hit a snag

Just one day into track plan and already I hit a snag. I am starting my track plan for my protype Milwaukee Road layout, between Portage Wis. and Tunnel City Wis.. I have gathered all the information I need to start with the Portage yard except I have a space 14' by 2' and to get it all in I need a space 14' by about 6'. This is my first proto layout, would it be exceptable to condense the yard by leaving out some of the yard sidings? Instead of having 9 tracks I can probably squeeze in 3 and still get the station and all out buildings in!! Anyone with any prototype knowledge please advise, any help or comments welcome

 

The "permission" you are after to reduce something in size is called "selective compression" in layout designer's lingo. By all means, if you can only achieve what you are after with reduced track, go to it.

 

Thanks guy's for giving me the answer I was hoping for. I kind of hoped Boxcab would join in. Yes, I did get the magazine! It has all the info I needed and way more. The hardest part for me is leaving some parts out knowing they belong there. I only have X amount of room to work in and if I move things around to much the whole layout falls apart (if you know what I mean) I have some giant sheets of kraft paper so I'm thinking of trying a full size drawing to really see how it will come out. I will kept you all posted THANKS AGAIN

 

Andy,

You've gotten some good advice, above. Feel free to compress up to the point that the operations you desire in the yard suffer. If you don't have enough destinations on your layout to warrant 9 tracks, you won't miss them. But if a 4 track yard makes sense for the number of destinations & types of cars you'll be classifying in the yard, then you'd be feeling a little cheated & cramped every time you used the yard.

The creativite license Boxcab is talking about is a great way to serve both ends - save space, and keep track. You can "stretch" a yard by reversing a turnout for example, making the engine services lay alongside the throat instead of beside the yard. I don't know the prototype you're looking at, so I'm sorry I don't have a specific suggestion. Can you post a diagram?

David

 

Well, let's think about Portage for a sec. There's that plastics plant on the north side - are you planning to include that? That's one track. You also need the main line - If I remember correct you are modeling modern era so that's only one track. In addition to these two tracks the structures (factory and the station) take up some space.

So 2 classificaion/storage tracks should do for the yard, so I would sugest that you really should shoot for 4 tracks....

(I'm just joining the MRHA now - hoping I can get that issue - I've heard great things about it....)

 

Hey Rob, I got the last one. I'm modeling Portage between the 1940's and 1960's. Double track main line and no plastic. I laid it out last night both ways. I decided I need the yard track more than the loco facilities. If I turn the station and freight house I can get just about all of it in. I will just loose the turntable and engine house. They were both torn out about 59 0r 60 anyways. My daughter seen my delema and said I have to look at it like a picture. Everythings still there it's just not in the picture. THANK GOD FOR KIDS!!! I can get the engine facilities in anyway when I get to Tomah. I'll have to schetch something out and figure out how to post it so you all can get the whole picture. At least now I can sleep at night. Thanks again!!!!!

 

If I remeber correct there is a fair amount of industry on the south side of the main line (same side as the station) at the east end. Many buildings still stand that would have had rail service in your era.

 

Hey Rob, The industries on the south end of the yard will pretty much remain intact. There is a fuel dist. and a few other small buildings. I will still be able to get in the coaling tower and both water towers. By turning the station I can get the mainlines out toward the edge of the layout so I can use larger radi for my line out. the yard will fall in behind the station instead of in front. The way it looks I may get in 5 out of 9 tracks. I will lose the roundhouse, turntable and truck terminal (there still there just not in the picture). All the other towns, sidings, stations and yards will all fit after this with no trouble, thats why I couldn't move Portage because it would of thrown the whole layout out of wack.Maybe someone could e-mail me as how to post a drawing or picture here. I can get it scanned in my folders but I don't know how to change the size of it to fit here!!!!!

 

Boxcab, I tried joining railimages four times and for some reason my e-mail won't send my information to them. I asked about it in the rail images forum and started a big ruckus. Someone wanted me to e-mail them with what I needed and I don't know the first thing about what I needed, so I think I will let it go for now! Seems I had trouble signing up once before and just gave up then too!!