Started my first layout a few years ago and then was put on hold. Just got my bench work up when my daughter decided to further her education. I'm using Atlas #7's in the yard. The unused side of the throw is in the way of the track beside it. I take it you trim off the opposite side of the throw slide so the other track can be attached unencumbered. Or, do I need to put small pieces of track between the switches to extend the space between the tracks. It's a ladder yard btw.
Typically, you cut off the side you don't need. The prototypes only had then on one side, right? The amount of straight track added between turnouts in a yard ladder determines the spacing between the parallel yard tracks. You need to decide what you want that to be, and then figure out whether you need to add any straight sections, and how much to add. Real railroads typically had their tracks so close together that, when scaled-down to some of our smaller scales (especially N and Z), we would not be able to get our fingers between two cars on adjacent tracks. So, to allow for the "five finger crane" to fix yard mishaps, make sure you have the space to pick up a car that gets derailed.
That's why the switches are made that way, so you can cut off the unneeded side of the throw bar. Just pull the points all the way over to the side opposite the unneeded throw and cut it off. They're made that way so you can use a switch stand on either side of the switch or throw it from either side. Doug
Also, if you intend on doing any operations, leave enough room between tracks to be able to read the car number.
