I'm building Basement Layout 2.0 which will be more of a toy train layout for running trains and operating accessories using O27 tubular track (though curves range 42" - 72", not 27" or even Marx 34"). All traditional-sized products with combination of DCS and TMCC. Assume no conventional switchers will be used.
I have room for roughly a 3' x 16' yard. I've never built a layout with good yard operating capabilities. In my past layout, the yard really just sidings full of parked trains and some operating accessories for some of the cars.
Learning from past mistakes and from looking at others' layouts, I have some questions and would appreciate recommendations.
1. Where should I place coupling/uncoupling tracks in the yard? Related to that, other than coupling/uncoupling tracks, is there another way to fire the couplers on rolling stock? Without a yard track/spur full of coupling/uncoupling tracks, I don't understand how to couple two cars together. Should a yard track, for example, be made of entirely coupling/uncoupling track so that two cars could be connected anywhere?
3. Should I put the operating accessories related to the rolling stock on separate spurs? Seems like operating accessories like the PW milk and merchandise cars, cattle car, coaling station for coal cars, and magnetic crane belong at the destinations, not in the yard. Correct?
4. Seems like a good practice to have separate entrances to and exits from the yard rather to avoid backing trains from the mainline into the yard, right? I'm fixing that past mistake.
5. Also seems like a good practice to have a way for the switcher to move in the yard from track to track without going on the mainline. That's going to be my biggest challenge, I sense, due to space. I can upload my RR Track file if needed.
Thanks!
