A One Yard Gain!

...Not much to get excited about in football, but its a big deal when it comes to railroading on the Kings Port Division!    

I've written previously about how my 22 year old layout wasn't originally designed with operations in mind.  As my interest in "ops" developed in recent years, however,  I've posted about some track plan changes such as adding the spur in front of Canton Box to create another rail customer for my car movements, and the reconfiguration of an inconvenient switchback arrangement near the GULF facility into a more functional crossover.

These changes enhanced model railroad operations on my layout but I've long been frustrated by the Kings Port Division's lack of a good sized yard to assemble and break down trains.   I looked at the layout from both sides now (as Joni Mitchell might sing)...actually from ALL SIDES, for months...and finally hit on an idea for adding a reasonably sized yard without seriously altering my track plan or crowding the layout room with additional benchwork.  

This is the original West Mill Float Yard.    It has a capacity of about 18-20 cars and was mainly intended to handle the ten cars that are picked up or set out on the car float.  It could also be used to assemble very small local freights to serve nearby industries but otherwise was pretty limited in function. 

The carfloat scene was on a 7' X 1' hinged extension off the layout edge.   It occurred to me that I'd be accepting of a yard extension that stuck out as far as that hinged extension.  After sleeping on it for a few nights to make sure this wasn't just an impulse that I might later regret, I removed the hinged car float section.  I would add a permanent seven inch wide section to this edge.

I decided to use the same construction methods I used 22 years ago to make it easy to mach up the new section with the old.   This meant using 1' X 4' benchwork covered by 3/4 inch plywood and a half inch of homasote.   Using two power drills, one for making pilot holes and the other for sinking screws, made this a fast job.   This is one of the two new benchwork sections that will follow the original layout edge.

The new sections screwed to the original layout.

You can already get a sense of the greatly increased size of the yard expansion compare to the original car float yard.

A 3/4 inch layer of  plywood and additional 2" X 2" support legs were installed. 

And then the layer of homasote.   For those of you unfamiliar with homasote, its a grey paper press board that cuts easily and holds rail spikes very well. Its a good idea to paint it to seal the material to reduce the risk of warping during humidity changes.  

Jumping ahead...the homosote was screwed down, joint compound was used to fill the cracks between sections, and it was all painted with an earth tone latex.   Initial track fitting is pictured below.

The three new long yard tracks will have around a 45 car capacity. 

After the yard tracks were fitted it was time to add another six inch wide section to represent  the river base for the car float.  

 I salvaged the tug and car float from the original scene

After test running most of my loco roster and rolling stock on the new yard tracks and carfloat lead it was time for scenic treatments.   The yard was ballasted using real dirt swept from my garage floor. I did this 22 years ago on the original float yard and the new section blends in well. 

To simulate the river water I applied a layer of joint compound on the 1" X 6" base and then rippled it with a natural sponge before it dried to make waves.  Sea walls were made from inexpensive plastic sign material.

I color my water with Woodland Scenics Stone Gray pigment, applying it full strength.   I then paint on several coats of acrylic gloss medium.   Retaining walls were painted and weathered and other scenic details were added.

The Grand Opening Festivities!   F7As from both the Penn Central and the Kings Port & Western roll though a commemorative banner together to signify the joint use of this new yard. 

 A local newspaper photo of the big moment!

A couple of overall shots of the yard expansion with the car float in place.

 So, I've managed to add a sizeable three track yard to the original yard that should greatly add operational interest.  The new yard capacity should allow me to work the carfloat but also assemble local trains easily.  I'm especially pleased that I was able to add this feature without filling in the comfortable walking space in the middle of the layout room.

This post is getting rather long so I'll stop here, but there is more to come in future posts about the yard and how it will improve operations on the Kings Port Division.