Model Railroad for Beginners - From Loop to Layout - Building a Yard on a Small Layout

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

Great use of space to make a usable yard!

[@Non_Of_U_business]

$110 for that book is outrageous! But. outstanding video for yard operations on a small layout!

[@JCsRiptrack]

I would agree on the book price. I hadn't realized that the book was out of print when I published the video in the first place.

[@jerrysmith1929]

I really appreciate the rapid pacing, tight organization, and brevity of your videos. Things frequently absent from You Tube videos. I'm not a fan of large yards. As you pointed out they are space hogs. They take a lot of time to build; can be a scene of derailments if great care isn't used during construction; are expensive because of the numbers of turnouts purchased. And for N scale identifying cars can be difficult. I feel a clearer distinction should be made be made between a classification yard and tracks used to sort cars at a delivery site. I've been fascinated by the Stateline yard on the Kansas City Virtual Railfan cam. A single locomotive arrives with a string of cars for delivery to a few customers. The cars are sorted for delivery. The crew then shuffles between delivering and picking up cars. There isn't space for all deliveries to be completed. Those cars are left behind for delivery another day. The crew then departs with the pickups.

[@michaelschneider6106]

An interesting bit of knowledge: In the early 1900's work rules required Road Engine crews to be paid additional wages for switching work. For road work it was hourly, with a guaranty based on ASSUMED mileage. If the hours didn't go high enough, the base mileage minimum counted as a whole days work (union contracts called for roughly 110 miles as a whole day) Switching work would add a minimum of 3/16th above that ASSUMED minimum, regardless if only one switching operation was done!

[@michaelespinoza1517]

I have a two track yard on my 4×8 ho scale layout and use them for switching operation and to park my ho scale rail runner which is now a collector's items

[@wstks-fmworldwide5390]

I'm not a model railroader myself, but your videos and approach are fascinating.

[@wabisabi6875]

Clear, concise, and detailed. Very helpful, thanks.

[@davefalkenburg3276]

I really like this series of videos- I also think it really helps to make “operations” more accessible to folks who might not otherwise have been exposed to the topic.

[@user-bm5rs4cm3e]

Cool seeing some of your weathered locomotive and freight car projects running around on a layout.

[@JCsRiptrack]

Well, if the rest of it is just unitrack and pink styrofoam, I need to do something related to the weathering parts of the channel. :) I still have to speed match the two locomotives, if those will be ones operating together!

[@justinperry9754]

That's an awesome little layout u got going there! I'm really liking the track plan.

[@HHExpress]

Thank you John for the introduction, i'm currently building a yard to on my layout.

[@JCsRiptrack]

Glad to offer it. Hope you found it useful. The next video in this series will be about operating it.

[@shaunsstuff1249]

inspirational!

[@donaldmoore8920]

Awesome video

[@donaldshroyer8633]

Nice vid! Very good summary of layout design for those of us who don't have the basement of a mansion to work with. And thankfully missing all of the "going aheads" of SO many others. Well done.

[@elleryparsons2433]

For Me I Have Been Busy I’m Putting Tile One The Wall Of The N Scale then Gonna Finish the Tracks then Wa La!

[@commanderTL]

On small yards in secondary mainlines the main its self is used as the lead. The switch crews clear for mainline movement, making timing and efficiency paramount. As for lead length, some shortline switching railroad's lead is also the interchange track. A derail is usually used near the larger railroad's switch, and this limits the length of the lead, making it a much shorter than the yard tracks. Both of these examples allow for interesting operations and are prototypical.

[@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569]

An excellent introduction to yard configuration, John. Thanks for doing this. ...Roy

[@JCsRiptrack]

Thank you Roy! Now to get it operating. :)

[@SteveH-TN]

John Again thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree that adding small yards to any layout increases the potential operating session fun and variety !

[@JCsRiptrack]

Indeed they do.

[@balloonboy5212]

its train enthusiast peter griffin i love this

[@jacjac5761]

Nice small layout

[@JCsRiptrack]

Thanks Jac Jac, looking forward to developing an operating plan for it. I suspect I'll be peeking over the fence at some of your operations videos :)

[@TheSwitchList]

Nice video John - very informative. One comment - the Andy Sperandeo book you reference has long been out of print and is very expensive to acquire used now. The Amazon link has used books starting at US $133! and the book is no longer available from Kalmbach - although I do not know why they do not reprint it. Rick

[@JCsRiptrack]

I was beginning to wonder when I was trying to find the reference for that book after I had filmed the video. Yes, this would be a very good book to reprint. Maybe we can convince MR to consider republishing it. I suppose in the meantime, I could do individual videos to get into more detail about yards, or we try a cooperative effort among some of the KZbin channels for it.

[@TheSwitchList]

@Joe Madej i always have my eyes open for it. This is one of the last couple of ‘older’ books on my list to add to my library

[@wilzdart]

Great explanation of a yard...On my layout I have both stub and double ended yards. If a guy follows your hints he would end up with a very operational yard. Yes the book is out of print got mine years ago. I use mine for classification. Look forward to the next installment..

[@elleryparsons5766]

Nice Track Plan John Now you Need Buildings After that Balance out the Rolling stock Maybe Agricultural Maybe Lumber Or Coal.

[@IMRROcom]

You should rethink that jog with your yard ladder and caboose track you have a double switch back/S curve. also the Engine tracks facing the wrong direction and needing to use one of your classification tracks eats up the wrong type of space and when that yard has car it will lock those engines into your engine track with no way to get out with out an assist from the yard switcher.

[@MyFingerLakesRailwayLayout]

Hey John, really like how you incorporated video of real-world yards into the beginning of this video. Overall production seems much smoother too, with a little less fast-motion effect. Very surprised what can be done with this sectional track. Great option for small layouts. Man a little dirt on the ground and a few trees, it will really be cool!

[@Howie2025]

That’s a nice, well designed, compact yard. Impressive you were able to get a caboose track in there as well. Your long yard lead will make that yard very versatile. BTW Welcome to the island 🌴

[@west.coast.hiking]

Nice channel ! I had a HO setup when I was a teenager and had lots of fun working on and playing with. Also, welcome to the neighborhood ! :)

[@JCsRiptrack]

Thanks! It's good to be out here on the island.

[@elleryparsons5766]

Hey John Love the Yard Plan.

[@grahamthedark]

Thanks for the update I really enjoy this series

[@GnatTheGnome]

I haven't done any railroading in probably 30 years. This video series has been very informative. Sadly, it doesn't look like I will be able to replicate the track design in my home town that I was hoping to. It would just take up too much space unless I get the ability to make a massive layout, even at N scale.

[@normanrowe2831]

Hi ya John. Nicely done. Informative and interesting. I look forward to the next update. See ya.

[@jb4229]

Very informative vid. I’m a new starter in the hobby and this is a great way to understand layouts. Thanks.

[@RACaptialRegion]

Really enjoying the planning you used for this!

[@douglasmargison7189]

Well done series of tutorials on building a layout

[@mikewinans9953]

Would love to see an update

[@Blauwehaai]

Wow, great explanation , thanks.

[@MARKLINMAN1]

Amazing track plan man. This layout is going to be AWESOME.

[@thompsoncox6068]

Excellent track plan. I love the yard arrangement. I will incorporate it in my own layout. Good job

[@Railfan225]

This helps so much! I subscribed and turned on notifications! My layout looks soo much better now!

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Hi JC. It's looking good!. I shall look into this book because, although (presumably) it is written for the US market, I think it could also give inspiration to European (UK) layouts.

[@Death_From_Below]

Just started a 2x12 N scale layout using Kato track

[@davidfromtexas9681]

Really enjoyed this video John. I have many items to build a layout but not the space for one at the moment. I really like this Kato Unitrack and I think I will have to sacrifice some level of scenery to have a staging yard although I have considered a small "L" section off of the main layout to serve this function but its nice to know you were able to incorporate yours in the loop and it seems you still have some leftover for scenery, town, etc. I am looking forward to the next video very eagerly!

[@raymondfellers9430]

Great video and excellent advice. Is your track plan available anywhere? I have a bunch of Unitrack and I'm trying to build a layout like yours but I'm having a bit of trouble getting the pieces to fit in my space which I think is the same as yours. Maybe I'm using the wrong radius curves or wrong turnouts. Is yours all #6's?

[@JCsRiptrack]

Sorry for the lengthy delay. The track plan is semi-available. If you email me through the "contact me" tab, I can send you a file using SCARM. :)

[@richardjayroe8922]

I only have two spurs with the main line cutting through them on a ho 6x4 layout that I had for about a decade.

[@williambryant5946]

Great video. 👍

[@Kermondale]

I like the table height

[@IMRROcom]

I though in Cananadad, You do not use a Yard... But use a Meter instead?

[@DinsdalePiranha67]

While I'm no longer planning a loop-based layout - I went with a switching layout instead - I have been waiting for the next installment in this series. I did have a small yard on one of my HO layouts as a kid, but at the time I didn't really have any grasp of how to operate it. I will probably add a yard to my switching layout at some point in the future, after the main part of it is more fleshed out. I'm guessing your son will make an appearance in the next video?

[@srigelhof]

Nice video explaining the yard and industries you plan to use. I could see you creating a view block/backdrop down the middle to help separate the yard from the industries. What size radius are you using for the main curves?

[@westbromwichwestrr5508]

I’m just starting building my first ever layout and I am just doing a small 4ftx4ft table top. I was thinking of doing a much much smaller yard myself. Maybe 2/3 sidings? Space is a premium for me so can’t really make a layout on anything bigger currently.

[@kennethd.bryant9279]

I just stumbled across your videos and am excited about the puzzle and Shunt ideas. (I am Old and very NEW to HO trains)... I've been trying to track down and watch all your videos on the subject and really enjoyed the one that your Son was the Engineer. (my motivating force at 75 yrs old is two sets of grandsons... ages 3 to 12 two of which are interested in the trains) I am in the process of building a new layout for one set of boys (as the older two are moving away from the hobby. My plan is to design and build 6 (48"x30" modules) that can be setup and with folding legs. HOWEVER! I am somewhat Dyslexic and you JUST Blew me out of the water with the background music of this current video... I've tried several times to Learn from it but the disjointed, skipping and starting over of the background music makes your narrative turn into Blah! Blah! Blah! Blah!... between that and the non-sequential order of KZbin have stopped my efforts to follow! (This is NOT meant to be critical or ugly in any way... just nobody (with a solid mind!!!!!!) knows what they do to US "Handicapped" would be loving followers of your in debpth efforts... can the background be turned off???? I don't know Why KZbinrs think the need NOISE.(I don't expect any response, nobody else does either!)

[@NitroStarGT]

This is just an awesome series, and I keep coming back to rewatch some of these. Any chance of a Scarm file for this layout or anyrail?

[@jeffreyhatcher1445]

Hi John, this yard is a great addition IMHO. Lots of folks love working yard jobs even without the excellent additional features on your layout. It might just be the camera angle but is this layout a bit higher than the previous one? What height is this layout set at? Glad to see you have a dedicated room in your new place. Oh, and welcome to our island. There's a fine group of modelers out here and some decent trains shows as well on the island and Vancouver. Not like Supertrain of course, but the weather is better!

[@michaelplumb298]

What if you have 2 trains coming from different directions and they both need classifying? Which train would take priority?

[@JCsRiptrack]

Because of the size of the layout, I'm only ever having one train arriving at a time. I suppose I could handle it by having first-in first-out for the drop off/pick up, and then once all the cars have been dropped off, the switcher would then classify the dropped off cars. I think that assumes that there are two outbound trains awaiting pickup one after the other.

[@hamleix618]

Yay

[@joew389]

Hi John, nice video explaining your plan for the yard. Are you using Kato #4 turnouts and, if so, will they be power-routed or not, and will the frogs be powered or not? Also, with so many turnouts for the yard, I was wondering how you plan to power the tracks. I assume you will use Kato terminal unitrack feeders. Will you feed power to each step in the ladder? I've been told it is a good idea to place feeders both before and after each turnout.

[@tainopr4356]

Thanks for the video John, lots of great ideas. Btw, what size is this layout?

[@JCsRiptrack]

The whole layout fits on a slightly modified door. It's 36"x86" (I added 6" to one end in a much earlier video).

[@tainopr4356]

@@JCsRiptrack Awesome. I have very limited space so I’m trying to figure out the best yard/switching layout I can do on a 2’x4’ space. On N scale. And to truly challenge myself, I’m trying to do it in Free Mo specs. Ambitious, perhaps impossible. Especially for a beginner… Can I email you a diagram for your opinion/suggestions & critiques?

[@JCsRiptrack]

@@tainopr4356 Sure. You can find my email in the "Contact" tab on my channel. It's a way to get around the spambots.

[@aidensypolt]

i never had a yard before

[@Fgr63]

Hello John, nice video. What track planning software do you use?

[@richardjayroe8922]

There is one online called tracks. it is free with no download and you can see other track plans.

[@JCsRiptrack]

Hi Elwood. I'm currently using SCARM. It's pretty simple for what I am using, but I've been looking at other options as well.

[@strobelightaudio]

@@richardjayroe8922 this one? www.traxeditor.com/index.php/

[@Jstroman221]

Great video. Can someone tell me why the book is so expensive?

[@JCsRiptrack]

I discovered after I made the video that the book is now out of print. So it is harder to find and is being sold at a premium.

[@crh9187]

Nice layout. After the incoming cars from the interchange track are sorted in the yard, are they then delivered to the industries by multiple crews or is it just one crew?

[@JCsRiptrack]

In the video that follows this one, I show how I worked it. My demonstration had one set of engines run two different jobs in a sequential order. Some of that has to do with the real estate on the layout, and was a good way for me to run it with my son. Conceivably you could do it with two crews, but it could get a little crowded on the other side of the layout.

[@crh9187]

@@JCsRiptrack Ah ok. I'll check it out. Thanks for getting back to me! I 've seen a few of your vids and they are great.

[@tdranger6888]

LAYOUT SIZE? Is sll this still on a 36x86" door? I tried laying out the yard with No6 Turnouts, making tracks ~2" c/c. It does not look like the track plan. Double track curves: 0Kato radii come in 33mm (1.3") increments. Flex track is needed for the NMRA 1.5" (38mm) minimum, or roomier 2" (51mm) c/c on curves. What is the minimum radius of your inner loop? Finally, are you just expanding to whatever size table it works out to? This is asking a lot. Thank you John. Tom

[@JCsRiptrack]

I had previously extended the door by about 6" with a small wood frame which gave me the extra room.

[@michaelplumb298]

Where do you put the rotary snowplow and other MoW equipment?

[@JCsRiptrack]

I expect that the rotary snowplow would reside in one of the tracks where the engine(s) park, or add an additional turnout and create a MoW track there.

[@Maurice00PA]

New to your videos. Have you done anything on your workbench/ work area? Cheers!

[@adrianwagner336]

book is listed as out of print with limited availability on amazon BTW

[@JCsRiptrack]

Thanks Adrian. I realized this as after I filmed the video. I'll be adding a correction in the next video in this series, and providing some alternatives.

[@aaron-uz6pc]

You can get an ebook of the Model Railroader's Guide to Freight Yards here: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/model-railroaders-guide-to-freight-yards-andy-sperandeo/1006360181

[@DadCooks2]

Great video. Too bad that the book you reference is long out of print and now costs over $100.00. Definitely a candidate for Kalmbach to reprint. However, since the author has passed on Kalmbach may have trouble getting the rights to do it, if they didn't think about this situation in the original contract.

[@JCsRiptrack]

Good point! It may be worth exploring. I've suddenly realized that since Andy's book isn't in print anymore, that's a big gap in resources for people just getting into model railroading.

[@wills_corner]

I am literally broke and idk if I even have 4×8 for my trains. I need a yard, but it's expensive, and I don't think I have the space. Any tips?

[@25mfd]

here's a tip... find a NEW hobby... "broke" and model railroading don't go together

[@titustracy3342]

How do you a three level I can show you later

[@wesleythomas1594]

Do you use Märklin track?

[@michaelplumb298]

Where do you put the depot for passenger trains?

[@JCsRiptrack]

If I was running passenger trains on this particular layout, the passenger depot would be on the oppposite side of the yard along the double-tracks. There wouldn't be a siding for them to go into, and through-trains would simply route around it with the crossovers. Not ideal, but one has to work with a smaller space.

[@mybobize]

Would a layout like this be any different with a larger scale like Lionel O gauge?

[@JCsRiptrack]

Functionally, no, but the real estate that O Scale takes up is obviously quite a bit larger. So if this layout is built on a 36x80" door for N-Scale, the same amount of space in O Scale would need a space about 8'x22'. In this case, it would lend itself well to an around-the-walls kind of arrangement. For just a yard, it would be about 4 deep by about 17 feet long in O Scale and holding the same number of cars. The principles for operating it, however, would be absolutely identical, but you could put in a lot more detail, of couse!

[@mybobize]

@@JCsRiptrack Thank you for the help! I love the series by the way. It is very well done. One of my favorite model train series on KZbin.

[@JCsRiptrack]

Thanks! I'm glad to know that you're finding it useful. The next video in the series is getting closer to being done!

[@garykirklin2745]

Also what scale trains are you using?

[@JCsRiptrack]

My stuff and this series is in N-Scale, but the principles behind things are really applicable to any scale. It's just space considerations that have to be adjusted a bit.

[@garykirklin2745]

@@JCsRiptrack I went to your ABOUT and could not find your email address.

[@TrainGuy-tl8ke]

When will the next episode be?

[@JCsRiptrack]

I'm working on the script, but there's something I am waiting to arrive in the mail. There was almost six months between the previous video and this one. It will definitely not be the same gap. I'm hoping early November depending on when mail call is!

[@TrainGuy-tl8ke]

Thank you!

[@langdontomkins001]

Like the video and the subject but not the music.

[@garykirklin2745]

How can I submit a question to John ?

[@JCsRiptrack]

Depends if it is a public or private question. If it's a public, I'm right here and you can ask me here. If it's something that's better in an email, go to my channel page and find my email in the "About" tab. It's hidden there to prevent phishing or spambots.

[@andrewpalm2103]

Thanks for this video. I'm building a small HO 6x1' layout based on the Inglenook Sidings Puzzle. The track is down and I'm experimenting with tie weathering and painting the rail. The (imaginary) connection to the outside world is the end of the longest siding, with the bumper replaced by a derail. The engine lives at the end of the switching lead and is permanently assigned to the small industrial park/transload facility. The full size Inglenook Sidings puzzle has siding capacities of 5, 3, and 3 with the lead track being able to hold 3 cars and the engine. I've written a browser program that generates random puzzle start configurations and then calculates a solution. It is at: github.com/n1ksn/inglenook-sidings-browser . I very much enjoy your videos, so please keep them coming!

[@garykirklin2745]

What scale trains do you use on small layout?

[@andrewpalm2103]

@@garykirklin2745 HO scale. My layout's time is 1962, so I mostly use 40 foot freight cars and short diesel switch engines. This makes it possible to just fit a full-size Inglenook Sidings layout into the 6x1 foot shelf.

[@Christiane069]

Good try on the book but I am not paying $94 + Tax, and Shipping. Right. Forget it.

[@SweSuf]

Please, no music. Non-english native speaker and slightly hard of hearing I cannot finish this video.

[@henrik671]

Agree! Otherwise, very interesting series.

[@colevoncole3180]

Why don't you use real track kato plastic is the worst you should learn how to lay track before making video's