Proviso Yard

The Proviso Yard was the focal point of activity on the layout. With a capacity for 750 cars, this North-South yard, designed for two operators, was the traffic hub. Nearly every piece of rolling stock passed through this yard at some point in it's journey. As a result, this became the busiest area of the layout. The intent was to replicate the Proviso Yard located southwest of Chicago.

This is the south half of the yard, where most of the switching takes place. Caboose, engine, and team tracks occupy much of this end.

The south end of the yard has a split ladder, designed in a way that two operators can switch cars in and out of two team tracks independently. With the volume of traffic that goes through this yard, that's a plus.

An Amtrak train makes its way past the north throat of the Proviso Yard. Double headed signals control traffic in and out of the yard here, as well as mainline traffic. Because of all the possible routes, the signaling logic was complex.

The double-ended Staging Yards below the Proviso Yard had the capacity to store 12 40-car trains. They were accessed from the layout at two different locations, one at Sacred Mountain, to the Argentine Yard, and the other at the refinery, to the Zion Yard. There were several passing sidings on the branch lines that served the staging yards.

Proviso Yard Operations

The Proviso Yard in operation. Dick is under a tight timetable making up a train for departure. With everything at his fingertips, the procedure goes a lot quicker than it did previously with cab control. The programming track is conveniently right in front of him.

The programming track was still located at the Proviso Yard, since that seemed the logical place to put it, however all programming is now done using Decoder Pro from a computer in another room. Forty eight turnouts (all Peco large) powered by Tortoise machines were in the Proviso Yard. Power routing features and turnout indication on the panel kept things running smoothly. The ability to explain how railroads switch cars and makeup long distance trains was the purpose of this area.

The diesel engine service facility at the south end of the Proviso Yard. Patching plaster was used here for several reasons. It has a longer setup time and doesn't crack when cured.