Speed Limits in Yards

[hertsbob]

Hi

May I ask what the prototypical speed limit would be in a large-ish switching yard?

I'd love to be able to use a 20mph limit in one of the yards in a route I'm looking at, but I have a horrible feeling that I'm going to have to change it to be 15mph.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Cheers

Bob

[dazzharvey]

When i build a yard i use the bath yard track properties in the list, the default speed is 15 mph but sometimes i change that accordingly to what i need for the track im working on.

I use the select tool in the track menu on the editor and run the length of the section of track i want to focus on and change the speed properties in the pop out menu on the right of the screen.

[hertsbob]

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

I've just re-read my question and have realised how poorly worded it is!

What I really meant to ask was whether it would be inappropriate for a US switching yard to have a 20mph speed limit, rather than a question about to how to achieve it.

Cheers

Bob

[Chessie8638]

Max speeds in yards as stated by NORAC (Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee) is 15 mph. This might be different in other rule books from around the US. But 15mph is the generally used max speed.

[GreatNortherner]

Hi,

I've seen (rare) cases of yards with higher speed limits. For example at Sheridan, WY, where the BN (not sure about the BNSF today) had a speed limit of 25, but with 15 through all switches. So yes, yard speeds above 15 mph can be prototypical -- but I suppose they are quite rare.

Cheers,
Michael

[harryadkins]

Many contemporary yards have a 25 mph speed limit on tracks that run-around the yard. Most have a speed limit of 15 mph on yard and drill tracks. In our area, it's rare to see a yard switcher moving at more than 10-12 mph. Yard tracks are usually the lowest rung on the maintenance ladder.

[hertsbob]

HI

That's great information, many thanks indeed for the replies. Greatly appreciated.



Cheers

Bob

[OldProf]

You might want to keep in mind that speed limits can also be altered at the scenario editing level. This isn't practical for long stretches of mainline track, but in yard areas it can come in handy. In a scenario I wrote for the Horseshoe Curve route, for example, I lowered a 15 mph limit to 10 mph on certain yard tracks, which made timing some AI activity easier, but my stated reason for the change was the snowy weather.

Tom Pallen

[SCLJim]

Hi

May I ask what the prototypical speed limit would be in a large-ish switching yard?

I'd love to be able to use a 20mph limit in one of the yards in a route I'm looking at, but I have a horrible feeling that I'm going to have to change it to be 15mph.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Cheers

Bob

This is what I could remember and find in my old paperwork as it was a little tricky as far as what speed you could travel on certain tracks. Case in point, we had several signaled sidings that we got a medium clear into and out, a speed not exceeding 30 mph, but the switches were limited to 25 mph. Theoretically we could have entered the siding at 25 then once clear of the switch could bump it up to 30 but in order to keep things simple, the signaled sidings were limited to a flat 25.

Timetable speeds for all tracks other than main tracks and sidings were listed at 10 mph, 5 for the Gaston Steam Plant. We had several nonbonded sidings that gave us a restricting in, not exceeding 15 mph or able to stop within half the range of vision, blah blah blah, but the switches were limited to 10 mph.

All yard tracks for Tilford yard, Atlanta, were listed at 10 mph.
All yard tracks for Boyles yard, Birmingham, were listed at 10 mph as well.
All movements through turnouts in Rice Yard, Waycross, were listed as 10 as well. <---- a tricky one. I dont remember ever going faster than 10 anywhere in the yard.

All of the above yards gave restricting indications in, slow clear out.

10 seemed like a good comfy speed, even when we went down the NS, we always ran about 10 regardless of signal indication.

[hertsbob]

Hi

Many thanks again for all your replies. They've been extremely helpful.

Cheers

Bob