanks to all of you for taking the time to post the great info and links!

Plenty of information to read and understand. 

Bob, your custom switches look great, but a little ambitious for me at the moment. I hadn't realized yards would take up so much layout space until really looking at the pictures. 

Dennis, I saw pre-order info in an email. I think the yard special issue is scheduled to come out in August. Is the realistic layout series a good source of info?

Jim, "Track Planning for Realistic Operation" is available. I just ordered it from Amazon.

Kurt, I do have the Big Book of Lionel. I'll read the section you mentioned.

Right now, I don't have the room to make a large layout where I live, but it is fun to dream and plan and slowly acquire hardware. Ralph, I envision something very similar to what you describe. I'd like to make a perimeter type of layout that runs around the room so I could sit back and enjoy the trains cruising on a long mainline loop when I just want to relax. I'd like to have a yard where I could move around and switch cars and make up trains. I'd like to have various small operating yards spread around the layout. I've picked up some of the Lionel operating accessories, so I'd have areas for coal, lumber, culverts, etc. It sounds like fun to have an areas to move around the cars between the various operating features.

Thanks again to all for your help.