has anyone here ever attempted a hump yard in n scale?we decided to do some new stuff at our club meeting last night and one of which was maybe doing a hump yard.building one isnt the most difficult part.we are also trying to figure out how to uncouple the cars at the top?the magna matic strip is nice but you have to back up and go forward a lot.any suggestions would be helpfull. thanks again in advance.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bnfan99: has anyone here ever attempted a hump yard in n scale?we decided to do some new stuff at our club meeting last night and one of which was maybe doing a hump yard.building one isnt the most difficult part.we are also trying to figure out how to uncouple the cars at the top?the magna matic strip is nice but you have to back up and go forward a lot.any suggestions would be helpfull. thanks again in advance.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Not sure about this but a working humpyard was done in HO scale using compressed air blasts on a timed basis for retarders. If my memory serves me correctly Bob Miller of Kansas City perfected one. Not sure how the uncoupling at the top was done but believe two or three uncoupling magnets were used at the top and on the downhill part of the hump. Could be adapted to N Scale.
Yes a working N-Scale hump yard has been built. It was built to NTRAK standards. One of the members of CENTRAL INDIANA NTRAK (CINTRAK) built the working hump yard several years ago, with help from his son. It was featured in N-SCALE MAGAZINE and in the NTRAK newsletter. Check your back issues. I had the chance to run the yard at a NTRAK Great Lakes Region convention in Indinapolis Indiana in the mid 1990's. The yard ran great. It was very well thought out. The yard used air jets to slow the cars down coming over the hump. The force of the air jet against the moving car was controlled by a foot control that varied the speed of the air pump. I think they used electro-magnetic uncoupler ramps so the ramps could be turned on and off. The rest of the yard had a lot of small details that would take too much space to describe here. Like I said check your back issues. ------------------ Let's Go Run Trains MARK
Bob Miller! You mean the one that stomped his feet and left the Atlas Forum. He actually had the patience to deal with building an intricate hump yard but couldn't deal with someone's comments on there? Maybe he will come here and explain how to do a hump yard since leaving Atlas. He has alot of good ideas but that throwing the mmr in everyone's face doesn't sit well with me. ------------------ Norfolk Southern The Pack Mule of Transportation Mo-Pac RULES Heritage N-Scale Group, Joliet, Il.
I would love to be able to replicate the SP/ Eugene, Oregon hump yard, I got a chance last year to see it in operation, now thanks to UP, it is closed down... it used air retarders.. one idea for the uncoupling at top..: make it about one car length back, do the uncouple-push method. If you have a string of cars, the next one would uncouple as you pushed the first one over, then a simple back-up push...back-up...push...sweet! you could use the woodland scenics "Grass" between the tracks to slow the cars too. ------------------ espee2 Home: www.tunnel13.com layout: SP's Newberg Branch in N scale
The thing that occurs to me, is that a LOT of space would be required! So that lets me out I would love to see a hump yard in operation - in any scale. ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery Alan's European Gallery Alan's British Steam Gallery [This message has been edited by Alan (edited 12 July 2000).]
and a hump yard is? Dont tell me its somewhere train drivers go parking their locos and go humping... ------------------ RR: K, C, & Bird Butt Railroad - SP, NS, and ROCK admirer. Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that runs, SP, NS, and some CSX.. Also some Custom RARE Bird RR sd40-2's coming! Era: Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels of today. [This message has been edited by virtual-bird (edited 12 July 2000).]
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by virtual-bird: and a hump yard is? Dont tell me its somewhere train drivers go parking their locos and go humping... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> its somewhere train drivers go parking their locos and go humping... Actually, it is a yard on a hill so that the loco doesn't have tp push the cars all the wway to the car it is to couple with. There are 2 things that come up to hit the side of the wheel, that slow the car to the perfect speed so that it rolls and hits the car it is supposed to couple with at less than 5 MPH. This, of course doesn't always work and requires triming. It looks like the hill at Alyth Yard (CPR-Calgary) is about 3-4%, give or take. It is a nice looking yard, but personally for modelling I would find it alittle dull, but neat to see. I am sure the real crews like em. Happy Railroading!! Dane N. ------------------ BC Rail King TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info. BCRailKing@Canada.com
I caN't wait to see the plaNs for this hump yard! I just hope you caN figure out how to slow those cars dowN with the jets, without kNockiN' the light oNes off and haviNg the heavy oNes roll through the them like they areN't eveN there...CRASH! I caN just see the "BIG CARS" crashiNg iNto the parked striNg of cars iN "track 5" at "more thaN NomiNal speed"! Oh yeah, that will be cool ...NOT! But seriously, I hope you caN get it worked out. Maybe the ciNtrak club will come to the Next, New and improved, larger NTBN fuN-ruN iN JaNuary 2001. They might have some poiNters to give! (N-Scale is so cool I just have to capitalize all the "N's" iN every seNteNs!) ------------------ RAILROADING-TO-THE-MAX, BurliNgtoN NortherN/Santa Fe Style! BreNt Tidaback, Member #234 and a N-Scaler to boot! [This message has been edited by Maxwell Plant (edited 13 July 2000).]
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Maxwell Plant: I caN't wait to see the plaNs for this hump yard! I just hope you caN figure out how to slow those cars dowN with the jets, without kNockiN' the light oNes off and haviNg the heavy oNes roll through the them like they areN't eveN there...CRASH! I caN just see the "BIG CARS" crashiNg iNto the parked striNg of cars iN "track 5" at "more thaN NomiNal speed"! Oh yeah, that will be cool ...NOT! But seriously, I hope you caN get it worked out. Maybe the ciNtrak club will come to the Next, New and improved, larger NTBN fuN-ruN iN JaNuary 2001. They might have some poiNters to give! (N-Scale is so cool I just have to capitalize all the "N's" iN every seNteNs!) <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> OH Brother!! aNd I suppope you fiNd this sort of thiNg fuNNy doN't you BreNt. I agree with you DaNe, I will also skip the hump yard in my layout. But it would be Neat to see oNe in actioN. Matt N scale is better because: In one foot you can fit 73 more scale feet than in HO scale.
how would this be dull dane? what can you do in a flat yard now not much. with a hump, you could actually have switch crews humping cars if they dont wanna run trains in a circle. what do you do on yours just put the trains on and run in a circle at full speed all the time? ------------------ Norfolk Southern The Pack Mule of Transportation Mo-Pac RULES Heritage N-Scale Group, Joliet, Il.
A hump yard on the Home layout? No way, you caN't do a home layout hump yard, well you caN, but I wouldN't. You'd Need a pole barN to house your railway iN. But N-Scale would be the best way to do it. We're talkiNg about a N-Trak Hump yard here. ------------------ RAILROADING-TO-THE-MAX! Brent Tidaback, Member #234 and a N-Scaler to boot! [This message has been edited by Maxwell Plant (edited 15 July 2000).]
Yes a hump yard is possible in N. But you would have to adapt. The guy who made the hump yard was John Hiner in the CiNtrak club. The yard was run off the Ntrak mountain line and came off at a 90 degree angle to the Ntrak mains. It took about a 6ft extra module sticking out in front of the mains. The cars rolled over the hump, went through the air powered retarders, then curved around the end of the module and went into the yard on the other side of the module. Worked very well, but had to be split into at least 3 pieces to be moved. Hump yards are a great idea for a home layout , but I think that I would get a layout up and running well before I would put all the time and $ into a hump on a home layout. ------------------ Let's Go Run Trains MARK
When I read all replies to "hump yard" I feel a need to participate. I have for several years been thinking of a huge hump yard on my layout. Due to limited space I planned a small one which is under construction right now. The most tricky work was to get the hump to get the rigth sloop. About the uncoupling, I use the standard RAPIDO type (in spite of what many other think) and will try to use my own uncoupling device. You can find that device described on my "How To" pages at SR&WF homepage. There is also a preliminary track plan shown for the yard in whole including a turntable in front of a scratch built 4-track roundhouse. I´m looking forward to any replies or suggestions.
HelgeK, a warm welcome to TrainBoard I suppose, although most of us hate the rapido style couplers, they would be easier to uncouple for a hump yard. I will never have the space to even think of a hump, so I am interested in what others are doing in this respect. ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery Alan's European Gallery Alan's British Steam Gallery
Although I use Micro-Trains If i were building a hump yard i could see the benifits of using rapidos because I think they would be easier to uncouple at the top and would couple back together easier at the bottom. Kevin
I'd love to see the n-Scale hump yard this guy built. The only hump yard I've seen was an HO scale hump yard that was being displayed and used on a huge layout at the Springfield, Mass. train show two years ago. If it can be done this well in HO scale, I can't wait to see an n-sca;e version.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brent: I'd love to see the n-Scale hump yard this guy built. The only hump yard I've seen was an HO scale hump yard that was being displayed and used on a huge layout at the Springfield, Mass. train show two years ago. If it can be done this well in HO scale, I can't wait to see an n-sca;e version.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Brent. I´m not sure you were referring to my attempt to create a hump yard. If so, it will take some time before I can finish it because I have been so occupied with Trainboard, surfing and all other kind of Internet bussines . Anyhow, you can find some "ongoing" pictures on my site http://members.tripod.com/hkri1938 . ----------- Helge
Helge, I had a look at your pictures of your hump yard embryo Looks interesting - keep us informed of progress, please . ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery Alan's European Gallery Alan's British Steam Gallery
Just a few notes about the hump progress. I have mounted and tested my own uncoupling device on the hump. (RAPIDO of course). It works fine, only a few but´s. But 1: one have to lift the couple on the car that shall be droped, not on the previous car. But 2: The needle bearings on the trucks must work smoothly. I tested two boxcars that is the same, and noticed that one of them was slower than the other. The reason was that the truck sides was pressing too much on the axis. I widened the sides very carefully, and then it works fine. But 3: I dont think the weight of the cars gives any greater impact on the rolling down. IS THERE ANYONE that can give me info about any "standard" when it comes to the weight of cars ?????? ----------- Helge
