Rough operations plan for small switching layout

[steinjr]

Do you mean putting yet another crossover to the *right* of the elevator turnout ?

Stein

Yes,that would be your short run around.It saves time and the need to interfere with the industry(the flat building) loading/unloading their cars.

Now I see what you are saying.

Those flats at the rear right are not railserved industries - they are just background buildings - part of the urban scenery. That Uppermost track in the rear right is available for switching moves - e.g to get stuff in and out of Industry A (center rear). Both of those tracks back there supposedly continues off the layout towards the right - could be two parallel lies (easbound and westbound), or one of the tracks could be part of a double ended siding that extends both to the right and to the left of the modeled scene.

But certainly - one could put a second crossover in the middle of the existing runaround, to create a shorter runaround for when you don't need to run around quite that many cars.

More of a look and feel issue than a matter of efficiency on such a small layout - it matters little if a runaround move takes 30 seconds or a minute when you only do a few such moves in a session, and you actually want your session to last a while (as opposed to on a real railroad, when you want to finish work quickly, so you can get home to your bed and catch some sleep)

Smile,
Stein