03-29-2012, 10:35 PM
jpage Wrote:I was wondering if a model of just a yard would hold operational interest over time verses a switching type design. I do not recall seeing any layouts designed specifically as just a yard. Designs all seem to concentrate on the delivery/ pick-up or running. My idea is to model operations at the Beck's Run Yard on the P&LE. Make up outbound blocks of cars for other yards on the line, transfer runs to the close smaller yards that the road freights did not stop at, switch cars into/ out of the J&L steel mill, and send out locals to switch industries. Anyone attempt this, thoughts?
Very doable.
If you want to see pictures of a large layout where everything is within yard limits, look for articles on Chuck Hitchcock's "Argentine Industrial District Railway". Large staging, long transfer runs, several yards, but also industry switching.
Jim Senese's "Kansas City Terminal Railroad" also has several yards in an urban area. And switching.
This prototype based version of San Fransico's "State Belt" layout has several yards and gets traffic from car floats: http://www.statebelt.org/layout/index.html
You have Nick Kallis's former Long Island Road 's "Montauk Branch" (http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirrmb/lirrmb.htm) - inbound cars by car float, several short trains are created from the inbound cars and then sent out to switch industries.
If you are just looking for a small yard, see our own Shortliner (Jack Trollope) and his version of the Erie Harlem Terminal layout - it is a tiny float yard with a warehouse and transloading to trucks (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.p...shortline/) - the rmweb web site can be a little slow loading at times, but worth seeing. Or Tim Warris's "CNJ Bronx Terminal" layout - google it.
It all comes down to how much space you have :-)
Smile,
Stein