West End Rail Yard

If we are going to haul people and goods, we need a yard to sort the trains and service the equipment.

Above – May 10, 2014 – How about the space inside the reverse loop at the west end? That should work. A template of a larger TrainLi turnout shows that we can maintain the wider radius for the reverse loop and provide access to the yard ladder.

Above – May 10, 2014 – We need to clear some rocks and get rid of the Ninebark shrub roots – one of my least favorite gardening tasks.

Above – May 10, 2014 – The orphan engine house has had several possible locations. Maybe here?

Above – May 10, 2014 – Sure is a big engine house – hmmmm….

Above – May 12, 2014 – So two days later, after a late spring rain, I decided it was time to face the task of extricating the Ninebark shrub stump and root. To my great surprise and delight, a bit of wiggling back and forth, then a mighty heave and it was out, all six plus feet of it. I was proud!

Above – May 12, 2014 – It left a bit of a mess but nothing like having to dig it all out.

Above – May 12, 2014 – So the ground was leveled, the wiring buried and the track and switches were laid.

Above – April 18, 2015 – Then the long wait for the control panel to operate the turnouts and power the tracks. In the meantime, I found some excellent Tomar white metal scale wheel stops. They required some serious cleanup and painting but work exactly as hoped. The cars are stopped without affecting the couplers.

Above – April 18, 2015 – The loose wires were intended for the engine house lighting.

Above – April 18, 2015 – Now, back to work on the control panel so this yard can be in business!

October 21, 2015 – The panel is in and the yard is working. No pix? What was I thinking? I guess I was too anxious to get trains running on the mainline: