Yard Operation

[NW Modeling List]

Since the height of the benchwork will be chest high, and have  
several removable scenery bits for access The width of the layout  
will actually work.  Much is scenery in the farthest reaches which  
isn't required to be re-railed as much as maybe a Rivorossi Y6b or  
something.  I have built several roads with my dad, where  3 foot  
wide worked - again, due to the depth of the scenery.   I am  
including grades this time (gasp) but my primary heavy haulers are  
Powerhouse Y3's so I don't see much problem.   As to the long 4 foot  
wide sides, one has the yard right at the front and in back, up a few  
inches will be the 2 track mainline partly hidden in tunnels.  The  
other sides 4 foot wide is accessible from both sides with graded  
mainlines and 2 coal tipples - one per side.

I still want to design a usable yard (N&W STYLE) so the route of the  
mainlines is one of those points.  ANY OTHER yard design suggestions  
would be very helpful!

Also, were the round electric block signals in operation by 1934,  
back in the area west of Bluefield, back to Panther, or were they  
still using the semaphores?

Colors of the N&W company buildings(stations, et al) are needed as  
well.  My scratchbuilt Winfall station is tan with Maroon trim.  Is  
THAT correct?

Finally, my dad models The Southern in the same era(1930's).  We  
assume White with Green trim for stations etc.   Can anyone verify??

IF any of you want to see the layout plan, send me an email and I'll  
send you a JPG.  Contact me;  y3a at earthlink.net.


Mark Lindsey
Stuck in the 1930's






Mark, having built several layouts Bob Lang is correct, do not build  
wide, 18" is about max depth for HO and good working depth. for both  
single and doule track operations and allows an occasional siding or  
two. Shelf layouts with a peninsula using a view block offers a lot  
of trackage in a relatively compact area. Keep the height at a level  
comfortable to you. You might consider two levels, easy to do, just a  
bit of planning. Also get books of layouts and modify one to your  
taste. AVOID duckunders!. Keep the aisles as wide as possible, 4'  
minimum, 5 feet or more. Consider staging yards, next room, on on  
another level, screened, they do not have to be finished as they are  
utilitarian.
Good luck, Cal Reynolds.
----- Original Message -----
From: NW Modeling List
To: nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 8:19 PM
Subject: Re: Yard operations


Mark,

This won't answer any of your questions but is a comment on your  
proposed layout design.

An around the room layout with widths of three and four feet will  
make construction and operation difficult unless you have extremely  
long arms (it will be five feet from the aisle to the room corners)  
or have one of those rolling lean over ladders.

No scale was indicated. However, in any scale up through "O" twice  
around with double track can be done with much less width.

A three or four foot duck-under will be brutal.

You may want to consider thinning the widths and adding a peninsula  
in the middle for a longer mainline run.

You can widen areas for your yard while narrowing others to maintain  
aisle width.

Bob Lang
(Layout builder in San Diego)



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