Kevin Leyerle’s Rock Island, West Yard
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (RI) had a large presence in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma serving many customers. Oklahoma City wasn’t a Division Terminal but still had many yard jobs working around the clock. One such job was known as the “West Yard Job”.
That name originated when RI predecessor Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad built through Oklahoma in the early 1900’s. RI had locations known as “East Yard” (the main switching yard later named Harter Yard), “Middle Yard” and “West Yard”. It’s interesting that Middle Yard and West Yard weren’t actually yards at all in the conventional sense but were industrial switching areas.
My West Yard consists of a Main Line, a Passing Track, an Interchange Track (with the Frisco) and four (4) Industry Spurs. A good Switchman can get the work done in about an hour and half.
That name originated when RI predecessor Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad built through Oklahoma in the early 1900’s. RI had locations known as “East Yard” (the main switching yard later named Harter Yard), “Middle Yard” and “West Yard”. It’s interesting that Middle Yard and West Yard weren’t actually yards at all in the conventional sense but were industrial switching areas.
My West Yard consists of a Main Line, a Passing Track, an Interchange Track (with the Frisco) and four (4) Industry Spurs. A good Switchman can get the work done in about an hour and half.
click to embiggen
Layout Accessability Information
You will have to traverse about a dozen steps to access the layout, which resides on the main floor of the house.
Layout at a Glance
Layout at a glance
- O Scale
- Layout occupies a small (10’ x 10’) home office
- Height is 52 inches
- Time frame is circa 1976
- I use NCE and Protothrottle for control. If you've used one in HO, you know how great it is. When you use one in O-scale, it's…well, yoiu've got to experience it for yourself!
- Switching operation within Yard Limits. You'll pick up your Switch List at the Delmar Yard shanty. This gives you instructions on the work to be done.
- Locomotives are sound equipped
- Must use stairs to access main level of house
Jobs on the Layout
Jobs on the Layout
You’ll work as a two-man crew.
One of you will run the engine and the other handle the switch list.
If time allows, we’ll re-stage and you can exchange jobs for the afternoon session.
One of you will run the engine and the other handle the switch list.
If time allows, we’ll re-stage and you can exchange jobs for the afternoon session.
About the Layout Owner
About the Layout Owner
I’ve been interested in trains and model railroading since the late ‘70’s. Friendly Rock Island crews let me ride on the switch engine and learn about what they did and why. I used to operate my HO layout like I saw the prototype work so I was always “Operating”, I just didn’t know it yet!
I had dabbled in two-rail O scale in the ‘80’s. I built the small West Yard layout circa 2015 as a test-bed. I converted entirely to O scale circa 2019 when I began changing my basement HO layout to O scale.
I spent 32 years working on 1:1 scale railroads. I’m a full-time O Scaler currently.
I had dabbled in two-rail O scale in the ‘80’s. I built the small West Yard layout circa 2015 as a test-bed. I converted entirely to O scale circa 2019 when I began changing my basement HO layout to O scale.
I spent 32 years working on 1:1 scale railroads. I’m a full-time O Scaler currently.
Photo Gallery
(Click to embiggen)
