Yard Plans... cost cutting!

Knowing how your existing layout is on the other side of the wall, I would try for the maximum length of a siding. You run shorter trains so it will be a matter the sidings vs the consist. The extra space is a great idea.

My own preference for that situation would be to have more double-ended sidings for easier in-and-out operation of longer trains. Maybe put the trolley on a separate upper level loop-to-loop mostly at the back.

Ace,

I'll see you and raise you one!  How 'bout this....

Trains come in on center track, go left or right at the end of the center track, then park in a siding facing out (ready to go).... center track handles all in/out traffic and reversing loop functions.  All other tracks are for parking.

I still get my trolley line as a point to point in the front.

lots of switches, tho... $$$$$$$

Thanks for the idea.. still crunching ideas in my head!

Ed

That's a pretty good idea.  My storage yard is a ladder yard in the next room but I have to back the trains in there. One advantage though, the sidings are longer without that reverse loop.

.....

Dennis

Dennis,

I started with the back-in plan for the same reason, but I like Ace's idea.  My trains are almost all 5 or 6 cars long, and it's all O-27, traditional, Railking size.  The layout this connects to is only 12' x 12' and all curves are only O-36.

Your yard looks great!  Hoping I can remote control from "afar", with the help of a camera in the other room.

The "big picture" is to set this at 27" off the floor, the height of my main layout.  Then, given time and $$$, I will add a stand-alone tinplate layout about 12" above it, so that the trolley track looks like a subway.  Of course, I could spend the time completing some of the "details" on my main layout!

Still thinking about it,

Ed

ps. I'm retired too, and much like yourself, I also work a being a full time pain in 'de butt.

Good, Ed.  I'd go ahead then.  I think with shorter trains all traditional size, that last yard with the return loop is the way to go.

.....

Dennis

Yes, that new design looks great.

Dennis in Piscataway,

I use XtrkCad... free and pretty easy to use.

If you right click and save the picture I posted, you can look closer and see the separations between sections better.  All O-36 switches, long pieces are 30" section, some 10" sections and 5" sections, then a few "fitter" pieces, either 1 3/4" or 1 3/8".

Upper sidings are all about 75" long, two lower sidings are about 100" long.

Hope this helps...Parts list, including trolley line:

Ed

Additional cost-cutting thoughts?

So I'm thinking... if I use remote O-36 switches for switches labelled 1 thru 9, I could use manual switches for 10 thru 13.  If I want to use the yard as a reversing loop, I just set 1,2,3 for Thru... if I always go straight to 3 with a train, I can switch it to any siding off the loop.  That would mean I could use manual switches for 10-13 because they will just "go with the flow" (auto non-derail) (same for switches 1 and 2) as trains leave their sidings.

Any reasons not to do this?

Ed

Ed,  I saved a copy of your yard track plan.  It's going to work really nice for my upcoming layout.  Did you go to York?

Marty

Eddie;

Looks good as long as your trains fit on the sidings.

Some of mine would not. Big Boys Pull a Long consist.

But it is a decent design and I'm considering re-planning my hidden storage now to use it (but a bit longer if I can).