Fiddle yard

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A fiddle yard (English "yard to play around" ) is a typical element of a model railway layout of British tradition; it represents "the world outside". This area is deliberately not designed according to a model, but should allow any manual intervention. The goal is a simple, unhindered reassembly of the trains by hand.

A fiddleyard as a track harp

concept

Fiddle yard on a modular layout of the FREMO

This concept of manual intervention possibility distinguishes the fiddle yard of a shadow station , which is also invisible while and is therefore not designed model as standard, where the trains but on their own - often automatically - be driven: The fiddle yard allows each train composition and enables this in an impressively simple, cost and space-saving manner. Locomotives or individual wagons are simply lifted up there by hand and used elsewhere; you save yourself laborious maneuvering, for which the space is also not required. The trains can sometimes run in dock-like containers and removed as a whole, rotated or replaced by other trains.

It is important to have a clear visual separation from the rest of the system; often the fiddle yard is invisible to the viewer (for example on the back). It can also be separated by the backdrop next to the system or its interesting and well-designed part. It is then reached through a tunnel; Often, it is sufficient to cover the opening in the backdrop with trees, houses or the like (especially in the case of a diorama-like structure in which the system is only viewed from one side). This is mainly used in shelving systems.

construction

A fiddle yard can be set up in different ways:

  • in the simplest case a single track on which a retracted train can be taken down; then a new train is put on the track.
  • Trough-like containers that can be moved freely on a plate and are attached to the entry track.
  • Several tracks that can be approached via a track harp with switches or a flexible piece of track.
  • An often manually operated turntable is used to turn the locomotive or the entire train.
  • One or more transfer platforms allow the locomotive or parts of the train to be moved sideways.
  • An elevator allows the furniture to be moved vertically in a space-saving manner in a display case-like suspension.