MR Freight Yards

[wm3798]

Here's the new yard throat and caboose tracks.  I have to add a bit of framing to the front edge to carry the caboose track from here to...


...here.  This will give me a thru track for caboose storage/servicing, plus the two storage tracks at the far end.  I have a little shop building I may put down there.

I've got a couple wires to hook up, then it's on to the turntable short cut project.

Lee

[Ali Kenneth]

I will add my thoughts to the content of this issue as I was seriously impressed when it cam through the letterbox.

I have always wanted to model a small yard and the article on the evolution of the yard at Crookston has made me wonder if i can transplant this yard to the Indiana/Ohio area and use NS power instead of BN!

The articles by David Popp and Paul Dolkos are well worth a read asthey explain how the yards operate.

My only real criticism is the articles on building Yard buildings. Yes i understand that the focus is on getting all details right but i feel that are better suited to a special on making Model Railroad buildings.

Bizarrely i actually prefer this issue to the Kalmbach book on Modelling Freight Yards, just seems to be more interesting content for me.

Overall I highly receommend you get it, $7.95 is hardly going to break the bank!

Alasdair

[Black Diamond]

Another resource is the June 2002 issue of Trains magazine has a goldmine of info on yards and their layout and operation. Part 1 of a piece called "Railroading's Hidden Half: The Yard", has pictures, diagrams and explanations of the tracks and structures that are found in hump yards and flat yards. It's a really good chunk of info.

[asciibaron]

Plan a derail on the turntable and bring out the big hook to rerail it.  That'll mess up their switching.

Have the TT spinning and make switch crews "run the gauntlet" to cross it at the precisely correct moment.

that's what i was thinking - the yard crew has to master frogger in order to qualify for the job...

-steve

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Lee
I just read the Popp article.

Page 12, at the bottom, read and become wise

[wm3798]

I'll have to look at that.

Now before this breaks down into a complete love fest, the Cody Grivno Ballasts A Turnout article is a complete waste of space, and I don't think he captured the look at all.

Discuss.

Linda Richman

[wm3798]

He wants a yard office...  I suppose you'll want a futon with some throw pillows next.  Any decent model railroader would see that that space would best be served by building an intermodal terminal over it.

Get your clip board and quit complaining.

The Boss

[sparky]

I suppose you'll want a futon with some throw pillows next.

That seems like a reasonable request.

[wm3798]

The Chuck Pack arrived today... all the switch throws are now installed.  One more set of dangling wires to deal with, and the yard is fully operational again.

Lee

[Mark5]

I picked up the MR Freight Yard issue last weekend ...

I was disappointed ... too many "how to" articles on building structures and a bit lite on the actual yard design fundamentals. :-\ One article goes on and on describing the author's wonderful yard layout yet nowhere in the article is there an illustration of his track plan. ???

Take my comments with a grain of salt as I have been researching yard ops prior to this.

This site probably has equal or more useful info:

http://www.housatonicrr.com/yard_des.html   

[wm3798]

If you've picked up MR or subscribed in the last two years or so, you've seen Popp's track plan at least once.  It's a very simple plan, and the traffic flow comes from the loop that enters and leaves to the right.  The rest of the plan isn't critical to the discussion.  He stated that one of the deficiencies of his plan is that traffic from the top side of the drawing enters, then has to back into the yard.

Lee

[Mark5]

If you've picked up MR or subscribed in the last two years or so, you've seen Popp's track plan at least once.

I generally don't read MR. One should never write an article assuming that your audience has read your previous articles. I'm weird that way. :

[asciibaron]

If you've picked up MR or subscribed in the last two years or so, you've seen Popp's track plan at least once.

I generally don't read MR. One should never write an article assuming that your audience has read your previous articles. I'm weird that way. :

that's what i was taught in college - ever reader is a new reader...

but MR pwns model railroading so we'd better get in step ASAP

[Sokramiketes]

I picked up the MR Freight Yard issue last weekend ...

I was disappointed ... too many "how to" articles on building structures and a bit lite on the actual yard design fundamentals. :-\ One article goes on and on describing the author's wonderful yard layout yet nowhere in the article is there an illustration of his track plan. ???

Take my comments with a grain of salt as I have been researching yard ops prior to this.

This site probably has equal or more useful info:

http://www.housatonicrr.com/yard_des.html   

Had a chance to page through the issue finally.  It's a Realistic Layouts issue with a common yard theme this issue... not truely a special on freight yards.  I enjoyed Tony's building run-down, and like his approach of scratch building the structures he has complete information on, and kitbashing structures his information is sketchy on. 

[Mark5]

I enjoyed the GN and Big Four articles.