To keep this initial post short, I'll just give a brief description:

I've been thinking about a yard for a while (about a 10 years), since I learned it was more than just a place to store trains...It can involve a lot of switching and interesting operations.

We now have some of the best models we will probably ever have, Assembled rolling stock and engines, DCC, sound, constant lighting and most running like Swiss watches, while still being reasonably priced. But uncoupling cars is still in the prehistoric age! I have bought or tried most ways to uncouple cars, but nothing seems to work all the time. Lifting a car to uncouple just ruins any kind of realism you're trying to accomplish.

I am modeling a freelance 1930s steam operation (Cornhill & Atherton).

I still have a lower deck to build, but the upper deck track work is complete so I am taking the opportunity to test working  the main yard. This is to iron out any constructional glitches and also see if I have created any operational problems with my track plan. Changing track work before scenery construction is obviously easier.

Anyway – I bring the local into the yard, detach the caboose and spot the cars...............