Suggestions on yard layout (Screenshots)

[Xengeance]

Given the fact this is the first full blown yard I've yet to make so far, I was hoping to get some input on how I've laid everything out and what I can change, improve, or add to make things run more smoothly there.

Firstly, here's an aerial screen shot of the area to give an overview of the yard:

It's a small branch terminal yard with the mainline heading off the right side of the image. the loco shed and servicing facilities are on the bottom, with so far just a water tower and ash pit, not sure what else I should add there at the moment.

Just above that are the Arrival and Departing sidings (as shown by the two adjacent consists). Finally, on top is the classification yard with the yard lead and a runaround sticking out towards the top right.

I have a hunch the track joining the yard to the mainline may be a bit of a problem in it's current state, but I'm not quite sure how to go about fixing it, since I want any road engines to just be able to fly in to the A/D yards with as little switching as possible. But at the same time, don't want to obstruct the yard switcher running about the A/D to yard lead area.

On a side note, disregard the orphaned turntable in the center of the yard, it's just being stored there as I have it scripted up for AI use and will probably move it to a larger facility in time. (I'll probably just make a little track side roundhouse under construction scene so it doesn't seem too out of place for the time being.)

Suggestions, comments?

 

[Dap]

If you are going to create a yard I recommend you first read The Ten Commandments of Yard Design by Craig Bisgeier.

I would have the arrival and departure tracks double ended sidings. How else will you get the engine from the front of the train to the engine house? You could have a wye, turn the train and back into the arrival track, but your wye would have to be long enouh to handle your longest train.

 

[jadebullet]

It doesn't look that bad.

A few suggestions though. 1) When laying textures down, press the "[, or ]" key to rotate it as you lay it. It will get rid of the tiled effect. 2) Use a mix of a few textures. Depending on the textures used, they should play nicely off of each other.

 

[cascaderailroad]

Yard Design

Large yards had eastbound and westbound mainlines running as dedicated high speed trackage, and the yard throats and working tracks were kept separate, so trains would not come in on the workers in the yards.

In this yard, there were E&W inbound receiving tracks, where trains were brought into and temporarily stored, awaiting classification. And E&W outbound departure tracks, where assembled drafts of cars were stored, awating locomotives, and mainline train assignments. As well as several E&W bound classification yards, that had long drill tracks so that trains could be pulled without interfering with other yard activities. Many yards had large car and locomotive repair facilities, that also kept tracks separate of mainline activity. This yard and shop in Pitcairn Pa once employed 6000+ workers, and had 2 roundhouses with large turntables, and there was smaller turntable elsewhere in the yard for turning other equipment. Pitcairn's main purpose was locomotive & car repair, and classification of freight cars, where trains were assembled for mainline train movements East & West.

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/PitcairnMaptech_200Topo_Snip_Enhanc.jpg

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/PitcairnPennPilot_65BW_Snip.jpg


The Altoona (17+ yards, 5 miles long) main purpose was weighing of Eastbound loaded coal trains, and the classification of freight cars. As well as the PRR Scientific Test Lab and Juniata Locomotive & Freight Car assembly/repair facilities. Hollidaysburg and Sam Rea Car Shops were 5 miles south of Altoona.