Designing a yard ladder
The following steps describe how to draw a yard ladder so every turnout is of equal length. Numbers
in parenthesis (#) denote frame reference in the image below. In the image, the tracks to the right
of the ladder have yet to be adjusted to conform to the placement of the ladder.
- Based on the yard image, lay out the beginning and end points of the ladder, then draw short
segments of parallel tracks to determine how many tracks will be in the yard. (1)
- Draw extensions ("constructions") from the short tracks through where the ladder will lie. (1)
- From the last of the short tracks, draw a single line ("diagonal construction") through the
constructions to the bottom of the ladder. (1)
- Working from the bottom of the ladder towards the short tracks, draw individual segments along
the diagonal construction that have their endpoints at the intersections of the constuctions and
the diagonal construction. (1, 2)
- Delete the construction lines and draw the diverging lines for each turnout, ensuring that
all legs of each turnout at the same length. (3)
- (4) shows the completed ladder.
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