Boy, I've been dreading this day!

[rickf77]

Good day ladies and gents;

I'm finally ready to work on my main yard. I've got most of the area done, turntable, coaling tower, all the goodies. For now I've made do with what I could find on the DLS. The buildings, stations, etc., are not quite what I need, but they will have to do for now. Not that there is anything wrong with them, lots of great stuff in there.

Well, I got to do the yard. Can someone point me in the right direction for tutorials, and other info? I'd like to be able to do this the easiest way possible, but still look prototypical. I got TS12 and just went right into building my route. I'm still a complete rookie at most things, Like trying to find stuff. My route may not be the greatest. I never used any of the tools, like rulers and whatever else there may be, did it all by eye. It takes me a while to get a switch and the track with it to all look good. I'm pretty darn sure making the ladder is going to be the hardest thing I will have to do on the route (maybe that's why I saved it for last). I thought that I did have a tut on this, I'm still looking for it. If you know of a good tutorial or other info on this subject, could you please let me know where to get it?

Thanks guys. The worse thing about route building for me was that I got better at things as I went along. So, now I'm starting to tweak things back where I began. I now understand that you never really finish a route.

Thanks, again, cheers.......Rick

 

[frogpipe]

There are some yard templates in the DLS, but I found them to be WAY too sharp (turnout radius too small).

Basic concepts are seen in this

Here are some toolz

http://daveinbrampton.ca/index_files/Page317.htm

PDF

http://www.animalomnibus.com/trainz/Yard_Guide.pdf
Asset is at trainz://install/<KUID:141417:60079>

 

[Isegrinns]

I use some templates from here:
http://www.ecsjoko.eu/infusions/pro_download_panel/download.php?catid=104
No 5,No 7.5, No 12 and No 18 are available.

Think of them as sectional track and switch them out with the track of choice once you have all in place.

 

[Ricke82]

Sorry, but I can’t help with a tool to lay the yard track, but just in case you are might also be looking for a little guidance on the actual design of the yard there is some great advice at http://www.housatonicrr.com/yard_des.html. It was written for model railroaders, but it applies to Trainz as well.

 

[frogpipe]

Sorry, but I can’t help with a tool to lay the yard track, but just in case you are might also be looking for a little guidance on the actual design of the yard there is some great advice at http://www.housatonicrr.com/yard_des.html. It was written for model railroaders, but it applies to Trainz as well.

That was a GOOD read.

 

[Isegrinns]

Yes, the classic rules. I´d also recommend the book "Track planning for realistic operation" by John Armstrong, if you like printed advice as well.
If you understand how a yard works, its pretty easy to figure out what you need where and what purpose each track serves, be it on your model railroad on in TRS.

 

[frogpipe]

Any good reads about what the tracks were used for? I don't know how a yard works beyond the broad strokes.

 

[Isegrinns]

Sure.

http://modeltrains.about.com/od/layoutconstruction/a/ClassYardPlanning.htm

http://www.nmra.org/member/sites/default/files/datasheets/Trackwrk/d3h1.PDF

http://macrodyn.com/ldsig/wiki/index.php?title=Yards--freight_and_passenger

http://macrodyn.com/ldsig/wiki/index.php?title=Auxiliary_Yards

Enjoy. ^^

 

[H222]

Usually Arrival/Departure Yards, Sorting/Classification yards, in some yards they'll have rollingstock or loco workshops, plus bypass and express tracks. There can be loading areas, or unloading areas (especially near docks or terminals such as that)

 

[rickf77]

Wow! Just getting started this morning, thought I'd take a peek in here. Thanks guys, I'll get right on it in a moment. I know very little about real world operations. I have a drawing-map of the Dartmouth yard. I think it's from the 1920's or 30's. I'm trying to model the 1950's. I have a feeling even then the line was in decline. I just missed the steam era. In the early 60's I spent many days playing in the yard. Things were much different back then. We could get into a caboose or two, the snowplow, etc. No one seemed to work on the weekends. There was a gas powered (?) "hand car" that we could ride on a small siding. Not sure how we got it going, but for some reason it would run for about 5 or 10 minutes and that was it. I never saw a coaling tower and none is showing on the map. I stuck one in anyway. I cannot imagine they had more than 3 or 4 locos. There was a 3 stall roundhouse. It burned to the ground and the next one may have also. So, I guess they were wooden structures. This was one of the problems I had.... finding a wooden roundhouse and turntable that seemed small yet could handle a Mikado. Oh, how I wish I had the talent some of you creators have! It would be great to be able to make anything you need!

I too would like to know what the tracks were used for. There was a siding where they kept the snow plow (there may have been 2 of them at times). Next to them was a couple of caboose that never seemed to move. There was a siding for "work cars" when they were in town. Another siding seems to be home to some really old cars, maybe they needed work or were being taken out of service. As far as what cars went where in the main "ladder part" of the yard, I have no idea. Today, the line serves only the auto port (1000's of cars arrive by ship and are shipped out by rail and trucks) and perhaps the oil refinery. The oil refinery is shutting down soon. I don't get downtown often, but I'm sure they have really cut back on service to the refinery (may not even serve it anymore). I have not even seen a boxcar in the yard for years. Man, I miss the good old days!

Well, I better get on with it. After I get the yard done, I will spend a lot more time learning the ins and outs of railroading.

Thanks guys, I may spend less time swearing and hair pulling with your help! I think most of today will be spent looking at the material you all have mentioned.

Cheers......Rick

 

[Isegrinns]

If you have a drawing/map available, you can post it and we can try to sort the track functions out.
Pretty sure that with all the knowledge gathered in this forum, we can figure it out!

 

[H222]

There was a siding where they kept the snow plow (there may have been 2 of them at times).

Would have stored snow ploughs :hehe:

Next to them was a couple of caboose that never seemed to move.

Would have stored cabooses

There was a siding for "work cars" when they were in town.

Would have stored work cars

Another siding seems to be home to some really old cars, maybe they needed work or were being taken out of service.

Repair in Place (RIP) Siding

As far as what cars went where in the main "ladder part" of the yard, I have no idea.

Cars arrive into the arrival track, and are dragged off (usually) by a switcher. Some cars would've been dragged into the classification/sorting yard (not always a hump) and others would've been put straight onto another train (similar to Express 'Z' Trains today) Refrigerated vans may have had their own siding, however it depends on the type and purpose of the yard

Jamie :wave:

 

[rickf77]

Good evening;

Thank gosh that's over with!!! My eyes are tired from looking at it. It is not totally perfect, but I planned it that way...hee, hee. I've started thinking of good lies to tell anyone who may look at my route. Thanks for the offer on the map. I think I have it all figured out. I have sort of gone a little fictional on the route, but a lot of it really reminds me of the good old days. Thanks guys, now I can start fixing areas, I sure hope it doesn't lead to a major makeover.

Thanks Jamie; Is there anything you Aussies don't know? (hee, hee)

Cheers all.....thanks for everything....time for a snack.....Rick