13th Street Yard
by John Baggaley
Set in a fairly vague period of the later 20th Century, 13th Street Yard is a small fictitious switching yard set on the edge of a city somewhere in the USA.
When originally constructed the layout did have some tracks with overhead electrification. However over the years this had suffered damage and it has now been removed as can be seen by the sawn off stumps of the masts and a pile of them awaiting removal, as would have happened in the real situation when the maintenance of the overhead wiring became uneconomic.
The situation of lines running on streets and through buildings has instances all over the USA, a well known instance being in San Francisco until the late 1960s. The incoming trains are hauled by by diesel road locomotives which then hand off the freight cars to a switcher for distribution to the various industries.
Built on refurbished baseboards using Peco Code 100 track, with some kit and some scratch build structures, the aim was to produce a small layout which was interesting to build and operate. It is now DCC controlled using an NCE PowerCab unit with a couple of the available locos also being sound equipped.
To provide operator and viewer interest the stock used does have a wider variety than would be the case in a true prototype situation. The stock is from a number of sources Atlas, Athearn, Kato, Proto2000 and other units are in use from time to time, some have been detailed and repainted, others are more extensively modified.
When originally constructed the layout did have some tracks with overhead electrification. However over the years this had suffered damage and it has now been removed as can be seen by the sawn off stumps of the masts and a pile of them awaiting removal, as would have happened in the real situation when the maintenance of the overhead wiring became uneconomic.
The situation of lines running on streets and through buildings has instances all over the USA, a well known instance being in San Francisco until the late 1960s. The incoming trains are hauled by by diesel road locomotives which then hand off the freight cars to a switcher for distribution to the various industries.
Built on refurbished baseboards using Peco Code 100 track, with some kit and some scratch build structures, the aim was to produce a small layout which was interesting to build and operate. It is now DCC controlled using an NCE PowerCab unit with a couple of the available locos also being sound equipped.
To provide operator and viewer interest the stock used does have a wider variety than would be the case in a true prototype situation. The stock is from a number of sources Atlas, Athearn, Kato, Proto2000 and other units are in use from time to time, some have been detailed and repainted, others are more extensively modified.
GENERAL
INFORMATION |
|
| SCALE | 'HO' 3.5mm = 1ft PROTOTYPE:- USA |
| ERA | 1970s/1980s LOCATION:- A big city |
| POWER | 1 x 13amp outlet |
| OPERATORS | 2 or 3 |
| TABLES | 1 small (say 4'x2') |
| TRANSPORT | 1 or 2 cars |
| SET UP | 1 hour |
| INSURANCE | t.b.a. |
| SUPPORT | Self supporting |
| SIZE | 12ft x 1ft |
