More....

Went through the switch inventory, 4 L #6, 2 R #6, 2 L#4 that are good, and 4 R #4's that need a little bit of help...

Siding

I see an arrow to the left side under the yard track; this seems the main line.

I see the siding not against the yard track but over the mainline, next the edge.

If I understand the plan this mean each switching train need to travel through the main to pick up awaiting train on the siding, or course if I misunderstand, the main pass close to the edge and the siding is the track against the yard track but this is something to explore.

Second I also model in N scale; you show a collection of turnout but just my opinion, they have no live frog, which can cause locomotives to stall on them specially short wheelbase locomotives and N scale locomotive.

This is perhaps problematic for a switching use; but just my opinion.

It sounds like you want staging rather than a yard to me.

That yard is decent, although the passing siding and yard lead are both shorter than they should/could be. 
The interchange track is also short if all the cars are going through it.

A 2 or 3 track staging yard could give variety to your operations.

Funny how you mentioned that

My layout is on a shelf, I can pull it down with ease...I have been contemplating rotating the layout 180° to allow for one and a hidden staging track. 

Yard to fit te rest of the layout

As has been noted, maybe you want staging than than an active yard. But if you do want an active yard, how it fits in with the rest of the layout is key. (I apologize, I'm not here that often and others may know your existing plan by heart.) A generic published yard might work, but the odds are against it. The one you shared seems to be designed with the expectation of more layout in both directions, which you won't have.

One technique that has worked well for me is to overlap switching leads, yard tracks, and industry tracks as much as possible (I wrote about this idea in the July 2009 MRH). An example of this is an N-Scale layout made up of two roughly 1'X4' T-Track modules.

The builder operated it most of the time with no corners, and you can see how the industry switch lead and yard switch lead overlap.

Good luck with your layout expansion.

Byron

My starter section on my layout is like the two t track modules together. The details are different but the idea is the same. I have a small yard on one side and a major industry facing the opposite direction. 

Another idea on the extension

IF…I rotate the layout 180°, with minimal changes, I can add a staging track and make a functional junction. Washington Blvd would need to be relocated, and Playa Desnuda Shell would be the closest industry to the yard, and the freight station would be the furthest away.

Above is the basic track plan, the spur on the right is actually a straight line out of a #6 switch, and that is the Shell depot, and that is at the back of the layout.

By adding the staging track, the Southern Pacific can pull a train into the yard, and pull another out, enhancing operations and allowing the layout to grow at the same time…..the extension would possibly be a mirror image of the plan above.

You spin me right round…

So…I have rotated the layout 180°, this will allow me to add a staging track and build a functional junction, making an interchange yard….

this is placing Playa Desnuda Shell on the front of the layout, and on the other side!

"Linda Sand drew up this yard

Looks pretty good to me. You could have a small engine service area on the left front spur and perhaps a team track on the right spur. I might move the right run around siding turnout  closer to the section joint to increase the run around track length a bit....DaveB

Going to be braving Lowe's tomorrow...

I was building my shelf unit that I place my layout on for the extension,  putting in the last screw into my last piece of 1x3....POP! Split the lumber, pre-drilled the hole too...

Road construction ahead

Well, the new extension is assembled and mounted Now the fun begins, expect to see Southern Pacific MOW equipment pictures.  I am going to change the crossing from 90° to a 15° crossing, a #4 switch will lead into the yard, and I wii have a staging track in the rear. Byron, further down the road, I plan to add a drop down shelf with a track or two...that way the train will fully run through town...

The Pacific Electric MOW

Men at Work...

So, I fixed the kink and the

So, I fixed the kink and the junction is glued down.

So I am using #4’s to get the yard tracks to fan out quicker. The yard feeds off of the interchange track. There are a pair of #6’s on both ends of the interchange and PE mainline with enough room for an old Rivarossi 2-8-2 and a Dimi Trains Vanderbilt tender to make a run around.

I was able to find a spot for the very first laser cut kit that I ever built.

Back in October when I went

Back in October when I went out to Shawmut to chase the Big Boy (https://sopacincg.com/big-boy-day/ ), I picked up a pair of spikes from the old Sunset Route mainline. They have been sitting on my tool box since.

Today, I decided to put them to a good use while working on the far end of the yard. I took my four foot rule and marked straight lines from one end to another. I then took the old Atlas Mikado with the Dimi Trains Vanderbilt tender, added an inch or so to the length and decided that is how much room I needed at the end of the run around. I put the #6 crossover in place and laid the track to the egde of the layout. I put glue under the flex track, and used the spikes and a can of acetone for weight. Tomorrow I plan to ballast the switches and lay the track between the two sets of crossovers.

More track work

The Gandy Dancers from Laguna de los Borrachos worked on the Washington Blvd yard tonight and Rule G was quickly broken.

They got the job done quickly and got the two sets of crossovers connected. They plan to come back in the morning and work on laying track in the yard.

The yard is taking shape

I realized that I need to relocate the arrival track and drill track on the other side of that crossover...too close together.

I am going to place the engine house where the Dremel is and I am thinking about putting my freight station between a spur and the drill track. (Where the Atlas station is sitting)

(No subject)

Little bit of work, a little bit of railfaning…

The track crew is done with the yard

(No subject)

Until you get some track

Until you get some track bumpers in, I would strongly suggest putting some pushpins in at the end of those yard tracks. It’s a long way off the Mesa to the canyon floor!

Pins?

My plan is some clear acrylic sheet that sticks up a little 

Stupid foamers

I have now learned why railroads hate foamers...the electricians from Laguna de los Borrachos worked in the Washington Blvd yard this cool 80° morning (I live in the middle of the Sonoran Desert) and while wiring up the extension (all black feeders are on the rails and all red feeders are tinned), one of the electricians put their Double IPA down a little hard and that part of the yard (and the floor below) was covered in foam. These darn foamers sure make a mess. The electricians were also drinking Jameson...I really need to hire a new electrician...