N Scale Modular - the "Compact" Storage Yards

These are alternate East and West Storage Yards. They too, are essentially identical but have had scenary applied so they tie into the main line modules.

These yards have three, much shorter, storage tracks than the "big" yards, so can contain much less stock. However, they, plus Los Tanimals and their supporting equipment have been designed to fit into a large estate car, greatly reducing the amount of transport required.

The Eastern Compact Yard is called Tornado Alley and within the loops are a number of industries (including Gosport American Railroad that are recovering from a visit from it's namesake storm. One building is still a derelict shell. This yard can have an extension module to Los Tanimals attached to the front of it to extend the electified inter-urban line to the stop in Tornado.

The western Compact Yard is called West Country and has a river running through it and Pheloff's Riding Stables inside the loop.

Each yard is capable of connecting to a single- or a double-track module with a selection switch to "tell" the electronics which. There are three push-buttons to align the all turnouts for the "inner", "middle" and "outer" loops and completely automatic auto-reversing to handle ensuring that the track polarity matchs the main line or lines. There are sensors and automated signals that indicate to the engineer driving trains entering or leaving the yard if they are clear to procede.

In their current form, the first 3' module on entering the yard can either function as a 1:6 or 2:6 module and is equipped with all the electronics, turnouts and signals. It also fans the loop tracks out to about 70°. The next 2' module is a 6:6 one and brings the loops back to parallel. A straight 2' 6:6 module normally follows; this is an optional extension and can be omitted if space is really tight. The final 2' module are the end curves that form the loop.

The compact west yard "West Country" in standard configuration.

The compact east yard Tornado Alley in standard configuration.

The compact east yard Tornado Alley with the inter-urban extension.

The West Country Compact Yard looking eastwards.

The West Country Compact Yard looking westwards.

The Tornado Alley Compact Yard looking eastwards.

The Tornado Alley Compact Yard looking northwards showing the inter-urban extension in the foreground.