Had a couple folks on another forum asking about this facility and the adjoining freight yard.
Yard Size and Operation
One of my givens (desires) for my new layout design was to include a maximum number of different industries (and structures) that might be associated with railroads. And on my relatively small layout that meant I could NOT include space hungry yards/etc to their fullest extent. I had to limit the size of my freight yard and my 2 container ports.
I also wanted a good number of my steam and diesel engines 'displayed' on my layout rather than sitting in a display case. My turntable/roundhouse/coaling tower scene takes care of my steam engine 'display'. The fueling/sanding tracks of my freight yard are destined to 'display' a number and variety of my diesel engines.
Of course this further limited the size of my freight yard (as did the encroachment of the steel mill scene),...ah compromises. So lets see if I can explain my freight yard.
These are a couple of the latest track plans,..
The track back against the wall is the access track for trains coming up from, and going down the helix to staging tacks below.
The next 2 tracks inboard of that are the 2 mainlines (that actually make a reverse loop inside the big external helix room).
Next in we have the first of 4 freight yard tracks (the one with the BNSF engine and cars sitting on it).
Then comes the 2 fueling tracks. That fuel tank car sitting there is a 'converted tank car' I hope to fit in there as an interim fuel supply that's being supplied via pipes by an off site bigger tank.
The last 3 tracks are primarily related to the steel mill..
I had original thought that at least 2 of these would be constantly full of steel mill products ready to ship out of the rolling mill, BUT during my planning I realized I was trying to bring in my scrap steel to the EAF via one of my fueling tracks,...so I had to add another crossover pair of turnouts to alleviate this situation. Now that steel products track is going to play 'musical chairs' with the other center track.
The steel mill track at the outer edge is going to have to remain clear for all of the traffic that needs to utilize it,...incoming ore cars, coke cars, and limestone cars,...outgoing slag cars, maybe some hot metal cars, etc.
Both my steel mill tracks and freight yard tracks are going to be VERY busy tracks due to their limited number. So think my freight yard tracks are NOT going to be holding any cars for an extended time,...things need to keep moving..... at quiet a pace!!