Are fiddle yards necessary ?

3512 Views 6 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Doug, Oct 19, 2006

Makemineadouble

Discussion Starter · Oct 18, 2006

Are fiddle yards / staging tracks really necessary ?. Layout design in recent years as featured in the model press have traditionally featured a station and embelishments, to fiddle yard - I'm talking continious run here rather than end to end where a fiddle yard is an essential part of operation. To my way of thinking hidden yards are almost always difficult to access, and if controlled properly expencive to configure. They occupy typically a huge part of the layout, point work and huge amounts of track are consumed by them. If their visable they look unrealistic. My question therfore is can the fiddle yard be substituted by a large station for instance, with quite a few platforms, and passing roads,this surely is more attractive than a fiddleyard yet just as functional. Carriage sidings certainly look better than a fiddle yard, and when accompanied by an MPD lead to some realistic stock movements. What would you rather have the railway version of the M25 or some industry sidings, motive power depot, carriage sidings and a busy station.

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millerk

· #2 · Oct 18, 2006

Its a fair point but I supect it would require a layout large enough, to stop it looking like a train set oval, which is why most tend to only show the layout to one side. The illusion could be helped by having a scenic break at each end to create, in effect, two scenic areas. Personally I feel there is sufficient flexibility in the hobby to allow a little of everything

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pedromorgan

· #3 · Oct 18, 2006

I think part of the problem is the sheer ammount of rolling stock thats needed. even a small layout neets 10 trains. fiddle yards are not pretty but they are functional.

i have plenty of loco's but very little rolling stock and i have done a wish list. and it somes to about 22 rakes of coaches. how can that realistically be tucked away somewhere?

i am not defending fiddle yards, but is there anything better?

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Gary

· #4 · Oct 18, 2006 (Edited by Moderator)

In terms of exhibition layouts you have to consider ease of transport and a simple off the stage flat fiddle yard is perfect. It is interesting though that the Fleischmann and Hornby showcase layouts don't have fiddle yards and do have constant running as do the various Collector Club Hornby Dublo, Wrenn and Tri-ang show layouts. In terms of home layouts many people seem to have the fiddle yard sat right in the middle of the oval layout only its called a shunting yard or a mainline terminus. I would agree that this does not look too authentic but beggers of space can't be choosers sadly. Those who are space restricted or who want to have realistic looking curves at home can always opt for N gauge.

Then there is the spiral that takes all your trains off the stage and down under the table to a hidden basement fiddle yard. This is featured in this months Model Rail mag if memory serves me right.

Certainly if you are at home and have the space for a permanent oval layout then there does seem no reason why you can't have a scenic area with trains rolling in and rolling out. Still need somewhere to park things though not in use.

Happy modelling
Gary

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CeeDeeI

· #5 · Oct 18, 2006

I think that for most people, apart from the purpose of pure storage, the fiddle yard represents the 'rest of the railway system' and that's what your trains are serving in one capacity or another. If of course it's of no consequence to the modeller that trains are obviously just going round and round then a fiddle yard has no place on the layout. In the limited space that the average modeller has it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to produce a convincing visual picture of train operation without a fiddle yard.
Having said that I now await a possible barrage of links that prove I am totally wrong.

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neil_s_wood

· #6 · Oct 18, 2006

QUOTE (Makemineadouble @ 18 Oct 2006, 20:52) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>My question therfore is can the fiddle yard be substituted by a large station for instance, with quite a few platforms, and passing roads,this surely is more attractive than a fiddleyard yet just as functional. Carriage sidings certainly look better than a fiddle yard, and when accompanied by an MPD lead to some realistic stock movements. What would you rather have the railway version of the M25 or some industry sidings, motive power depot, carriage sidings and a busy station.

Thats what I do. My station is where I store my long trains. I don't have space to waste on hidden fiddle yards. I just put a platform between the rails and it's part of the station. I tend to rotate some of my rolling stock as I don't have room for it all. It looks better than having as MMaD says the train equivelant of the M25.

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Doug

· #7 · Oct 19, 2006 (Edited by Moderator)

Are fiddle yards a British concept? I haven't seen fiddle yards at the European shows that I've been to. Perhaps they have just been well hidden.

I think that staging tracks are fine if you can fit them into or under the layout.

They keep the locos and rolling stock in order and if under the layout, they could help to keep the stock clean.

Also, locos that are at hand are much more likely to be used compared to those stuck away in boxes and bubble wrap.

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