In the beginning

In the beginning I started out laying track out on my living room carpet. I was not (and still am not) familiar with any of the computer track planning programs, and had hopes that someone would show up to help me. There was one gentleman that looked very promising, but he had a very full schedule and told me it would likely be at least 6 months before we could begin on mine.

I was still unsure that he would be willing to draw up a plan that was as 'compact' as I was envisioning.

I then ventured off onto drawing "full scale paper track plans" on brown paper. I really liked this method/presentation. I thought I finally had arrived at a method that would finalize things and give me a set plan to just follow directly.

Then finally about a month ago, I thought I had it all under control,..

Ah ha, ...as I began to lay down cork and track for this portion of the upper level, I found I could make some good changes with longer Peco turnouts in the place of the original ones,   Laying Cork Roadbed   
 

Then yesterday a few other

Then yesterday a few other items to consider,...reconsider had me doing some more rethinking. I'll document a few of those later today

Track spacing in the yard?

What is the track spacing in the yard?

Track Spacing

I have a mixture of track spacing in that yard,...2", 2 1/4", 2 1/2",      ...and 2 3/4" between the 2 tracks serviced by the fueling/sanding structure.

I also have one smaller spacing of 1 3/4" between 2 of the tracks that exit the rolling mill,...that will be holding freight cars full of milled steel metals ready to be shipped out.

I've also eliminated that vertical support rod between the 2 decks. I substituted a wire hanging from the ceiling. It opened up that clear space, and allowed unimpeded track possibilities.

Two Double Curve Turnouts

Two Double Curve Turnouts Feeding that Freight Yard

So at this point I had pretty much decided on the track spacing I needed for my yard and the fueling/sanding facility. I needed to go back and rearrange those 2 double curved turnouts to 1) match up with that spacing,... AND  2)to connect to the ladder of other turnouts,...AND 3)to match up with the loop of track from the peninsula.

I had originally chosen those 2 Roco curves for that job as I liked their larger outer radi. But as I inspected them more closely I became a bit concerned about their frog designs. They are excessively wide, and allow a lot of drop in the wheels of cars as they pass over the frog....

What might I do about it? I drug out my trusty old Peco curves that were a little bit better. BUT upon closer inspection I discovered why I have chosen the Rocos over the Pecos. The Pecos were just a little too 'curvy',...their radi were definitely tighter/smaller,...and I was already at the minimum radi I wanted for the track connecting to peninsula area
 

I tried them in several combinations, and in all cases chose the Roco's. I am just going to have to modify the frogs of these 2 Roco turnouts,.... And the example I will follow is that presented by Mr Lutz back over here,..
https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/most-reliable-3way-turnout-12209676
 

(This exercise consumed 2 days of my time)

But now I am pretty happy that my locos and cars should be able to enter all tracks of my freight yard very smoothly,..
 

...just have to translate this onto the thinner cork roadbed I'll be using for these remaining freight yard tracks.

What a pain in the you know what !!

I'm laying down the track in this freight yard ladder, and rolling some cars thru the tracks to determine any problems, And I am running a few 6 axle DC diesels thru the tracks. First I rediscovered that I would need to remove those solenoid controls on the Roco double curve turnouts. They interfered with steps of the locos. I had suspected this originally, but had forgotten about it.

I also discovered that some of my track joints that I had soldered were slightly un-level and causing a nasty little bump to loco wheels, and even an eventual derail a short distance away for the 6 axle trucks.

So I final got all the tracks in place and tacked down with nails (rather than caulk) in this area. i then discover that my subroadbed of cork is just NOT smooth and gradual enough. Of course a lot of that problem results from my 'double gradation' , that of grading down from the mainline tracks, and grading down to the side to the freight yard tracks. I've got high spots that are causing problems with my level running engines.

I'm going to have to pick up a large section of that trackage (as a group of turnouts) as re-sand that cork roadbed to get a more level surface. And that means I need to unsolder a whole bunch of feeder wires I had already installed.What a pain in the ____.

I guess its a good thing I discovered these flaws now before I had added even more stuff to the area.

(I almost wish I had left all cork roadbed off of my layout !!!)

Freight? Yard

Which part of the yard is actually for freight? I only see two tracks that aren't loco service or running tracks. Not much useable capacity there...

Easier

The Stanley Surform Shaver tool - https://www.stanleytools.com/products/hand-tools/demolition-tools/files-surform/714-in-surform-shaver/21-115-- is good for handling cork roadbed.  They also make flat, straight versions that are good for gently smoothing out cork. One of our guys collects the cork powder that results to use as filler.

Transitions from high roadbed to low roadbed need to be smooth, probably 150% the length of the engines and cars that will be rolling over them.

Freight Yard Tracks & Freight Yard Size

I believe I have 4 freight yard tracks,..including one that would  bring trains into the 'yard tracks'. My yard ladder turnouts will permit access to all but one of those tracks from either end. Only one will be a dead end track.

Admittedly my freight yard is not very big, but that's all I could accommodate on my condensed layout plan.

PS: I also have 2 tracks designated to hold fabricated steel rolls and pipe from the rolling mill, ...outboard of the fueling tracks. 

Yards

Brian,

I can understand your frustration with the cork.  I've never bothered with different levels for the main and sidings/yard.  I didn't want to deal with the extra work and frustration, so I just eliminated it and kept the same level of cork everywhere. 

When I lay ballast however, I fill the low spot between the cork in the yard with plaster, then ballast over it.  It gives the appearance of a yard, without the grade change. 

Since I love yards, out of curiosity, how do you intend to operate your yard?  Are trains actually made up/broken down here?  Are cars just collected in the yard to be picked up by locals or through trains that pass by? Or do you have some other scheme in mind?

Looking good. Can't wait to see the yard when all the tracks are laid!  

Work on Yard Ladder

So the morning started out good. As it turns out I didn't need to remove as many tracks and turnouts as I first

imagined to get at that cork roadbed. Here are the 2 groupings I removed and set off to the side,..

 

I laid a metal straight edge down that strip of cork and identified the irregularities. I definitely had some high spots along the way. I utilized some sanding blocks and sanding boards with 50 and 80 grit paper,...and got it pretty level and smooth.

(to be continued)

So I reinstalled the tracks

So I reinstalled the tracks in order to run a few more test with freight cars and a loco. WOW, I was still getting some derails,...far fewer but still not satisfactory. I still seemed to detect some 'proud track',...and it was in the area of a couple of the turnout frogs. These 2 small radius Pecos seemed to be the culprits,..

I need to pick this track back up (again) and do a closer inspection. At first the turnouts appear to be normal for used turnouts,...a little glue and discoloration of the bottoms of the ties,.
 

BUT, then I noticed the 'proud center tracks', particularly around the frog areas. I took a number of photos, but it was a little difficult to get good views. These photos I present here are more easy to see the defects, but in reality it was a bit harder to detect upon my initial inspection.

This is the first time i have seen a defect such as this.

These proud frogs were certainly contributing to my derailments.

Yard Track Analysis

Here's how I see your useable tracks in the yard area:

The first three tracks against the wall are obviously your main/through tracks. The first one has no connection to the yard and the next two are full of crossovers and lead to another yard ladder which if I remember your layout drawing from other posts leads to your steam roundhouse and servicing area.

Next, you have four clear yard tracks, except you've eliminated two of them for diesel locomotive service so you only have two left for freight yard tracks. (You might want to just put a fuel stand over by your roundhouse and service the diesels there....)

The fifth track (last one before the support post) can't be used to park cars if you still want to access the spur heading left into that structure placeholder, unless you add an additional crossover between that and the sixth track. Then you have three yard tracks (five if you get rid of the loco service).

The sixth (closest) track is obviously a lead/running track that services the mill to the foreground of the photo. Cars can't be left here.

So, if you keep that loco service facility there, you only have 2-3 actual yard tracks. 5 if you get rid of that.

Paul and Chris

I've even managed to confuse myself, .....So I will take an updated photo tomorrow morning and try to explain my abbreviated yard's operation and its tracks,...no icon for confused.

Yard Size and Operation

One of my givens (desires) for my new layout design was to include a maximum number of different industries (and structures) that might be associated with railroads. And on my relatively small layout that meant I could NOT include space hungry yards/etc to their fullest extent. I had to limit the size of my freight yard and my 2 container ports.

I also wanted a good number of my steam and diesel engines 'displayed' on my layout rather than sitting in a display case. My turntable/roundhouse/coaling tower scene takes care of my steam engine 'display'. The fueling/sanding tracks of my freight yard are destined to 'display' a number and variety of my diesel engines.

Of course this further limited the size of my freight yard (as did the encroachment of the steel mill scene),...ah compromises. So lets see if I can explain my freight yard.

These are a couple of the latest track plans,..

 
The track back against the wall is the access track for trains coming up from, and going down the helix to staging tacks below.

The next 2 tracks inboard of that are the 2 mainlines (that actually make a reverse loop inside the big external helix room).

Next in we have the first of 4 freight yard tracks (the one with the BNSF engine and cars sitting on it).

Then comes the 2 fueling tracks. That fuel tank car sitting there is a 'converted tank car' I hope to fit in there as an interim fuel supply that's being supplied via pipes by an off site bigger tank.

The last 3 tracks are primarily related to the steel mill..

I had original thought that at least 2 of these would be constantly full of steel mill products ready to ship out of the rolling mill, BUT during my planning I realized I was trying to bring in my scrap steel to the EAF via one of my fueling tracks,...so I had to add another crossover pair of turnouts to alleviate this situation. Now that steel products track is going to play 'musical chairs' with the other center track.

The steel mill track at the outer edge is going to have to remain clear for all of the traffic that needs to utilize it,...incoming ore cars, coke cars, and limestone cars,...outgoing slag cars, maybe some hot metal cars, etc.

Both my steel mill tracks and freight yard tracks are going to be VERY busy tracks due to their limited number. So think my freight yard tracks are NOT going to be holding any cars for an extended time,...things need to keep moving..... at quiet a pace!!

updated photo...

Ah, that's suddenly not even the same yard as shown in the photos in the first post of this thread.

Yes Chris I believe you are

Yes Chris I believe you are correct. I've been changing things around as I go, and this freight yard was a pain to try and get the entry and exit turnouts to match up, etc. I think I am happy with this final result, even though it is smaller than I originally wished.

Yard Scene

Brian,

Those new yard pictures are great.  I can see all the work you've put in to make sure everything fits and lines up properly.  Certainly not an easy task, but you've pulled it off wonderfully. Kudos to you!

Your layout looks like one I would really like running op sessions on.  It reminds me of a layout nearby that is merely 4'x8' with an extension.  3 or 4 of us run 3 hour op sessions on it and have a royal blast.  All of us leave with big smiles on our face.  Your layout is going to be in that same category of enjoyment.