Hi Folks: Ive got this big chunk of real estate left in my layout plan, and I am not real sure what should go in there -- Its a modern day layout depicting a very busy bridge line between the BNSF and UP across LaVeta pass (VERY Freelanced) (and in somewhat of an alternate universe) The interchange arrival / departure yards work as fiddle / staging yards -- there will be some pass through traffic, passenger traffic (think little to no commercial aviation after 9/11) commuter traffic and tourist line traffic THe red and green lines around the right edge of the layout are slightly elevated (My first attempt at elevation change) to represent the line over LaVeta -- im not opposed to using the red one as some sort of staging / holding etc The area in question is the spot below the green yard tracks in the lower left of the pic -- please note that area has a long reach into it, so probably not some thing that will need huge amounts of uncoupling -- I can put in uncoupler magnets but... the other place I need a suggestion is the light blue siding on the very left end -- small industry of some kind Also really want to hear any other suggestions
What about not putting track there? If you don't want to deal with uncoupling, then why should you have to? You already have lots of yard tracks on that half of the layout, I would be worried about it looking too much like a spaghetti bowl layout (over-density of track). What about an urban scene? Train yards are usually in some kind of town. That could be a division point on your layout, maybe with a regional office or something. If you wanted a city scene, you could use some taller building as viewblocks for some of the rear elevated tracks. If you had a track come off the brown line behind the roundhouse and go to the left, maybe you could do street running. Maybe the station for your tourist line is in a town located there. That would allow you to avoid uncoupling; keeping the passenger train in one consist is easy, but yet it fills in the space without being some overbearing pile of industrial track. I think having non-rail-served buildings is good. It maintains the idea that the railroad is in the real world. My vote for that space is a town or city.
The big area would be a good area for a town. There are some Walthers kits like the modern gas station and strip mall that eat up real estate or maybe a truck terminal or big warehouse with lots of truck traffic in that area. For the smaller spot, a couple of things might be a small warehouse type building that gets rail cars, a lumber yard, or a scrap yard. Just my overpriced 2 cents worth
Alamosa would be a neat town to add to the blank area. Long reaches are a great way to invite derailments, so it may be prudent to minimize those areas with tracks. Also you might consider a switch off the yard lead for engines to access the roundhouse area without the reverse entry via the yard ladder. Alternately, move engine service to the gap above the roundhouse and off the yard lead. If you wish to depict La Veta Pass as a bridge line, I don't see any mountain scenery to depict the remote part of the Pass, even though you have an elevated section for this. A second deck would be perfect for this, just would need some space for a helix or two. If Walsenburg, Pueblo and points east are represented by yards, there's very little run between them.
You seem to have a lot of track which parallels the benchwork front edge. That green yard could be angled down slightly into the void. Not talking about adding any more tracks or filling the space, just an attempt to avoid so many straight lines. I agree with Hemi about that switch off the yard lead. Also, your yards are dead ended. Any train entering must always be a shove, otherwise if you have one leading in, the power is trapped. Designate an arrival track therein and install a crossover so the power can uncouple then escape. This might just be better than constantly tying up your long siding as an arrival/departure track.
That helps. Now take a look at adding a switch off that blue track, to the turntable, as Hemi suggested.
I think I'd add the run-around track at the yard shown above. It would also provide another route to the turntable in addition to the one I added as per Hemi's suggestion, Sumner P.S. Tim I like your track plan a lot. I think it will be fun and interesting running trains on it....
Good ideas all around. Like the track plan changes and also agree with the idea of a town or city scene with taller buildings rising toward the back of the layout. An interesting street scene could also be worked in next to the yard, especially if you are interested in vehicles and like to display them. The city buildings could also be made removable or even placed on a liftout for access to the main line at the rear.
Clearly part of the new traffic pattern is the new law which regulates trucks going over veta pass, forcing them to be loaded onto TOFC cars. It seems you could put a big lot over there full of trucks and loading equipment.
Hi Guys -- thanks for all the wonderful suggestions -- I really like some of the ideas to rework the yard -- really great stuff TIM
