swtich yards in real life: how can they determine where cars go

[brakemen]

hello to all again: I was out at a switch yard upstate and watching them switch the cars around from one track to another. my question is ,it is a 7 track yard so this ns train is switching the cars at this yard is there a know how that I do not know,. its a 7 track yard so just pick any track and be done with it. ok is each track labled in and out or how do they know where to put all the different cars at. I think just pick any track but I know that is not right.let me explain this better if you have 5 cars how do they know what track to go to? someone explain this to me. bombardier

 

[JohnnyC1]

The man on the ground, the conductor, has what is called a switch list. The cars are sorted into where they are going, each track has a number that the conductor will assign cars to. May I suggest "Realistic Model Railroad Operation" available from Kalmbach Books, and should be available at any well stocked model RR store.

John