YARDS

All lengths are in meters using an average car length of 19m.

SUMMIT YARD

Summit Yard Dispatch Facility

The first yard in Panamint Crossing was built at Towne Summit, elevation 5,056 feet (1541m) at what are now sidings 501 - 504. It served as a collection point between the Dolomite Canyon and Panamint Butte mines, and later, Cottonwood Canyon. With the discovery of precious metals came increased demand, forcing the construction of the terraced yard seen today, which still serves a vital purpose in reducing the number of runs along the route's steep grades. The summit yard tower controls all dispatch activities, including emergency response. In the present, the route's main line converges with three other loops, creating tricky switch-back operations on steep grades next to 1000 foot cliffs. 

SIDING	TYPE	LENGTH	CAPACITY	GRADE	NOTES
101	LAYOVER	248	13	1.5%	Summit Yard South Layover
102	LAYOVER	406	21	1.5%	Towne Pass South Layover
201	SIDING	1,724	90	1.5%	Summit Long Siding 1
202	SIDING	1,724	90	1.5%	Summit Long Siding 2
203	SIDING	945	50	3.5%	Summit Bypass Siding South
204	SIDING	1,015	53	~6.5%	Dolomite Bypass Siding
301	SIDING	2,268	119	0%	Summit Long Terrace; Crane Accessible
302	SIDING	1,160	61	0%	Summit Lower Terrace 1; Crane Accessible
303	SIDING	1,160	61	0%	Summit Lower Terrace 2; Crane Accessible
401	SIDING	1,560	82	0%	Summit Upper Terrace 1; Crane Accessible
402	SIDING	1,560	82	0%	Summit Upper Terrace 2; Crane Accessible
501	SIDING	1,182	62	0%	Summit Siding 1; Crane Accessible
502	SIDING	1,034	54	0%	Summit Siding 2; Crane Accessible
503	SIDING	778	41	0%	Summit Siding 3; Crane Accessible
504	SIDING	730	38	0%	Summit Siding 4; Crane Accessible
601	LAYOVER	300	15	0%	Summit Yard Layover North 1
602	LAYOVER	142	7	0%	Summit Yard Layover North 2
603	LAYOVER	142	7	0%	Summit Yard Layover North 3
604	LAYOVER	142	7	3.5%	Dolomite Bypass Layover
701	SIDING	640	33	3.0%	Summit Bypass Siding North

Summit Yard Facility

ALKALI FLATS

Alkali Flats

By the early 1930s, the Summit Yard had reached its capacity, and the newly minted Panamint Valley Authority was tasked with building a level yard to be located on the eastern shores of Lake Panamint. Even with the country mired in depression, Durin & Sons had sufficient wealth to help fund New Deal projects, including construction of the rail infrastructure of Alkali Flats. The main yard was built in 1934 with 22 sidings. In 1948, the existing maintenance yard was expanded and enclosed with a teardrop-shaped collection of six sidings. Over this period, local industries established rail terminals in a loop located north of the main yard.

Alkali Flats Yard Schematic

Drainage Canals at Alkali Flats

Alkali Flats Shed and Crane

Alkali Flats Shed

DEVIL'S CORNFIELD

Devil's Cornfield

By the early 1950s, the demand for petroleum products was on the rise, and Muza's Green Gases constructed an oil refinery located at 25 feet below sea level on a most inhospitable salt flat bordering Lake Manly, overlooking Death Valley's basin. To service this terminal, the PVA constructed the Devil's Cornfield Yard in 1958, a sprawling place with basic service for rolling stock, and gateway to Las Vegas.

PANAMINT SPRINGS

Panamint Springs

This small yard serves as a collection point for raw materials taken from the surrounding valleys, which are rich in coal, limestone, and commercial-grade marble. When the new main lines were laid, the PVA diverted them around the national park settlement, while keeping the original line for passenger service into Panamint Springs. Lynto Stoneworks maintains a depot for concrete and cement at the Panamint Springs yard to serve the western end of the route.

SIDING	TYPE	LENGTH	CAPACITY	NOTES
101	SIDING	818	43	Panamint Springs Siding 1
102	SIDING	820	43	Panamint Springs Siding 2
103	SIDING	831	43	Panamint Springs Siding 3
104	SIDING	826	43	Panamint Springs Siding 4
105	SIDING	550	28	Panamint Springs Siding 5
201	SPUR	395	20	Panamint Springs Lynto Depot 1
202	SPUR	380	20	Panamint Springs Lynto Depot 2
203	SPUR	350	18	Panamint Springs Lynto Depot 3
204	SPUR	364	19	Panamint Springs Lynto Depot 4
301	SPUR	120	6	Panamint Springs Steam Service 1
302	SPUR	100	5	Panamint Springs Steam Service 2
303	SPUR	85	4	Panamint Springs Steam Service 3