I am sure this is not a new topic, but, I am seeking advice on the most "efficient" yard that could be put into a space approximately 5 X 7 feet. The only entrance to this space is at one corner. I have attached some photos of the space as well as a "diagram" of the space. This would be "stub track" yard used for storage of engines and extra rolling stock.
Any suggestions...other than get some free layout design software and work it out.
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Looking at the pictures and thinking that coming into to the yard using curve switches to provide four lead tracks and the into eight yard tracks.
I used gargraves track and the ross four way switch and ended up with six dead end freight yard tracks holding 63 twelve inch cars.
Thanks...I'll look at that...perhaps someone has an idea?
I don't think I've ever hit my head on the ceiling...perhaps, I hit it so hard I can't remember...but, really that is not a problem.
Desperate train folks do desperate things, I suppose...better to have this that a 4 X 8 sheet of plywood in the corner...that has to be folded up against the wall when not in use.
Are you going to have a need to reach across the 5 foot width? Gonna be hard to do unless you have an access hatch.
I recently added on a 24" x 14' "yard" and found I had less room for track than I thought, 30" wide would have been ideal but I couldn't do it, this is what I ended up with (lower left side):
I use the left-most track as a staging track, making up and tearing down trains. I can only get a 6-7 car train in there before I start fouling the switches. I use the run-around at the bottom left to uncouple the engine and get it back to the engine facility on the right edge of the yard. I use the track in the middle of the Wye for a place to put my yard switcher so I can put the cars in order before coupling the road engine to the train.
Yard trackage (switches) can get expensive real quick. I'd go for the most simple design I would be happy with.
pro hobby, what are the dimensions of your hump yard in the schematic??
SD60M,
This is my hidden staging yard. Entry is from the far right along the top. Switches and curves are all O31. Track is GarGraves and Ross. Switches are Ross. The yard takes roughly 5' x 8.5' although you could shorten it. It does meet your requirement of a single entry point.
Hope this helps.
George
Yard design with two mainlines feeding into a hump yard.
The attached track segment shows a hump yard with yard makeup storage tracks. The yard allows trains coming from the "east" or coming from the "west" on separate mainlines. A single hump would be used for sorting and making up car consists.
Yard storage tracks are provided "north" and "south" of the mainlines.
While it is pretty and symmetrical, it seems rather dysfunctional with all that stuff in the middle. It doesn't look like any hump yard I've ever seen.
As for the OP's question, 7' isn't much to work with for an O scale yard. You might be able to cram in 4 tracks with some useful length if you run them diagonally through your space and use a Ross 4 way.
I am sure this is not a new topic, but, I am seeking advice on the most "efficient" yard that could be put into a space approximately 5 X 7 feet. The only entrance to this space is at one corner. I have attached some photos of the space as well as a "diagram" of the space. This would be "stub track" yard used for storage of engines and extra rolling stock.
Any suggestions...other than get some free layout design software and work it out.
Do you have any minimum radius requirements? Is 031 switches/curves okay or do you want/need something larger?
I don't think I've ever hit my head on the ceiling...perhaps, I hit it so hard I can't remember...but, really that is not a problem.
Desperate train folks do desperate things, I suppose...better to have this that a 4 X 8 sheet of plywood in the corner...that has to be folded up against the wall when not in use.
That is a very creative and impressive use of space! Looks like it's in the garage and you can still park cars underneath? Sure is one way to eliminate the duck-unders! Looks quite large as well. You must have put a LOT of thought into that layout. Very nice!
I am interested in a yard also, will be following your thread here.
If you can work it into your layout design (can't really tell from your pictures), I would suggest using a Ross 4-way yard switch. Pricey, perhaps, but you get more switching in a smaller space. It worked well for me.
I agree on use of the Ross 4-way switch for efficiency in a yard. My layout is too small for a regular yard---mine is strictly a Service Yard with Enginehouse and 6 service towers[towers not in place due to work platform]. No train makeup and very limited car storage room.
Entry and exit from inner mainline via curved turnouts
I see we now have 3 votes for a Ross 4 way. I believe there's a pattern developing.
After my first post, I did the math on the 5'x7' space. The diagonal is about 8'-8". You lose a little more 1' per switch, so your longest tracks will hold 6 or 7 average cars. If you are running Lionel autoracks, then it's 3 per track.
As you add more tracks, you get diminishing returns, since each additional track gets shorter due to switch loss and perimeter constraints. This is why I only suggested 4 tracks. If you widen it to 6 tracks, the outer tracks will only hold about 3 cars each.
Over lunch today, my wife brought up the fact that they are now making 105" diagonal flat screen TV's. You could scrap the whole yard and one of those monsters would fit perfectly.
Not knocking the Ross 4 way at all. I love them and have used several. But, given the direction from which you are entering the yard, I think you may be better off using curved switches. Your yard lead gets smaller but your storage tracks get longer
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