10-13-2009, 10:00 PM
Hmmm - on second thoughts - we could probably minimize at least some of those pesky S-curves (running long rolling stock and long steam engines makes S-curves an even worse problem) by putting in the yard ladders in another way, and just use a little more of the left wall for the upper yard ladder. Maybe something like this instead ?
![[Image: wiredup04.jpg]](http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp124/steinjr_1965/forum3/wiredup04.jpg)
Might give you enough room to replace those medium turnouts with long turnouts.
Of course - it also depends on what the purpose of the yard is - as it is drawn now, it is essentially three visible double ended staging tracks between the main (closest to the wall) and the engine service area. It's not really intended for a lot of switching - it doesn't even have a separate yard lead for switching without fouling the main.
One certainly could be added (running around the turnback curve from the front), but I already feel that curve radii is pushing things a bit here. A decent rule of thumb (from the Layout Design Special Interest Group web page: http://www.ldsig.org/) for curve radius is:
2X - Some model equipment may be able to track reliably on 2X their length, but this is generally considered pushing it.
3X - Making your curve radius at least 3X the length of your longest cars gets reliable tracking around curves, but looks toylike.
4X - If you make your curve radius at least 4X, your longest cars will look much better on curves.
5X - If you make your curve radius at least 5X, your longest cars will couple easily with minimal manual fiddling of the couplers.
80 foot passenger cars is in N scale about 80 feet x 12 inches/foot : 160 = 6" long. A 3X curve then would have a radius of about 18".
Smile,
Stein
Might give you enough room to replace those medium turnouts with long turnouts.
Of course - it also depends on what the purpose of the yard is - as it is drawn now, it is essentially three visible double ended staging tracks between the main (closest to the wall) and the engine service area. It's not really intended for a lot of switching - it doesn't even have a separate yard lead for switching without fouling the main.
One certainly could be added (running around the turnback curve from the front), but I already feel that curve radii is pushing things a bit here. A decent rule of thumb (from the Layout Design Special Interest Group web page: http://www.ldsig.org/) for curve radius is:
2X - Some model equipment may be able to track reliably on 2X their length, but this is generally considered pushing it.
3X - Making your curve radius at least 3X the length of your longest cars gets reliable tracking around curves, but looks toylike.
4X - If you make your curve radius at least 4X, your longest cars will look much better on curves.
5X - If you make your curve radius at least 5X, your longest cars will couple easily with minimal manual fiddling of the couplers.
80 foot passenger cars is in N scale about 80 feet x 12 inches/foot : 160 = 6" long. A 3X curve then would have a radius of about 18".
Smile,
Stein