OK ive searched and coulndt find what i needed so im starting a new thread. mods move me if you must. As of now, i dont have the money to buy and expieriment so ive turned to here. here goes. Im building a large double mainline layout of Kato Unitrack for a club that im starting im my home town. All is well in planning except the yard. It has a maximum space of 4 ft by 16 ft. Is it better to go with Katos #6 here at the sake of realism or just deal with the #4s. My yard switcher is a UP NW-2 and shouldnt have a problem on the tight radius should it? The only other engines in the yard will be some sd45s dropping off freight and a coal drag headed by sd70ace's that may bee sided here at times. so again should i use the #6s or #4s?
I've scrapped all my 4s, after too too many months trying to fix and/or live with their foibles. 6s? Well, they "just work" -steve Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
What is your goal? Are you trying to maximize trackage, (store cars or stage trains) or build a "prototypical" yard with A/D and classification tracks? Regardless I would try to use #6's when possible. With that type of large space, you could have a storage yard as part of the deal and use #4's there. Just keep the #6's anywhere you're regularly "doing work". Another pertinent question...do you have access to both sides of the yard? 4ft is too far to reach if it is against a wall. The best thing to do is use one of the many track planning applications to lay out the yard.
I would think that as far as making it operate, either would work. 6's would no doubt look and act better prototypically, but 4's would maximize space. If you want to play around, I believe Kato has templates of unitrack sections on their website; you could try printing some out and then play around and experiment with a model of the model to see what is possible with either size turnout in the space you have.
I have to agree, with that type of space for the yard (most folks, and even clubs, would kill for that space for a layout), go with the #6s. For quick and easy designing, I recommend AnyRail. A full library of Kato pieces. Would love to see what you come up with!
Go with the 6's. If it's a club, today'splans call for the locos you list. Can't wait to see next years list.
Despite sounding like a parrot, I agree with all that has been said. 6s just work and look better especially with the large locomotives and cars you're likely to run. That's not saying 4s don't have their place, but they're better suited to industrial spurs after a little work to make them more reliable. Sent from the magical mystery box
May I suggest you look at the software called SCARM it is an acronym for Simple Computer Aided Railroad Modeller. It can be download for free. There are already several YouTube video tutorials to help one get started. I have been using it for about 2 weeks to create a layout design for a future home layout using the Kato Unitrack. This software has the Kato Unitrack in The Library. Personally, I have about 15 years experience with n-scale Unitrack and like the #4's for my freight yard and industrial sidings. I use the #6's on the main line and in my passenger track to Union Station which is a stub end - back train in arrangement. I model the steam era, most of the freight cars are MTL. The passengers cars are MTL heavy weights. Locomotives range from 2-8-0s to 2-8-8-4s. PS: I have submitted an article to the N-SCALE magazine on my very positive impression of this software. The layout I designed using it is modest sized: 16 feet x 12 feet which is 4 sheets of 4 x 8' extruded polystyrene foam 2" thick as the base.
Thank you all for this info! A few points: -My yard will be accessible from both sides as the layout is a planned 16 ft by 20 ft rectangle (in a 30 by 30 room) with the center missing for a "yard operator" -I will mostly be assembling and disassembling a freight consist so the bigger engines will be no further than the A/D track and the switch to the turntable/roundhouse -No passenger cars will enter this yard as i have a separate Amtrak station area for that Hope this sheds some light into my plight! Also how does the #6s power rougting affect DCC?
This page has plan views of the different pieces. A little small, perhaps, but could still be usable.
In answer to the question....the Unitrack #6's power routing plays really well with DCC You can see my yard in this pic.... I have ladder yards built with the #6's. One ladder for each main. There are 4 rungs to each ladder. I have the outside track of each ladder powered. This makes all my turnouts within the yard live with the turnouts set to the straight thru position. As I switch those turnouts to enter a track within the ladder that track becomes live. This makes yard switching a breeze. This also means I can switch cars within the ladder while still running trains on the main. Once again...The #6's work great with DCC
Kato #6 vs #4 My two cents! Here is a pic of the DCC powered yard extension module I am adding. While I use #6s on main lines I have found that #4s (non power routed, and non electrified frog) is a better option for a yard .... not only can you run as many locos as you want at once, on each ladder track (since they are all powered) but when wired this way, even though I use both JMRI and DigiTrains routes, I can run trains through the switches even when thrown against the direction of travel ( swing switch) which I find is a great advantage in a yard.
Here is a photo of the small yard I have on my door layout. It uses all number six switches. Hopefully this straight on view may give you a little better perspective on how a yard with number six switches lays out. So far it's operation is been flawless. They do set the tracks a little far apart, but for a fat fingered guy like me that's actually an advantage. As far as the power routing aspect of the switches goes, in general I like it, however you do have to add a few extra track feeders in areas with complex track designs. Truthfully though, on a 16 foot yard you probably should have extra track feeders in there anyway, which will defeat the power routing feature of the switches anyway.
Ok. Ive finally worked out a plan for my yard that involves #6s on the mainline and A/D track but #4s where only the NW-2 switcher will be working or where cars will be stored. Once i get my new laptop in a couple of weeks ill download SCARM as Roger has suggested and share what i make with everyone. Nice yard, George. Is your layout in an R.V. or something though?
Thnxs Yes THERR Is built in a gutted and refurbished 29' RV. The link to the build thread is in my signature line. Just click on T.H.E.R.R. below :teeth:
Yard Design, Ladder vs Compound Ladder Track: The trade off is complexity vs space. You can store more cars on a 'compound' yard but it is more complex.
