A telephoto shot facing southward (towards Fruitland Avenue) into the Arrow Reload complex in Vernon, CA. There are at least four customers in this shot, the hoppers on the left, the coil car, two gondolas, and a different hopper customer barely visible on the right behind the switchstand. There’s lots of action and car variety in a small amount of space making for an ideal modeling subject.
In my book, “8 Track Plans for Modern Era Switching Layouts,” I devoted an entire chapter to BNSF’s Harbor Subdivision. Within that chapter, I delve extensively into the team track operation a few blocks east of the yard and drew up a track plan for it as a stand-alone layout.
On my recent trip to LA, I was finally able to see it in person and was pleasantly surprised by how active it still is. Fellow LA modeler Ken Dobiecki did some research and sent me a note that the operation is now run by Arrow Reload Systems. Matthew Velazquez of LA Rail Productions produced an extensive rail fan video of the yard switcher working the Arrow yard (start of video to the 4:25 mark)
A Bing Birdseye view of the yard. On this day several flats of steel are spotted under the gantry crane.
Another Birdseye view taken on a different day. In this view, four boxcars are spotted at the ramp.
The Arrow team track yard would be an ideal first layout for somebody new to the hobby.