Model Railroad Operations: Exploring HO Scale Yard Design - 6 Design Elements

Model Train Operations: Exploring HO Scale Yard Design - 6 Design Elements.

I'm no model railroad design expert, but I've operated on enough layouts to know what other people have done. I'm also familiar with my own likes and dislikes and the elements that I want to bring to an operating session here on the Black Hills & Eastern Railroad. We'll walk through the choices I made for my Burlington Northern Sioux City Yard on my layout, given the space available and my interests.

I'm not saying that what I've done is right for everyone. I'm just giving food for thought and hopefully entertaining in the process.

The BN 211 Sioux Falls Pet Switcher (An SW12 of Northern Pacific Heritage):
   • Burlington Northern SW12 HO Scale Switcher...  

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome and video introduction
01:26 1. Diesel Engine Terminal
02:42 2. Drill Track
03:48 3. A/D Tracks
04:22 4. Double Ended Yard
04:53 5. Caboose / Waycar Track
05:13 6. Nearby Rail-served Customers
06:02 HO Scale Track and Switches
06:35 Closeout and a runby

Design Elements in Sioux City
Notes:

Open air engine facility -
SW10 #437 and
SW12 #211 the Sioux Falls Pet switcher
not a roundhouse - wasted space

Drill Track on North end
Steel coal train on the mainline headed north on the Marshall Subdivision
Next track closest to the camera is yard drill track

Drill track on south too, but have to spill over into Whitewood, SD to use it
Arrival / Departure Tracks, 3, one is Northbound only

Double ended yard - Enables two switch crews to work trains
Caboose (waycar) track with runaround
Nearby industry(ies)

Track is secondhand secondhand Atlas code 100 Flex and Code 100 switches - Minimum Switch #6