I seem to be stumped on a yard design for my layout. I am in the planning phase of the second section of my L shaped railroad. First, I've included a crude drawing of the layout area only, not the room itself. It's a 116" by 116" "L" that is 20" deep all the way around. The section marked A and B is the first section I've worked on for a few years. Most track and ballasting is done. The upper level (marked 2" for elevation) has a bridge crossing the lower line (marked 0). This track serves a citrus orchard against the back of the layout near point A.
The new section I've attached is a blank slate. My "Wish List" is below, shown in priority order.
A) Icing platform and N Scale Architect Cal Fame Packing house
B) At least one more packing house
C) Small freight yard or visible staging yard for storage/making up trains
D Lumber yard
E) SP and ATSF stations (not sure if two is wishful thinking in this small space)
F) Heljan roundhouse and turntable
One thing I did NOT show is a small extension that I have already cut the lumber for but not yet installed. This will attach at point C and stick out like a letter "J" about 36" from the wall in the corner. It is also 20" deep. On this extension is where I envision the roundhouse and turntable.
I enjoy local switching and mainline running. Yeah, I know. This plan doesn't allow for much mainline running. I'll save that part for another post. The yard is the question. I'm thinking I'd like to do a stub ended yard. I have enclosed a shot of a very small one I used at my last house for this layout. It's removable, 4 ft. long, and attached at point B at the old house. It was propped up on legs, hence the guard timbers on the sides of one end. Those also served as convenient handles to slide the end sideways to meet up with the track coming off the main section. It worked. I got the idea from one of Ian Rice's books. I don't remember the term he had for it. Sector plate staging, maybe?
Do you guys think something this size would work for what I have designed thus far? I'm sure there's a lot I've left out, so fire away with questions, please! I appreciate any and all feedback, critique, etc. Thanks!
ATSF Ron
