Suggestions please for this yard area.

A pinwheel ladder, where each switch is attached to the curved side of the previous one will generate a natural curve, giving you angled tracks to give you fairly long body tracks in the yard. If you want the longest tracks possible, use a compound ladder, where another switch is attached to each leg of the prior switch. A lead as long as your longest body track is very desirable, as is the ability to enter/leave the lead from either direction.

Interesting, I am not familiar with the term Pinwheel Ladder but will check it out. I think your compound ladder and a stack ladder are the same. Thanks for the input.

I think a curved switch coming off branching into a three or four way RCS Switch might be the way to go. See below.

The first question I think of is how will you actually use the yard? Do you enjoy shuffling cars and making up new trains? Or do you run trains, and the yards are storage for alternative trains?  You're actually  at a stage where you can lay out some track, put power to it, and see how the yard works for you.

I didn't think of a 3-way or 4-way switch, but those are even more space-saving than a compound ladder, and will give you the longest body tracks possible. Plus, they look cool.

@HiramO posted:

The first question I think of is how will you actually use the yard? Do you enjoy shuffling cars and making up new trains? Or do you run trains, and the yards are storage for alternative trains?  You're actually  at a stage where you can lay out some track, put power to it, and see how the yard works for you.

I have thought about this and consider some moves on stub end tracks to be my speed. I'm looking for middle ground which I think led me to an inner circle as a lead of a ladder switch set-up or, if possible the aforementioned three/four way yard switch.

I think testing a couple versions is a good idea. Thanks,

Paul

There is a third possibility in addition to terminal switching (making up new trains) and staging tracks (storing whole trains). It is route switching, in which cars or blocks of cars are changed in and out during a stop on the run. I run scheduled freights based on a 1951 B&O Freight Working Book. I have selectively compressed the operations through Cumberland Maryland.  Of 15 freights in the schedule, 12 require only route switching in Cumberland. Usually, a few cars are set out and others picked up. This is a lot of fun, and a lot less work than completely breaking down a train. It's completely prototypical, and gives you varied consists so you don't just run the same trains in circles. One train terminates in Cumberland, and two originate, so there is some terminal switching. Another interesting variation is the Timesaver freights, which ran as two separate trains west of Cumberland, one to Chicago and one to St. Louis, but were combined into one train east of Cumberland. These trains also had set outs and pickups in Cumberland. There is also the possibility to change engines, cabooses, and crews. You don't need a whole engine terminal to model this if you call one pair of yard tracks engine ready tracks.

That little, short, stub-end yard has tremendous potential to enhance your operational fun.

Biggest question is what do you want the yard to do? As stated, just storage/ swap cars? switching operations to serve industries? etc.
I'm a fan of both. I have a plan for a main yard for storage/ interchange, and a industrial area with a few businesses and a team track.
Track plans will vary depending on the answers to above. The 3 and 4 way switches are space savers but can cause operational issues with short engines hitting power gaps. A lead track off the main is important to keep the main line clear.

Here are some samples of typical ladder yard leads

Bob

Can't believe I forgot to mention route switching of passenger trains! I model a mix of 1949 and 1950 B&O operations through Cumberland in order to maximize the route switching there. For example, the Metropolitan Special carries a full diner east of Cumberland, but a Cafe-Club car west. The diner arrives in front of the rear sleeper, but to ease switching, the Cafe-Club is tacked on the rear. Later that diner will be added to the Chicago Express to serve dinner. The Met, which continues on to St. Louis, also sets out a storage mail car destined for Pittsburgh, which will be picked up later by the Washingtonian. Number 32, a mail and express train is completely rearranged in Cumberland. Originating in Chicago, it picked up cars from Detroit, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, which were simply tacked on the end. To facilitate later set outs in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia, the train is reblocked by destination. This type of switching would be tedious to do with every train, but I find it fun once in the schedule.

I don't have enough yard tracks to dedicate them to specific uses. Right now, a switcher has that Cafe-Club car on what is normally an engine track, because that's the only place it can get to the rear of the Met. The storage mail car sits what I intended as an arrival/departure track. There's no other place to put it that wouldn't complicate the switching excessively.

Using your tracks flexibly will dramatically increase your operating possibilities.

Ken, the route switching is a very elegant method of minimal switching with a purpose. I like it.

Bob, I thank you for the detailed reply and especially the diagrams of various ladders and leads. Very helpful. Like you I am a fan of having both storage yards and switching at industries.

My (current) decision to have a long passing siding for both my Passenger and Freight Mainlines has eaten up a good bit of that 8 x 12 table. It also makes the picture in the initial post inacurate.

This trade-off does allow me to run two very long (approx ten 18" passenger cars) consists on the Passenger Main and two quite long (approx 16 freight cars) consists on the Freight Main. But once again - it does reduce the yard size I originally had in mind.

My objective now is to have some switching without it looking like a hot mess. I'm also leaving some space for a small street / downtown / concert scene. Lots to think about but I'm getting my first round of switches from Steve (RCS) this weekend at the Big E and will commence laying of track soon.

OK - time to fiddle some more. I'll update as progress / decisions are made.

Thanks again gentlemen.

Paul