yard vs turntable\roundhouse placement

[nik_n_dad]

I'm on revision 2,455 of our next layout, with the list of thinks the kiddo wants to have on it (ok, I'm in support of his wants, needs , druthers, etc)

We've been using the "Red Rock Northern" plan as a template to work from (differences are we're n-scale, have a different sized space, and want to have an "upper" and "lower" loop vs a single folded loop- but otherwise it's close. 

We're not necessarily modelling any prototype, and while operations are a bit of a consideration here, we are certainly bending rules and working on a design that's fun for us both.

So the question is, are the yards typically with the turntable\yard, or would you see them in different areas (different parts of a town or different towns?).  Would one see the yard ladder coming off of the track going to the turntable?

Suggestions, pointers, examples are all appreciated. 

 Thanks
 

[markpierce]

It depends on the type of yard and its relative distance from other locomotive service points.  End-of-line, division point, and subdivision yards had their locomotive facilities close to the yard.  On the other hand, most industrial-support yards and perhaps junction yards will not have those facilities.  That would be because they probably wouldn't be so far from other yard's locomotive services that they'd need their own.  Think of the economics, and common sense will give you the answer.

Mark

[cuyama]

Typically turntables and engine service facilties are found near the yard. It's the logical location if that's where trains are going to be made up and torn down. There are exceptions in real life, but it's not "typical" for the engine service to be far removed from where trains are originated and terminated.

On a model railroad, things are so close together anyway that it doesn't matter as much, if you don't care if your layout works and looks like the real thing.

If you are designing your own layout, I assume you already have a copy of John Armstrong's book Track Planning for Realistic Operation (Kalmbach). If so, just re-read the chapters on yards and engine service.

Byron
Model RR Blog

[dehusman]

Normally the engine facility is near the yard.  However is its a large terminal there may be multiple yards that share a single engine or shop facility.  You can have a large yard with multiple facilities (N Platte on the UP has 3 engine facilities in the yard, 2 servicing facilities and shop/servicing facility.)

[odave]

As far as where the service area would be in relation to the rest of the yard tracks, it can be helpful to look at prototype examples using the aerial photos on Google Maps or Live Search Maps.  The remnants of roundhouses and turntables can still be seen from the air.  Here are few in Michigan:

ex-GTW Pontiac, Yard (roundhouse is gone but the turntable is still in use)

ex-GTW Tappan Yard (upper left is GTW , lower-right in the wye is the Port Huron & Detroit)

old Ann Arbor yard and ferry docs in Elberta (TT is the yellow circle, RH is still visible, yard tracks were in the open area to the right)

I would definitely read the Armstrong book as suggested, and Kambach has a good book specifically about locomotive servicing.  But in general, a train will pull into an arrival/departure track in the yard.  The locomotive(s) will then cut off, and head down a separate "escape" track into the service area.  The escape/access track may or may not run down the ladder.  In the first two examples above, the TT & RH are centrally located for trains heading in both directions.  The Elberta yard was the end of the line, so it's at one end of the yard.  You may not have the available width to have a central service area.  Mine, and others I have seen, tend to be off to the side of the ladder.

[wjstix]

It depends on a lot of things, like what type of yard is it?? If it's an interchange yard between two railroads, it probably wouldn't have engine facilities. In an urban area with a lot of traffic, a railroad might have several yards spread around town, but only have one large roundhouse / turntable.

Really, anything's possible. Northern Pacific's Northtown Yard in north Minneapolis had a roundhouse right next to the yard tracks, but engines serving NP's iron ore dock yard in Superior WI had to go across the harbor to Duluth MN to be turned and serviced at Rice's Point Yard's turntable / roundhouse.

[Sperandeo]

Hi "nik n dad," I'd suggest that you look up my "Ozark Lines" track plan in the MR track plan database (and also in the July '02 MR). In that design I placed the yard along the front edge of the layout but drew the engine terminal, with turntable and roundhouse, on an el extending a short way along a wall. That's a pretty efficient layout and it allows "up front" viewing and operation of both features. So long, Andy