Track Plan Critique Please...

Well, it would depend on where you want the "main depot" to be, i'm guessing thats down the bottom, which is pressed for space. You could possibily fit a few short tracks in that large space at the top, and maybe at the area to the left of the plan, but no, i cant find any particular area that would take a yard easily, remembering a yard works best with a track for a Run-Around, the other option is to do loops of the whole layout, which isnt ideal.

If you could move the location of National Fuel and the Passenger Sataion, it would open up some space

Hope this helped
Alexander

 

I just tried moving national fuel and the passenger depot, but the yard just didnt fit there. Oh well, like the adage goes, we all wish we had more space...hehehe.

 

how many Cras per train are you planning on running? because if your running with less cars you dont need as much space for the yard

 

6-8, maybe 10 at very most just to add some difficulty

 

hmmm, you proabaly could fit a small Yard there, just the Classification Tracks, nothing else, after all, i've fitted a small yard in a 4x8

 

This would a prototype local do too. And you can use that unused spur also.

Wolfgang

 

I can tell you where there is an auto-rack sitting off a spru that hasnt moved in at least three years.

Get this... you want to talk about fouling the main. There is a line that goes thru town here, runs from Bismark, thru Park Hills, then on to Ste Genevieve. Its like the back door into the Ste Genvieve yard I am guessing in case the flood gates are closed, or BNSF's main is fouled.

At the west end of Park Hills there is a switch, north goes into Park Hills and serves the Glass Group plant, and a few other industries including at least one in Bonne Terre, MO. Go south, and you go to Ste Genevieve.

Last summer, just east of this switch on the Ste Genevieve side, there was a strong of about 10 auto-racks being stored. Talking about getting something out of the way...lol. They came over about ten miles of probably 60 year old track and left the fouling the main inot Ste Genevieve!!! No wander RR's lose cars...lol.

The spur method is how the glass plant is switched, you can sit across the street and watch the guys switch cars, 100 feet away and perfectly legal, awesome spot..hehe. Anyway, they have one track into the unloader, and a spur that isnt used anymore. Anyway, as the cars are unloaded, they are moved out onto the spru using a trackmobile (which I have yet to get a good picture of). Loads are delivered Tue, Thur, and Sat onto the unloading track, and the empties are picked up and taken back to Bismark.

Covered hoppers are also taken up to Bonne Terre, to a quarry I think, no sure what they are bringing in or out. Funny thing though, there is a wye at Bonne Terre, yet the crews dont bother to turn the engine. They have to run LHF next time one way anyway...lol If I can figure out how to upload some google earth images i'll show you.

Hey admin, can we upload google earth images?

P.S. This is all from observation...I know there are several UP employees around here but dont know any of them.

 

Yes, the rules really depend on what line it is

If its a 300 train per day line, the Main lines need to be kept clear

if its a 3 train per day branch,, the rules are more leneient

 

BTW, that switch is at...

37°49'51.63"N
90°32'6.32"W

Plug that into Google Earth or similiar and you should get right on top of the switch I was talking about.

 

ok, i didnt really see a switch tho

 

See the bridge across the river right there? Look just southwest of that...right in the wye is the switch, you cant really make out individual tracks very well, but thats where it is.

Also, here is a look at Flat River Glass...



Any questions?

 

Hmmmmm, ok. I'll take another look

 

ahh, yep, i see it, barely

 

hmmmmm, i've seen things like that here in Australia
http://locopage.railpage.org.au/sra/x100x200.html

Are they considered locos?

 

What you showed are small diesel locomotives. The trackmobile has road wheels too. I'm not sure if it's legally a locomotive, but I sure don't consider it one.

 

hmmmm, there not exactly the same, but the principals are the same, small Switching unit, yeah

I consider them to be special locomotives

 

I wouldn't even classify it as a small switching unit as I don't believe it's intdended purpose is for switching, although, it does get used in some circumstances for moving some cars around. It really depends on how the railroad chooses to use them. I think it is only used for this purpose "in a pinch". I also see them used at the diesel house, pushing non-running locomotives onto the turntable and into the diesel house.

They are versatile little critters - I'd classify it as a maintenance or utility vehicle.