2.1.3 Yard Switching

Prototype Information

 A railroad yard (US) or simply yard, is a complex series of tracks in a rail network for storing, sorting, or loading and unloading rail cars and locomotives.

Types of Yards. Many yards are located at strategic points on a main line.There are different types of yards, and different parts within a yard, depending on how they are built. 

• Arrival yard, where freight cars are detached from their locomotives, inspected for mechanical problems, and sent to a classification  yard.
• Classification yard, yards where cars are sorted for various destinations and assembled into blocks
• Departure yard, where car blocks are assembled into trains.
• Car repair yard or maintenance yard, for freight cars.
• Interchange yard, a yard where consists are dropped off or picked up as a group by through service such as a unit train, but managed locally by local switching service locomotives.

When a train arrives at the yard, several things may happen: 

1. It stops and changes out enginemen and trainmen and continues on its way,  
2. It sets outs and picks up blocks of cars and continues on its way, or 
3. The train terminates at the yard.

Trains stops and changes out enginemen and trainmen 

Under this scenario there is little or no yard switching. Locomotives could be changed out but that is done by engine crews. Cabooses may be changed out and that would be done by yard switchers. The train continues on its way

Trains set out and pick up blocks of cars 

The train is located in the arrival yard. The yard switcher will remove the set out cars from the train and transports them to the classification yard for sorting. From the classification yard, the yard switcher picks up cars already sorted for the train's next destination(s), transports them to the arrival yard and adds them  to the train. The train continues on its way. 

Trains terminate at the yard

If the train terminates at the yard, it must be broken down. Motive power will be sent to the engine service area.  The caboose will be moved by yard switcher to the caboose track. All cars will be moved by yard switcher to be classified, sorted, and spotted on the appropriate yard track.

Yard Switching (classification yard). The yard is organized so that cars are sorted:

• Into blocks based upon the destination line of the waybill, or
  
• Into blocks for transfer to servicing areas (cleaning, weighing, icing, livestock resting, car repair and/ or maintenance, etc)
  

Trains originate at the yard.

Trains sometimes originate in a yard, in this case the departure yard. Motive power is moved to the yard by enginemen. Yard switchers collect and move the blocks of cars from the classification yard to the appropriate departure yard track. Yard switchers collect the caboose and move it to the departure yard.

The WWSL

The WWSL has one division point yard, Demaine Yard, at Montesano Wash. The yard consists of:

• A 2-track bi-directional receiving and departure yard with access to the 1st and 2nd
  Division mains at each end
• A 2-track classification yard served by one yard lead.
• A caboose track
• An engine servicing facility
• A car repair in place track
• An industry track at the south end of the yard consisting of a coal dealership, a lumber distributor, an oil dealer, a propane dealer.  
• A team track located alongside the yard lead.
• A coach yard
• An interchange yard
• A storage yard
  

General Rules

The yardmaster shall control all track use and train movement within yard limits. No train shall move without the yardmaster's expressed permission.

The yardmaster can use any track under his control for any purpose at any time. There may be suggestions for track usage posted at a yard, but they are just suggestions.

Determine the proper sequence of car blocks for each train by referring to the Train Program (see section 2.1) and the Blocking Charts (see section 2.3).

Switch by track – no single car search.

Yard switcher will maintain switch lists for each yard track.

Yard switcher will maintain train list for each train.  

Yard Switching Sequence

Note: Yard switching begins AFTER the Car Department inspects the inbound train.

1. Review waybills, switch list, manifest, car cards for all cars on Arrival Track. Find out where each is destined to go next:  to interchange, to another town, or locally.
2. Decide to which track each car should be sorted.
3. Look for “cuts” of car for easier classification.
   
4. Switch each “cut”.
5. Block a train:

Publications

2.2.7 Yard Operations Instructions

Forms

2.3.8 Switch List

References

< Warner, Jeffry A., YARDMASTERS GUIDE No. 7