One, if not the most, difficult problem on a model layout is finding a car in a yard, especially if that yard is large. Yard classification is important, and prototypical, yet yard classification is not always done on home, or even club layouts.

Part of the problem is having the flexibility to move cars where there is room in the yard. Over crowding is one of the major problems of layout yards. Too many cars, not enough room.

Yet, one of the first features that was asked for in this program was yard tracks and placing cars on those tracks in order to make it easier to find cars for your train.

This has been implemented into Interchange. Now switch lists will show the track the car is on when picking up cars, and which track to drop cars off for those arriving at a yard.

Not all yards have to be classified, only the yard(s) you want.

You have a wide array of options in classifying tracks in a yard. They are:

v    Classify by specific industries. This allows you to specify a track or tracks where the destinations for the cars arriving in the yard are to one or more specific industries.

v    Classify by train. This allows you to specify a track or tracks where the destinations for the arriving cars are carried out by one or more trains.

v    Classify by town. This allows you to specify a track or tracks where the destinations for the arriving cars are going to one or more towns.

v    Classify by route. This allows you to specify a track or tracks where the destinations for the arriving cars are going to one or more routes.

v    Transfer to another yard. This allows you to specify a track or tracks where the destinations for the arriving cars are going to transferred to one of more other yards.

v    Empty Cars. This allows you to specify a track or tracks where arriving empty cars are to be stored.

These are assigned to cars automatically upon arrival for any yard were you have set thus up. Additional track assignments include

v    MOW Storage.

v    Caboose Storage.

v    Passenger Storage.

v    Extra Storage.

Any tracks in your yards can be classified by any one or any combination of the above. Thus you can have a wide array of methods of classification within the same yard.

In the above example, this five car yard is classified by four different methods. Track 5 is for empties to be stored; track 4 is for two industries only (most likely run by one train). Track 3, is for one specific train. While Tracks 1 and 2 are for a specific route.

Thus upon arrival, cars will be noted on the switchlist as to the proper track to place them on.

To implement yard classification go to the Edit Layout Form. On the first tab, under the yards list is a button "Yard Track Classification". A new form will appear. This form will allow you to create yard tracks and associate them, and also to view all the cars by track for any classified yard.

On the left is a tree of your current yards, select the one you want to classify. In this example below you can see the demo’s classification for Orangeville yard.

On the right of the form is where you create the yard track.

Enter the name of track number, size and single or double ended, then select the purpose of the yard. Depending upon the selection you will get another list of possible assignments, or destinations for cars. You can choose as many as you want. You also have the option of assigning current cars in that yard to this track.

A note about the naming of tracks: You can name them anything you want, that is what will appear on the switchlist. Most will want to use track numbers. However, that will restrict you to use that track all the time for that purpose. If you move the assignments of tracks due to the number of car, then, instead of absolute naming of tracks, you might want to use a relative naming system. Thus on your panel, or through some other kind of mechanism, indicate on the layout what track numbers refer to which names (assignments).

This will allow you to be flexible in how you physically manage your yards, but at the same time allow the program to assign cars to tracks. You will note on the first figure that two physical tracks were given one assignment. Thus they are given one name for the pair of tracks. You will note on the demo that the same physical track is split, north end and south end, and used for two different assignments.

A note about size and single or double ended. At the current time the program does not use these, but are being capture for future possible use.

The second tab will allow you to select a yard and see all the cars in that yard by track they are assigned to.

Clicking on a car will give you all the info about that car.

This matrix will allow you to find any car quickly. This, as in other lists in the program, is exportable to Excel. The cars on a track in this list are not sorted by position, but by car number. Position will hopefully be implemented later when a system of ensuring cars are where they are supposed to be can be perfect.