Customer Reviews

The Model Railroader's Guide to Freight Yards (Model Railroader Books)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was a bit disappointed by this book. It started off very well but then wandered off in a direction I did not want to take.

It does a fair job of introducing the various trackage to be found at many yards, explaining the routing and usage. There were a few topics, such as gravity or hump yards, which were missing but the general introduction was well done. After that point, though, it bogged down.

Most of the book is spent looking at real yards and explaining how they were adapted for modeling purposes on various layouts. This would seemingly be a very good idea since the purpose of the book is to teach the reader about how to model yards effectively. In execution, though, it leaves a bit to be desired. It reads like a transcript of a running commentary on a model operating schedule. This accomplishes the basics of the purpose but makes for dry and uninteresting reading.

Something that helps the book is the addition of sidebar articles on various topics. These address specific issues and are, on the whole, well written. They address such issues as saving space with yard ladders, throat design and even the look and feel of a yard. A final section on cards and waybills is also well written.

After his excellent treatment on passenger equipment and operations, I expected more. The information is in there but it takes some effort.

I didn't find much of value in the book. The one chapter explaining the different parts of the yard was okay but I was looking for some help in designing my own model railroad yard and was disapointed. I closed the book thinking I would need a large garage sized layout to build anything of value. Nothing smaller is considered in the book. The examples of actual model railroads didn't add much (and they were all huge too) The book also reads pretty quick. In half an hour I was done with nothing more to be gained. I found much better information on a couple of personal websites. I was looking for options and I was only given one - build big.

Excellent guide to setting up yards on your model railroad. This book covers how yards are used, what tracks go where and why and also has a section on staging yards. Even has yard layouts that you can use as is or modify them to fit your layout. Small, medium and large yards are all represented. I used this as a guide to set up a staging yard on my layout and fell confident that I will have a yard that not only looks good but will function well. I will also us this to set up the other yards on my layout.

The Model Railroader Guide To Freight Yards by model railroading expert Andy Sperandeo presents a compendium of overviews with respect to basic freight yard functions and operations; strategies for modeling freight yards based on specific prototypes; examples of interesting scenes and structures to model; ideas for saving space when designing a yard plan; and track plans from successfully modeled freight yards. Enhanced throughout with maps and illustrations for easy planning and designing, and with an inspirational photo gallery concluding each chapter, The Model Railroader Guide To Freight Yards is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to any dedicated railroad modeler's reference shelf collection.

This is a very practical guide to how actual railroad freight work and how to model freight yard operation realisticly.

This was a great book for me the arm chair model railroader. I wanted to learn more about making a rail yard operational as well as fun to operate. It had lots of great ideas as well as how real railroads operate.

Great book. Well illustrated and comprehensive introduction to freight yards for the novice model railroader and a great reference for experienced layout designers and builders

Item just as described in the condition promised. This will be very helpful as I try to finish up my layout.

I work in the video game industry and am working on a game that has a railroad level in it. These model railroad books are the perfect reference! The whole book is filled with great ideas and each idea is supported with real photographs. A+ One of the best
"reference" books I've ever purchased!