08-04-2014, 08:42 AM
The reason I changed the arrangement of your yard is because when your train is returning from it's switching duties and the engine (in most cases on your layout) will be leading, how do you plan on getting the cars into your yard tracks without trapping your engine?
I just saw your other plan and see you added a runaround and yard lead, that answers my question. Good idea with the yard lead, without it you'd have to go back out onto the main. I like this yard plan, I would keep a switcher designated to yard duties only and leave it parked on that yard lead this way when your interchange arrives you don't have to worry about how many cars come in and blocking in all your engines if they're in the engine facility. I would also keep your yard office closer to your engine facility so when crews get their orders they don't have to walk across the length of the yard to get to work. Overall I like it though, I wish I had the space for something like this.
I just saw your other plan and see you added a runaround and yard lead, that answers my question. Good idea with the yard lead, without it you'd have to go back out onto the main. I like this yard plan, I would keep a switcher designated to yard duties only and leave it parked on that yard lead this way when your interchange arrives you don't have to worry about how many cars come in and blocking in all your engines if they're in the engine facility. I would also keep your yard office closer to your engine facility so when crews get their orders they don't have to walk across the length of the yard to get to work. Overall I like it though, I wish I had the space for something like this.