I've been looking what the lower level of my layout and been thinking about where the staging is going to go. I have 2 places that I think it will work best and not interfer with the scenes I would like to do. Trains will be moved from the upper to lower decks via a 3-4foot long movable "bridge". I would do a helix but I figure each method has it's pros and cons so I'm going with the manual method for now. In the image don't worry too much about the main line or those extra track as I was just messing around with industry placement.
Spot A Pros: Easy to lay track, track is straight, close to the upper deck's connection point. Cons: end of length of track would be hard to reach AND hide without making removeable backdrops, wicked S curves in the "run lower layout" turnouts.
Spot BPros: very easy to get to, easier exiting in either direction, eats up some deadspace that may be hard to use.Cons: It is all curves ie coupling problems, reverse loop electronics needed.
So how would you do it? To me spot b seems to win the pro/con war but I could be missing something as this is only about my 4th month in the hobby :-)
Thanks!
Dave
Whew,
Here is what happened to me with remote staging.
http://wwwjoe-daddy.blogspot.com/2007/08/ll-pox-on-hidden-staging.html
Murphy lives in hidden staging yards.
Good Luck!
Just my 2 cents
Joe Daddy
Joe, nice blog!
I see your point on hidden staging. At some point in time I hope to have enough room to expand but for now I'm in my 14x9 section of the house. I have ruled out a helix for now because I weighed the pros/cons and feel for me the sky elevator just works better for the space I have. I think too that it will be quicker to make moves like that because I won't have to wait for the train to travel 7-10 loops between the decks.
The spacing between the decks is 16 inches with the height of this deck right at 36 inches. Since it is there I figured why not do a little testing. If a car derailed anywhere past the 4 foot mark on section A I would have to bring in the claw-on-a-stick to reach it. In the B location I could reach and rerail ar car anywhere in the section.
I still worry about that staging on a curve but who knows.