Compromising on the plan for an operating layout

I think we all have compromises.  I know some preach to have proper yard leads and never foul the main, but with limited spaces it is next to impossible with most of our layouts.  In the real life fouling the main happens all the time on short lines.  

You do what you have to do.  If your happy it is the right thing to do.

Al

Agreed with posters above, compromises happen for everyone.  I've found that some compromises become more fun when you are playing with your trains. 

Example - 1 siding serving 2 industries, might force you to shuffle cars around. 

the compromises tend to get more of my motive power involved when i'm doing things.  And having Legacy and being able to have many engines on one track, I find it the best when I'm running many trains with ease to help shuffle cars to get those fish to the aquarium!

It's not at all unusual for a local freight to use the main while switching a town.  If there is room in the siding or industry tracks to that the local can "clear the main" so that another train can get by, that is really what is needed.  In some cases, there is no passing siding at all and all switching is done using the main.  On my layout, the coal mine in the left rear of this photo (behind the hill) is switched from the main since there was no room for a passing siding.

Here is a passing siding that is long enough for a train to "clear the main."  It is about 13 and a half feet long.

We all have to make compromises.  I often tell the HO guys that the best thing about O-scale is that it's BIG and the worst thing about O-scale is that it's BIG.  Trains and structures are impressive but take up a lot of space! 

As Bob says above the way freight will occupy the main while switching.  He just has to clear the main to allow scheduled traffic to pass.  With our small model railroads these scheduled trains are usually traveling at supersonic speeds.

I think that most larger model railroads and clubs use "fast clocks" and "scale miles (smiles)" because they are meant for conducting prototypical operations.  You can do a search on the we.  Here's a starting point.

http://www.opsig.org/

Jan