Perhaps the following web site will offer some insight about real rail operations. While some spend many months creating a railroad - set of tracks/routes, others may attempt to populate a railroad with equipment. Then you may want to emulate, as best you can, how a railroad functions on a daily basis. Since many routes are historical the site-link below will offer considerable insight on real operations, but in the context of a model railroad layout.
http://www.opsig.org/reso/biblio.shtml
A taste of some real info of the time period:
PRR/RDG/WM South Central Region -- YARDMASTERS GUIDE Current as of: Thursday, 6 October 2011 Page 1 Section 1 -- Yard operations 1.0 Overview The yardmaster shall control all track use and train movement within yard limits. No train shall move without the yardmaster's expressed permission. 1.1 Yard Limits The yardmaster controls all trackage between yard limit signs. These signs are located trackside or overhead on signal bridges. The yard limit signs align with a signal to provide a specific visual definition of the place where transition occurs from the yardmaster's territory to the dispatcher's territory. Yard limit signs are white and V shaped. 1.2 Headroom Headroom is permission to occupy a dispatcher-controlled track beyond yard limits that a train may temporarily need in order to perform its yard work. "Taking headroom", means that a train departs the yard to occupy the dispatcher controlled track and then reverses direction to re-enter the yard and vacate the dispatcher controlled track. Follow all rules and signaling devices on the occupied dispatcher controlled track. Before you move a train out of yard limits, obtain permission from the dispatcher for "headroom" on the desired track (it is necessary to specify which track you want permission to occupy). When the train vacates the dispatcher controlled track, notify the dispatcher that you "release headroom" for the specified track. If you need to make multiple moves, ask for permission to "hold headroom" on the desired track. When you vacate the dispatcher controlled track for the FINAL TIME, notify the dispatcher that you "release headroom" for the specified track. 1.3 Yard Track Usage The yardmaster can use any track under his control for any purpose at any time. There may be suggestions for track usage posted at a yard, but they are just suggestions. NOTE: They are good suggestions, based on experience with what works well.
http://www.opsig.org/reso/biblio.shtml
A taste of some real info of the time period:
PRR/RDG/WM South Central Region -- YARDMASTERS GUIDE Current as of: Thursday, 6 October 2011 Page 1 Section 1 -- Yard operations 1.0 Overview The yardmaster shall control all track use and train movement within yard limits. No train shall move without the yardmaster's expressed permission. 1.1 Yard Limits The yardmaster controls all trackage between yard limit signs. These signs are located trackside or overhead on signal bridges. The yard limit signs align with a signal to provide a specific visual definition of the place where transition occurs from the yardmaster's territory to the dispatcher's territory. Yard limit signs are white and V shaped. 1.2 Headroom Headroom is permission to occupy a dispatcher-controlled track beyond yard limits that a train may temporarily need in order to perform its yard work. "Taking headroom", means that a train departs the yard to occupy the dispatcher controlled track and then reverses direction to re-enter the yard and vacate the dispatcher controlled track. Follow all rules and signaling devices on the occupied dispatcher controlled track. Before you move a train out of yard limits, obtain permission from the dispatcher for "headroom" on the desired track (it is necessary to specify which track you want permission to occupy). When the train vacates the dispatcher controlled track, notify the dispatcher that you "release headroom" for the specified track. If you need to make multiple moves, ask for permission to "hold headroom" on the desired track. When you vacate the dispatcher controlled track for the FINAL TIME, notify the dispatcher that you "release headroom" for the specified track. 1.3 Yard Track Usage The yardmaster can use any track under his control for any purpose at any time. There may be suggestions for track usage posted at a yard, but they are just suggestions. NOTE: They are good suggestions, based on experience with what works well.
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