EUROSPOOR2001 - JBU Peter Urban, Spoor O Metropolis > Ponca Yard Arge Hannover Spur 1 Overlord - Chris Mead Westford Manfred Jörger, spoor-Z Kingston Regis WWII Railway Studygroup Brian Harrap met MINI ZOB

Terugblik op deelnames van buitenlandse exposanten op EUROSPOOR2001. THE PONCA YARD CONCEPT copyright foto en tekst: Ponca Yard, Paul Herwegen Ponca Yard is a fairly long, but narrow, modular switching layout in HO scale (12 x 1 m), built for two purposes: creating the modern American industrial railroad scene; proving that you do not need expensive materials, sophisticated electronics or even huge layouts to create both realism and operational possibilities. The layout features two switching areas, two hidden staging yards at both ends and a run-through mainline in the background. This concept enables simultaneous traffic and interaction for at least three operators; one for each switching area and one for the mainline, including both staging yards. The western part of the yard (originally a BN yard) is now operated by Conrail. The Eastern part still belongs to the SP. Interchange traffic is possible between all areas: the yards, the mainline and the hidden staging, resulting in unlimited possibilities for switching industries, running by's on the main and setting out or picking up of all kinds of cars or consists. While switching goes on in both yards, the mainline (radio-controlled) features a virtually constant traffic of run through freights, Amtrak passenger trains and impressive engine lash-ups. Apart from the complicated sound system with 8 loudspeakers, there are no electronics involved; there is no signalling system (operators are communicating to each other with headphone sets)and all turnouts are manually thrown by simple, inexpensive, yet reliable rods. The layout was made especially for exhibition purposes and always keeps the operators very busy, thanks to the successful combination of realism, simplicity and operational possibilities.