A classification yard, in the context of logistics and transportation, is a railroad terminal area where railcars are grouped together to form train units. This process is known as classification, and it allows for more efficient movement of goods through the supply chain.
Full Answer
What are the different types of railway yards?
Most classification yards are several yards in one. Arrival/Departure Yard (s): These tracks are used by arriving and departing trains, allowing incoming trains to be held off the mainline until classification takes place. Locomotives and cabooses are removed/added here.
What is a classification yard?
These large terminals, commonly known as classification yards, take in freight, usually from all different directions, sort it out and again send it on its way to either the next yard or final destination.
What is a flat yard in railroads?
Switching yards, staging yards, or shunting yards are typically graded to be flat yards, where switch engines manually shuffle and maneuver cars from (a) train arrival tracks, to (b) to consist breakdown track, to (c) an consist assembly track, thence to (d) departure tracks of the yard.
What is the purpose of rail yard?
A rail yard, railway yard or railroad yard is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading and unloading, railroad cars and locomotives.Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock or unused locomotives stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic.
What is classification yard in railway?
A classification yard is a railroad yard used to organize railcars by destination. The cars are sent through a series of switches called a "ladder" on to classification tracks.
How does a classification yard work?
Classification Yard: This is the heart of the yard, where trains are sorted by destination into new blocks. These blocks can then be combined in the departure yard to form new trains. The classification yard can be flat switched or may use a hump to speed switching. It may have switch ladders at one or both ends.
What is the meaning of rail yard?
an area having a network of railway tracks and sidings, used for storing rolling stock, making up trains, etc.
What is a rail yard called?
A rail yard, railway yard, railroad yard (US) or simply yard, is a complex series of tracks in a rail network for storing, sorting, or loading and unloading rail vehicles and locomotives.
What does do not hump mean on a railroad car?
Simply put it means that the car shouldn't be humped. There are two ways that freight RR's build their trains. The first is called "Flat Switching", where you have a switch engine that moves the cars around from track to track as necessary to put the cars in the proper order. The second way is through a hump yard.
What is the purpose of a hump yard?
A hump yard is an artificially elevated area within a classification yard where the force of gravity is used to move rail cars along a network of marshaling tracks. A typical example consists of an approach section, the top of the hump, and the release area, which branches out into dozens of marshaling tracks.
What is the largest rail yard in America?
Pacific's Bailey YardUnion Pacific's Bailey Yard in North Platte, Nebraska is the largest railroad classification yard in the world. Named in honor of former Union Pacific President Edd H. Bailey, the massive yard covers 2,850 acres, reaching a total length of eight miles.
What's a marshalling yard?
marshaling yard, also called classification yard, fan-shaped network of tracks and switches where railroad cars are sorted and made up into trains for their respective destinations. An incoming freight train, or a collection of cars from local shippers, is pushed up an incline called the hump.
How do you make a model railroad yard?
6:3411:23Model Railroad for Beginners - From Loop to Layout - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere is the most significant concession that happens with yards on small layouts sorting tracks canMoreHere is the most significant concession that happens with yards on small layouts sorting tracks can be designated for specific destination to make sure cars get to where they need to go on my layout.
What is a railway subdivision?
SUBDIVISION. Railway trackage designated by time table. SUBDIVISION TRACK. A Non-Main Track so indicated in the time table method of control column that is an extension of the main track, and the through track at that location, defined with subdivision mile posts.
What is a single railroad track called?
A double-track railway operating only a single track is known as single-line working.
What does Deadhead mean in railroading?
A train or truck moved between cities with no passengers or freight, in order to make it available for service.
Are roundhouses still used?
The vast majority of roundhouses built in the US and Canada no longer exist, lie in ruins, or have been repurposed; however, a small number of them still exist and continue to operate in their intended capacity as locomotive storing and servicing facilities.
What are the types of marshalling yard?
There are 3 types of marshalling yards: flat-shunted yards, hump yards and gravity yards (source: RNE glossary). The marshalling yards are generally operated by the IM and should be therefore accessible for any RU with their services.
Which of the following is another name for tongue rail?
A tongue rail is also called a switch rail. Stock rail It is the running rail against which a tongue rail operates.
Where do trains rest?
A train station, railway station, railroad station or depot is a railway facility or area where trains stop to load or unload passengers, freight or both.
What is a classification yard?
Classification yards are for sorting not storing cars. While capacity is important, you want your yard to be functional. Most classification yards are several yards in one. Arrival/Departure Yard (s): These tracks are used by arriving and departing trains, allowing incoming trains to be held off the mainline until classification takes place.
What is yard lead?
The yard lead adjoins the ladder of the classification yard. This keeps all of this action off of the mainline. Ideally, this track will be at least as long as the longest track in your yard. Through Yard: Some trains may not require any switching at all.
What is a hump yard?
Flat Switch or Hump. Hump yards have a reputation for being immense and complex. Some are, but railroads often use gravity to their advantage on a smaller scale too. With or without retarders and motorized turnouts, a hump yard will be a more complicated construction project.
How long should a departure and arrival track be?
Arrival / Departure tracks should be as long as the longest train you plan to classify. You can combine arrival and departure in one area, or provide separate yards for each. On a hump yard, the arrival yard typically adjoins the classification yard and can double as the yard lead.
What is bypassing a train?
A mainline bypass for trains that don't stop or a storage siding or yard for trains that only change crews or locomotives keeps this traffic out of the gridlock. Auxiliary Services: Most yards also have several other dedicated areas not related to classifying freight.
How many tracks do you need for a yard?
Most yards will need at least two tracks for arrival and departure. This allows multiple functions to happen without holding up the mainline or classification operations. Larger yards may require more. Arrival / Departure tracks should be as long as the longest train you plan to classify.
How long should a classification track be?
How Long Should the Classification Tracks Be. This depends on how many cars you plan to switch into each track. If you plan to run twenty-five car trains , and you hold an entire train's worth of cars on one track, then that track needs to be at least twenty-five cars long.
Version 1
The initial design, focussing on the classification part in below (the squares in the diagrams on this page are 1 foot by 1 foot).
Version 2
The next design tweaked the lengths to better fit the available space, as well as added a hypothetical chemical plant at the back and a turntable and engine shed in the engine service area.
Version 3
Here I decided to shelve the chemical plant. Chemical plants tend to be very large and making a small version would require a lot of research to make it credible. This version replaces it with a grain elevator silo complex based on the Walthers kit. I plan to scratch build additional silos.
Constraints
The design is more constrained in width than depth just due to the geometry of the switches and my requirement for 800 scale foot trains (real world length, 5 feet). Version 2 has a depth of ~ 3 feet, I have probably another foot of depth available for additional yard and industry space beyond that.
Why are railroad yards important?
Railroad yards have been an important part of railroading since nearly the earliest days of the industry. It did not take railroads long to realize that having locations of multiple tracks, particularly at division points or where two rail lines meet, for both freight car storage and organizing or reorganizing trains would increase efficiency.
What does it mean when a railroad yard is double ended?
In terms of layout railroad yards are either double-ended, which means a train can enter the yard at one end and exit from the other or stub-ended which means the yard has no exit. Obviously, the double-ended yard is much more efficient and most classification yards of any size are of this type.
What would happen if there were no railroad yards?
Without railroad yards it would be virtually impossible for railroads to remain efficient in keeping freight exactly where it needs to go. These large terminals, commonly known as classification yards, take in freight, usually from all different directions, sort it out and again send it on its way to either the next yard or final destination.
How fast can a train go in a yard?
At one end of the yard is the main line, usually at least two tracks and once a train has entered the yard it is within the "yard limit" meaning there is a restricted speed at all times, usually no more than 5 or 10 mph. A bird's eye view of Seaboard Coast Line's yard in Rocky Mount, North Carolina during 1968.
What color are the F units in Kansas?
A busy scene at Santa Fe's terminal in Emporia, Kansas during March of 1972. Despite their age, the F units, wearing the road's attractive freight livery of blue and yellow, still look quite classy. Roger Puta photo.
Where were coach yards found?
Coach yards were once a common element of the railroad industry, found at all major terminals across the country. Even many small depots and stations had a version of these via a few extra tracks to store passenger equipment.
Where was the weed choked yard in Chicago?
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's weed-choked yard in Rockford, Illinois is seen here in August, 1965. During this era many out-of-the-way yards and branch lines were fouled with weeds, a result of the industry's declining situation. Pictured is 2-8-2 #4960 which pulled many excursions over the CB&Q at the time.
What is a railroad yard?
A rail yard, railway yard, or railroad yard is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading and unloading railroad cars and locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock or unused locomotives stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic.
What is a main line yard?
Main-line yards are often composed of an up yard and a down yard, linked to the associated railroad direction. There are different types of yards, and different parts within a yard, depending on how they are built.
What is a receiving yard?
Receiving yard, also called an arrival yard, where locomotives are detached from freight cars, cars are inspected for mechanical problems, and sent to a classification yard. Departure yard, where car blocks are assembled into trains. Car repair yard or maintenance yard, for freight cars.
What is a flat yard?
A flat yard has no hump, and relies on locomotives for all car movements. A gravity yard is built on a natural slope and relies less on locomotives; generally locomotives will control a consist being sorted from uphill of the cars about to be sorted.
How are railroad cars moved?
Railroad cars are moved around by specially designed yard switchers, a type of locomotive. Cars in a railroad yard may be sorted by numerous categories, including railway company, loaded or unloaded, destination, car type, or whether they need repairs. Railroad yards are normally built where there is a need to store cars while they are not being ...
Where is the Amtrak train yard?
Enclosed area designated for railways. A large Amtrak and Metra coach yard in Chicago, Illinois. About 25 percent of all rail traffic in the United States travels through the Chicago area. Yard for Amtrak equipment, located next to the Los Angeles River. The two tracks on the left are the mainline. A rail yard, railway yard, or railroad yard is ...
Where are coach yards located?
Coach yards are used for sorting, storing and repairing passenger cars. These yards are located in metropolitan areas near large stations or terminals. An example of a major US coach yard is Sunnyside Yard in New York City, operated by Amtrak. Those that are principally used for storage, such as the West Side Yard in New York, are called "layup yards" or "stabling yards." Coach yards are commonly flat yards because passenger coaches are heavier than freight carriages, in the unladen state.
What is a railway yard?
Types of Railway Yards. The system of tracks laid usually on a fairly level ground for receiving, storing, sorting, making up trains and dispatch of vehicles, is known as railway yards. 1.
What is a locomotive yard?
Locomotive Yards. The yards in which locomotives are housed for servivng and alos for coaling, watering, reoairing, oiling, cleaning etc are called locomotive yards. Loco yards are generally constructed on the same sides as the marshalling yard. The essential requirements of an ideal loco yard are:
What is a yard for goods?
The yards which are provided for receiving, loading and unloading the goods and for the movement of goods vehicles, are called goods yards. Goods platforms are treated as goods yards. Separate goods siding are generally provided for storing and delivery of goods at important stations. Goods sidings are so located and designed that goods trains can be placed and wagons attached from up and down directions with equal facility.
What should be kept parallel to the running lines?
The marshalling yards should preferably kept parallel to the running lines. Marshalling yards should be properly lighted. Transship platforms for the exchange of goods, should be provided on one or more siding of the marshalling yards. 4. Locomotive Yards.
What are the functions of a marshalling yard?
The important functions of a marshalling yard are: reception, sorting and departure. For efficient working of a marshalling yard, the following points must be considered.
What is the purpose of passenger yards?
1. Passenger Yards. The main function of passenger yards is to provide facilities for the safe movement of passengers and passenger bogies. Passenger platforms are used as passenger yards. At the terminal stations and station junctions, separate sidings are provided to accommodate passenger trains during their idle period and also for washing, ...
Where should the turn table be located in a traffic yard?
An extra emergency entrance from the traffic yard should be provided for emergency cases. The turn table should be located at one of its remotest corner so that it does not obstruct the movement of engines from the yard.
What are the factors that make a railroad safe?
They routinely check a wide range of factors critical to safe track: rail and rail joints, gauge and alignment, crossties, grade crossings, and more.
What is the class 7 Amtrak?
exclusively on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor between New York and Washington, D.C. Amtrak has also received special “Class 7” status for 125 mph operation and (with the launch of high-speed Acela Express trains) “Class 8” status for 150 mph on specific segments of the corridor. Excepted track.
What is the speed of a Class 5 train?
Class 5: 80 mph for freight, 90 mph for passenger. This is the standard for most high-speed track in the U.S. Examples are UP’s main line between Council Bluffs, Iowa, and North Platte, Neb.; and BNSF between Fullerton and San Diego, Calif., used mostly by Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner trains to San Diego. Class 6: 110 mph for freight, 110 mph ...
