Hello out there in Trainland, and Happy New Year. Here is a modification of a plan I posted in the Spring. Originally a straight 17' by 30" plan, it is now a "T" configuration. Here is my question: how would you have the track come in to the leg of the "T?" This leg would be an area for industrial switching. Would you come off the seaport side, as I have it now, or off the yard side (opposite direction) or do something else entirely? Now that winter has set in for us in Chicagoland I am itching to get the benchwork up and going. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
I'd keep access to the 'T' leg as you have it. Also, is that a loco shed off the left of the yard, or industry? If it's industry, the tail leading into it doesn't look like it will handle anything more than just a loco. It looks cool to me.
Over all it does not matter. You can agonize the variations till you are blue in the face. That said leave it as is working the T and the waterfront as one industrial area with the yard the other side of the river outside of the city where space would be cheaper. Kinda an "over there" feeling to it. You could use view blocks to enhance the "image" of separation. You may want to change the yard geometry as the ladder track arrangement is the least efficient in storage space. This would allow one more spur or something.
You could remove the runaround and access the "T" through a wye which would then double as your runaround. Realistically it wouldn't matter how you accessed it, either way would work. I suggest you at least model the remnants of a wye if you stick with one-direction access, to suggest something was busier at one point than it is now. The track arrangement lends itself easily to this.
Could you please explain what you mean about changing the yard geometry? I would be very interested in your ideas. Thanks
Yes that is a loco shed off to the left near the yard. I am planning on using the Revell two-stall engine house for that location. Thanks
Compound Ladder Track: Ladder track: You can see how the compound ladder track will store more cars in the same around of space.
A wye is a three-point turn for trains. It is a way to turn equipment and also a way to run around cars. An engine can drop cars on one leg, go around the other two, and end up on the other side of the cars, with the engine turned in the other direction.
