Yard limits, how long are they?

[markpierce]

Reading a 1955 Southern Pacific timetable brought home the fact that yard limits can extend many miles beyond a yard.  A yard limit is the territory designated by signs where engines can operate on the mainline without train order or timetable authorization.  Here are two examples of what I'm talking about from the SP Western Division timetable.

The Oakland yard limits were 21 miles long from Elmhurst, through Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond, and ending at San Pablo.

The Port Costa yard limits were from Crockett, through Port Costa and Martinez, and ending at Bahia (on the other side of the Martinez/Benicia bridge) on the way to Sacramento, a distance of 12 miles.

Does anyone have examples of longer yard limits?  There must be.

Mark Pierce from Martinez, CA

[Anonymous]

Entire branch lines are often operated as yard limits, as well as entire short line railroads.  One short line I've worked with had 118 miles of main track, all of it yard limits.

S. Hadid

[Anonymous]

Yard Limits, if so specified, extend to all tracks not governed by Road Rules; Yard Limits can encompass an enormous length of track.  Any track upon which scheduled trains have no authority except by timetable or train order but upon which operations occur, in particular through a terminal, are within yard limits.  Typically, within yard limits,except for first-class trains, all trains must be ready to stop short of yard movements.  Other than trains specified, within yard limits all trains must be sure to be able to stop short of a drilling locomotive.

[NSlover92]

In last months Model Railroader I believe there was a article on it, in the new section they added I cant remember the name but all I know is that it is the last one in the magazine.

[wjstix]

Back when cabooses were still normally required, one of the Upper Michigan iron ore railroads - I think the Escanaba and Lake Superior (or Lake Superior and Ishpeming??) - declared the entire RR to be within yard limits, so they didn't have to run with cabooses.

[dehusman]

Yard Limits, if so specified, extend to all tracks not governed by Road Rules; Yard Limits can encompass an enormous length of track.  Any track upon which scheduled trains have no authority except by timetable or train order but upon which operations occur, in particular through a terminal, are within yard limits. 

Yard limits only apply on the main track.  Yard limits do NOT apply on sidings or any yard tracks.  ONLY the main track.

Yard limits are only in effect at locations designated by the timetable.  If the timetable doesn't say there are yard limits in effect, there aren't yard limits.

Yard limits have nothing to do with scheduled trains.  There can be yard limits with or without scheduled trains.  If you do have scheduled trains, then there are provisions for clearing some of those scheduled trains in most yard limit rules.  But the presence of a scheduled train does not mean you are in yard limits.

Dave H.

[CMSTPP]

 

There is also signaled yard limits. Many railroads, like Metra have a whole line with signals. They are able to run 70 mph with all the signals and they're still in yard limits. I would say that Metra's line is about 50 miles long or so.

Happy railroading

James