Working on my new layout and want to add a switching yard to and area of the layout.
It will be located inside a teardrop loop of track about 8’ x 25’ and connected to the loop.
Any suggestions?
Dennis, are you wanting a freight yard for switching, or an area for switching industries???
Andy Clarke said:
Dennis, are you wanting a freight yard for switching, or an area for switching industries???
I am open on either, the freight yard might be a better fit, but have not started thinking about industries.
My thinking is having this as a switching layout inside the mainline. Connected but independent of the mainline.
This will be a narrow gauge layout.
If you are looking at making it a ““switching layout”” that can also be run separately, then maybe a combination between a ““timesaver”” switching puzzle, and an Inglenook layout would be the ticket…
Ric Golding does this type of a setup at the York, PA train shows…
I created my own version of the time saver in Jackson.
Four industries, Buchanan Tool and Die, Mills Fuel, Salmons Produce and Matheson Textiles. There’s also a spur behind the Bucket Coaling Station.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Layout/2013/IMG_1289.JPG)
An overhead view…
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Layout/2013/IMG_1290.JPG)
That’s Matheson Textiles on the left, and Buchanan Tool & Die on the right.
In between, Mills Fuel, with one spur, and Salmons produce with two spurs.
Notice there is a passing siding next to the house.
The bucket coaling station is off to the right.
It’s a lot of fun to switch, especially when there’s a few cars on the tracks at Buchanan and Matheson.
Fun ? Its IS? Really?
Thanks will look at adding both.
Jon Radder has a plan of prototypical trackage in an area near him that all exists inside a loop. Something worth looking at.
That would be the Danbury yard of the former New Haven RR. Presently occupied by the Danbury Railway museum and the loop, which is actually a balloon track, is part of the live track for the Metro North Commuter RR going to NYC. I have an areal photo which I can post. Google has some pretty good current views as well. Google Maps / Earth to 06810.
That bears a close resemblance to the old Northern Pacific engine service facility in Spokane Valley. I think there is even a wye close by, somewhere.
San Anontio Southern Pacific’s freight yard used to have loops around both ends of it’s freight yards… Back in the early 80’s, there were actually 2 yards in one located there…
Current views still show the western loop, however, most of the actual freight tracks have been removed… The engine facility is still located there…
I like that Ron, will have to see how much I can add.
Will have 2 loops so need another facility layout.
Spokane’s Yardley. Former NP now BNSF.
Wye in the bottom right.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/jebouck/yardley.jpg)
All that’s left of the Spokane UP yard. Engine facilities, turntable, etc, all gone.
Upper right is its main use–unloading auto racks for area dealerships.
Other than that, UP freights pass right thru town. Out of Canada to the main yard in Hermiston, Or.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/jebouck/UP%20yard.jpg)
