Best Of Yard Layouts

[DKS]

Also, the blue section is the removable segment for the "You Know What"...

I also compressed the space to 13'2 by simply taking it out of the middle.  To lengthen the A/D tracks back to full strength, add it on the west end where the real estate is cheaper.

Blue section is about as I imagined it, which is why I've been migrating turnouts away from it. Thought: why not angle the joints a bit, rather than keeping it 90 degrees to the wall. This might make track joints more manageable.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Looking at Lee's drawing, tying the engine track into the "escape" as opposed to the main will work on that end, BUT, you'd need to do it far enough up that there's enough head room between the turnout and the main so 2 SD40s can get in there and back into the pit. This will keep all yard movements within the yard, without having to touch the mains.

[wm3798]

If tracks 1 and 2 are the mains, track three would be the PRR track, the drill track could tie into that for a little added flexibility.  I'll have to take a length measurement to verify how much room there is too fool with that...

Anyway, the maps live link on page 1 here shows the overpass through Hagerstown proper, and that's the set up.  The two west tracks are the WM, the two to the east are the PRR/ Conrail/ PC/Ns whatev...  That would be a neat scene to work in.  If I end up abandoning my plans for Cumberland, I could use half of my station to make a nice flat of the police HQ...

Lee

[wm3798]

The engine escape route dumps into the PRR track, not the WM main, so you'd be good unless Carl is running his turn to NC. (which now has a considerably shorter trip!)

Lee

[DKS]

OK, someone scribble on this to get the west end engine access straighted out.

[wm3798]

I don't see a problem with it.  A sander, a wash rack... plenty of room.

Lee

[John]

and you can put the engine shop in the closet 

[davefoxx]

Could there be a chance that Atlas' new curved turnouts could be used on the west end of the classification tracks?  I know the radius of these turnouts is larger than the radius in this plan, but by combining consecutive curved turnouts, it might fit and eliminate that tight radius David pointed out.  It would also add considerably to the length of the classification tracks.

Dave Foxx

[wm3798]

It's a thought, but farther out we bring the throat, the shorter the drill track gets...  I think the plan is pretty reasonable.  Plus, I'm not sure what the curved TO's cost, but I think a pinwheel arrangment of #5's will do just fine.

Lee

[DKS]

Could there be a chance that Atlas' new curved turnouts could be used on the west end of the classification tracks?  I know the radius of these turnouts is larger than the radius in this plan, but by combining consecutive curved turnouts, it might fit and eliminate that tight radius David pointed out.  It would also add considerably to the length of the classification tracks.

I'd thought about this. But they tend to eat up too much real estate, and could actually reduce the length of the class tracks. Where they would help much more is the west end, as a couple of strategially-placed curved TOs would ease the lead into the ladder, and posibly allow the class tracks to be a few inches longer.

[davefoxx]

These babies list for $18.95 MSRP.  As a comparison, a #7 turnout lists for $14.60 MSRP.  Not a huge difference.

The outside radius is 21.25" and the inside radius is 15".

Dave

[asciibaron]

put the run around back on the east end David - there is no way for the switcher to get back to the roundhouse/servicing area without a see-saw through the hopefully empty A/D area.  the stub tracks are blocking the turnouts - they can't be that long on the east end.

i have spoken (typed)

-steve

[DKS]

I've done some checking. Now, I don't have the precise geometry, but based on the outside arc alone (which matches a full curve section @ 21.25"), just three of these placed at the west end of the class yard will add at least a half-foot to its length.



I think this woudl be well worth doing.

[DKS]

put the run around back on the east end David - there is no way for the switcher to get back to the roundhouse/servicing area without a see-saw through the hopefully empty A/D area.

You mean... I actually had a good idea? Little ol' me? Yikes, whatever will I do with this swelled head now...

[Chris333]

Most important feature: The RIP track, a place for Lee's Chessie collection.