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[quote user="Big Boy Forever"]AND minimum track arrangements of a prototype RR yard, that would transfer to a Model RR yard.[/quote] That really depends on your prototype railroad, the actual prototype location, and the time period you are modeling.  If you ever get the chance go to Steamtown Nation Historic Park in Scranton, Pa.  They have a timeline of the rail facilities at the museums location going back to the ~1870s.  Another place to look is Andy Sperandeo's book Freight Yards.  Also check out John Armstrong's book Track Planning for Realistic Operation.  These books will have the basic yard design concepts.  Kalmbach also has a Model railroader's guide to locomotive servicing terminals.  Finally, if you really want to get into the nuts and bolts of layout design, check out <a href="http://www.ldsig.org/">http://www.ldsig.org/</a>. Also you may want to decide if you are going to run operating sessions, or just run trains yourself.  This will influence your design choices.  [quote user="Big Boy Forever"]In other words, the "least" you could have in a RR Yard to truthfully say it is exactly a model of a prototype yard, but just tracks for sorting, is not enough.[/quote] That would again depend on your prototype, era and location.  If you take a prototype track arrangement and start deleting tracks, you may find that your yard does not work correctly.  My yard is based loosely on Rigby Yard, South Portland, Maine.  I have 2 arrival/departure tracks where trains are made and broken down and sorted for off-line destinations, 6 sorting tracks, 9 stall roundhouse (under construction), 130ft Turntable (yes my prototypes TT is only 105 or 115, dont remember, but I was in a hurry), machine shop, coaling tower, diesel fueling stand, sanding tower and sand drying house, ash pit (not yet installed), water tower and separate water columns, and a RIP (Repair In Place) track, caboose tracks, separate coach yard for passsenger cars and most importantly, my arrival/departure tracks do not interfere with the yard switching lead.  This is what I deemed to be the minimum.  Your results may vary. If this is your railroads major shop facilities you will need quite and extensive backshop area connected to, or closely adjoing your roundhouse.  If you have ice activated refrigerator cars, you may need icing facilities.
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