Would like some feedback on a 4'x10' island type layout I come in possession of a lot of Kato unitrack so I will utilize that. I would have liked to built around the walls layout but could not. My 9 year old son will be helping so using kato unitrack will be good.. but will later be weathered and ballasting. We will have some small operating sessions with basic train movements (just introduction for him) anyway here goes.. It 4'x10' with divider between sides Mountain scenery on one side and city scenery where yard is. In the pic you will not see the divider or mountain scenery. well anyway here goes nothing... ;-)
I’m assuming the trains are running counter clockwise. It might be kind of hard for trains to get out of the right side of the yard. I understand that having the ladder that way gets you more track length, but it collapses away from the main instead of towards it. If the train is running clockwise, it has to go completely through the yard in order to back into another track. However, that depends on how you run the yard too. If you bring in trains exclusively to AD, cut the power and take it to the engine yard, then disassemble with yard power, I could see how it works. This would also mean the yard power sits on the runaround (left) and then moves over to the yard lead to work the train.
The local freight will have a lot of trouble working all the sidings in one trip. It would have to run both clockwise and counter clockwise to work them all. More crossovers would allow it to do runaround movements and work most or all of them.
All great input... I will add some more run around.. especially the ones you guys pointed out. Thanks!
