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Are Location of facilities in this yard plausible - New Plan Updated 7/8/20 - WAS: Is this "Trackplan" Plausible? Dream and design
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Prolific poster 2,863 posts kleaverjr Prolific poster 2,863 posts
kleaverjr

Hello Everyone!

I need feedback as to how plausible is this outline of a track layout for the Northern Terminus for my Proto-Freelanced Pennsylvania & Allegheny RR, a wholly owned subsidiary of the NYC in 1953.

The location is South Erie, PA.  It receives freight cars from the NKP (via Yard Transfer Run from this P&A Yard to Conneaut, PA), and the NYC (via Yard Transfer from Erie, PA as well as various NYC Freight Trains interchanging cars directly in the South Erie Yard).  Some NYC Passenger Trains heading E-W on the NYC Mainline from Buffalo to Chicago also make a station stop for Passengers heading South (to Pittsburgh) or Southeast (to Harrisburg) on the P&A.  The NYC also drops of REA cars heading in those directions, and possibly a Coach or Sleeper car for the P&A to take to Pittsburgh or Harrisburg. 

South Erie have full Commissary, Railway Post Office, and REA servicing facilities.  As well as a back-shop and engine repair facility. 

To make all of this fit however, I am running into a problem.  I have drawn a quick sketch in Paint showing where the various “pieces” fit.  The Black line is the P&A Mainline.  The Red Line at the very end of either side of the P&A Main is the NKP/NYC interchange (they go into staging representing trains heading East/West on the NYC and the NKP transfer from the West to Conneaut).  The Purple Lines are where the Freight Yard and Locomotive/Freight Car Servicing Facilities are located.  The Passenger Station and Service Facilities are represented by the green lines. 

The reason for the WYE in the middle of all of this is because of other layout requirements forces me to start the mainline at that location and not at the far end on either side. 

The other "problem" is the distance from where the "WYE" is to the Freight Yard is about 30'. (approximately a typical length for one of my towns). 

The question I have is how plausible is this? 

I am presuming to impose “Yard Limit” rules on the entire area shown, so that would allow for locomotives to cut off from any passenger train and head to the engine facility on the mainline without the need for Timetable authority or a Train order.  Would that be appropriate? 

Any thoughts and feedback would be appreciated. 

Thanks.

Ken L.

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h_erie_0.jpg 
Reply 0
Pennwest MRH Author 79 posts
Pennwest

Yard Limits

The B&O in Cincinnati had yard limits extending about 8 miles from the actual classification yards, so having your area defined as within yard limits is not without precedent.

 
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laming Super User 3,965 posts
laming

Yard Limits...

...are defined by the railroad itself.

I have switched/operated prototype trains within a yard limit that covered MP 407.5 - MP 422.5. That's 15 miles of yard limit that spanned two towns and several yards. It also included a wye.

You're limit coverage is fine.

Andre
Kansas City & Gulf: Ozark Subdivision, Autumn of 1964
 
The "Mainline To The Gulf!"
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David Husman dave1905 MRH Author 9,846 posts
David Husman dave1905

Considerations

Engine moves would still have to clear First Class trains to and from the wye, and any connecting passenger trains to and from the red line on the left.  Freight trains to and from the red line on the right would have to also clear passenger trains to and from the wye to the passenger terminal and to and from the red line to the left.

Yard limits can be as long as necessary.

Dave Husman

Visit my website :  https://wnbranch.com/

Blog index:  Dave Husman Blog Index
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kleaverjr Prolific poster 2,863 posts
kleaverjr

Separating Passenger Car Facilities from Station Platforms

Because of certain space limitations, I'm being forced to move the Railway Post Office, Commissary, Railway Express Agency Facility and Coach yard 1.5 miles away from the Passenger Platforms.  The reason why the Passenger Station and Platforms must be on the Right (east) side of the station, is there will be some Mail & Express along with two Limited's that originate in Buffalo - one heading to Pittsburgh the other heading to Harrisburg.  The Limited Express Trains make a stop here at the station, change from NYCS locomotive(s) to P&A locomotive(s), and then proceed south on the Northern Division.  The NYCS would use the P&LE for passengers coming from the West to reach Pittsburgh and then onto points further east on the P&A.  There would be a need to handle the P&A local passenger trains, along with the Limited Express trains once they have terminated at the station and prepare for new consists heading south and southeast. 

There is no room on the model to fit all these facilities right next to the Station/Platforms on the layout.  I could argue that the railroad was unable to purchase property closer next to the station, and the location of the WYE was the only property available for the right of way south from this location.   

Is this all plausible?

Thanks all.

Ken L.


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BLACK is P&A Main
PURPLE is P&A Freight Yard
BLUE is P&A Passenger Service Tracks (Coach Yard, REA, RPO, etc)
RED is points east and west - lines head to NYCS 4-Track Mainline.

uth_erie.jpg 
Reply 0
David Husman dave1905 MRH Author 9,846 posts
David Husman dave1905

Nothing says they all have to

Nothing says they all have to be together.

Most "main" post offices in older cities were near the railroad tracks because trains handled most of the intercity mail.  So they weren't "railway post offices" they were just "post offices" that were next to a railroad.

Dave Husman

Visit my website :  https://wnbranch.com/

Blog index:  Dave Husman Blog Index
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