Very compact yard feedback

[DanB80]

Working with a very limited space here, it will be through the wall from the layout itself, I am looking to make it mainly staging and storage but with fiddle capability. Bear in mind I'm not staging for a major layout, trains of 10 cars or less including caboose will be the norm.

Feel free to rip me and my design apart. I'm using old scrap track to mock it up so it's not pretty. Size is 48'x11".

Red=dead end track
Green arrow=through wall to layout
Inkedyard1.jpg

Outer curve to layout is 11" radius
Yard lead is 9"
Yard engines = NW2, VO-1000, S-2/S-4
Track 3 can hold about 4 x 40' box cars

Additional images
yard2.jpgyard3.jpg

Edit: Additional files, drew it up in Anyrail for more professional look

yardmap.jpg

[bobo1160]

I think it looks fine , very similar to the one I'm currently building which is 1' x 4" and all my track stub ends will eventually be half of a series of runarounds with the addition of another add on section. you could do the same . I'm also limited on space and 1x8 seems workable but I can't store it out assembled when I'm not running it . check it out ---> https://www.nscale.net/forums/showth...usic-city-star

not all yards are huge and sprawling .

[bobo1160]

actually , I'd reccomend one thing .. shorten the track ends a bit and try to keep the track before the first turnouts as long as you can . that way you can pull out multiple cars at once , throw a turnout and move both to another track instead of being locked into one at a time.

maybe get rid of the small runaround you got there and use that turnout in the center track to make one large run around instead .

[DanB80]

You may have to scribble that down so I understand what you mean, I should be able to move the cars in bigger blocks than 1 at a time, The other curved track (inside curve) won't go to the layout, its supposed to be the yard lead to avoid foiling the 'main'.

So in the 1st picture (the shaky panoramic one) the bottom track is the main that also doubles as a staging track
the next track up is a second staging track/departure track
then the next three are obviously the stub end yard tracks with the yard lead going opposite them and around the corner
that last track is just like a switchback to the engine house, wasn't sure of another way to do that bit

I'm not sure how functional the runaround is with there it merges back in the yard lead

[bobo1160]

You may have to scribble that down so I understand what you mean, I should be able to move the cars in bigger blocks than 1 at a time, The other curved track (inside curve) won't go to the layout, its supposed to be the yard lead to avoid foiling the 'main'.

So in the 1st picture (the shaky panoramic one) the bottom track is the main that also doubles as a staging track
the next track up is a second staging track/departure track
then the next three are obviously the stub end yard tracks with the yard lead going opposite them and around the corner
that last track is just like a switchback to the engine house, wasn't sure of another way to do that bit

I'm not sure how functional the runaround is with there it merges back in the yard lead

ignore my poor doodle , with the run on the bottom incoming can go up the loop and get off the main , cut the cars and the loco can escape and run around the cars .
I'd also add a storage track to the left side so you can switch both sides for more action but it's YOUR design so I feel wierd saying this or that. I'm sure others will voice their opinions shortly .

20230127_185716.jpg

[DanB80]

Engine escape is a good idea, I knew I'd have to 0-5-0 without it. I can incorporate that escape and add the storage (or have it as caboose track) on the runaround like this...
Stagingyardanyrail1escape.jpg
Without the runaround (I think this one matches your doodle) I can get more storage on the yard tracks. Also in reality the yard lead only supports 3 cars plus switcher in my original plan, I could have it go through the wall some and then join into the main on the other side, that would give a bigger switch lead and allow a loco to pick up a train from a yard track and head straight out onto the layout.

Stagingyardanyrail1escape2.jpg

[Allen H.]

I think the yard looks workable.
Do you have a plan or drawing for the actual layout itself and how the yard ties into the layout?
It would be helpful knowing where and how the two yard tracks tie into the layout that curve up and exit the yard at the top left.
It may affect the track placement in the yard as well as some possible electrical issues.

[DanB80]

@Allen H. I do have a crude drawing I did on paint that shows the basic track plan. I don't have the full version of Anyrail to draw it all up properly. The layout started with the roundy round section my Dad and I built over about a week on a pallet when he visited last year (so has a little sentiment, it sparked his interest and he went back to the UK and has started his own layout) I've just built on to it working on my skills of scenery, model building, wiring etc. The plan for the staging/fiddle yard would actually be on a wall behind the reversing loop. Main layout space is probably about 8'x7'
There is another spur that isnt on this drawing that come off the 90degree looking right turn that leads into the roundy round.
Now the roundy round is OK to operate as a second railroad with the long siding before the reverse loop able to act as interchange track, but I do wish I could make it a second reverse loop to get out of it without doing a huge runaround and caboose change to get out of it.

321948960_1300873110763251_8570300843194359626_n.png
I'll have to upload some stills, I'm pretty happy so far with how much better my scenery skills are getting on the tiny parts I've gotten done. Its a little deflating though knowing that I will tear it all down and build a new bigger (hopefully more functional/better) layout once kids move out.

[Allen H.]

In your "Crude Drawing" you are showing the new staging/fiddle yard in the green rectangle.
It's showing three tracks, which is nothing but a rough representation of the yard in post #6, correct?

The yard drawing in post #6 is showing what looks like two tracks that exit the yard and curves up off the plan.
How do those two tracks specifically attach to the single line in the "Crude Drawing" plan that runs to the right following the green arrow?

[DanB80]

In your "Crude Drawing" you are showing the new staging/fiddle yard in the green rectangle.
It's showing three tracks, which is nothing but a rough representation of the yard in post #6, correct?

The yard drawing in post #6 is showing what looks like two tracks that exit the yard and curves up off the plan.
How do those two tracks specifically attach to the single line in the "Crude Drawing" plan that runs to the right following the green arrow?

Ok changed the crude diagram to show where the yard would be, the dotted black shows how I could bring the yard lead around into the mainline if that was beneficial.
321948960_1300873110763251_8570300843194359626_n.png

Changed the runaround on the yard also, this way the runaround doesn't use the very limited trackage on yard track 3 and instead uses the switchback track for the engine house for the runaround instead.
Stagingyard extended runaround.jpg

Edit: might be worth mentioning the yard track and main out of the yard is elevated about 2" and works its way down to the layout over a 2% grade after it passes the very first industry.

[badlandnp]

This new version looks entirely more functional than the first version.

[Allen H.]

OK that answers my concerns.
I was hoping that the two tracks that left the yard in the upper left wasn't going to run out onto the layout in seperate directions and then come back into the yard.
At that point I could see you having a short (think reverse loop issue).

Myself I would add the black dotted line. It will add to the usefulness of the yard by being able to use it as an extended drill track (switch lead).
The run around on the bottom two tracks will limit you to how many cars you'll be able to move around, either building or tearing down any trains.

I realize you said you won't have long trains, but in time you'll find you'll might be dealing with a few more than you intended.
By adding the dotted line, it will give you room to breath without feeling cramped.

Say you bring your train from the layout and pull it into the bottom track of the yard, you can escape your loco(s) via the escape track.
Then you can back out via the next track up and get behind the entire train, pull it back and start breaking it down into your three track yard.

Not saying this is what you will wind up doing, but it leaves it open to that possibility.

[DanB80]

By adding the dotted line, it will give you room to breath without feeling cramped.

I think you're right with the lead, having that option to use it to got out on the main will be better than wishing I'd of tied it into the main later down the road.

The run around on the bottom two tracks will limit you to how many cars you'll be able to move around, either building or tearing down any trains.

Yep, inbound train is limited to about 5/6 standard 40' cars + caboose, outbound could get an extra car or two.

[el Gato Gordo]

My mind is still boggled by the layout size of 48 feet by 11 inches.

[badlandnp]

You got to watch the 'miss types' here! Wow! Funny, and wouldn't that be a fun layout to design?!!

[DanB80]

My mind is still boggled by the layout size of 48 feet by 11 inches.

HAHA I thought I payed attention to making sure I didn't mess that up, probably because I was going to say 4' and went back and changed it to what I thought was inches

[el Gato Gordo]

Only an idiot wouldn't understand what you meant, @DanB80!

[ssoysal]

Your plan reminded me a lot of the famous Juanita Division layout. I seem to remember that this was a workable design. Wanted to share here.

[bobo1160]

wow @ssoysal , you can look at a trackplan and recall another almost identical that you've seen . that's like some kind of special gift or something. photographic memory ?

[ssoysal]

wow @ssoysal , you can look at a trackplan and recall another almost identical that you've seen . that's like some kind of special gift or something. photographic memory ?

Naa, it's just that I spend waaaaaaaay too much time looking at trackplans online.