gandydancer19 wrote:There was an article a few years back in one of the two major MRR mags about a staging yard on drawer slides. The physical location was close to the front edge of the layout and very close to the upper level. Sorry that I can't remember which issue.
There was an article a few years back in one of the two major MRR mags about a staging yard on drawer slides. The physical location was close to the front edge of the layout and very close to the upper level. Sorry that I can't remember which issue.
Try December 2000 Model Railroader (haven't verified but it comes up in the index looking correct)..
My current layout plan (thread here) also calls for staging underneath an upper deck, so I appreciate this thread and the pictures. I was pretty much going to do it as suggested above - the staging tracks directly on the frame with the scenic'd upper deck supported on risers. Thanks for the validation!
I am having second thoughts about this approach, however. In my case, free time is the factor that restricts my progress most. My kids are 11, 5, & 4, and due to work, vacations, home maintenance, school activities, soccer, homework help, and other familial stuff, my layout currently consists of a pile of lumber and hardware lying on the shed floor Given that the staging level needs to be built and debugged first, it's going to be a loooooong time before I get to the "fun stuff" on the upper level.
And there's also the fact that some of the switching I want to do might leave longer trains parked on grades, and avoiding that situation would restrict me to shorter trains and un-prototypical moves. I am building in a 10'x 18' shed in the middle of the back yard, so there is no additional space to annex and a helix eats up way too much of the available room.
With those things in mind, I am leaning towards building my layout on a single level with no dedicated staging tracks. When I want to operate, I would run one side and use the opposite side for staging, as Koester suggests in his ops book.
I realize I'll be reducing the level of operations potential quite a bit by doing this, but: 1) the layout will still meet my G&Ds, 2) I'll be a solo operator 70-80% of the time and can't handle too many trains anyway, 3) there are large private & club layouts within a reasonable drive that I can operate on, 4) the primary goal for this layout is learning and having fun, and the pile of lumber aint gettin' that done
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
Hi Capt.: IMHO, if you have the space available, go with off the layout staging. Off the layout staging is a joy to work with. I'm blessed with the space, so here's what mine looks like. This is West staging with a return loop and 6 stub end staging tracks.
This is East staging, double return loop, and stub end staging for Reading branch.
Pics of my staging yard:
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
Capt. Grimek wrote:I figured another set of L girders and a sheet of ply would do it,but wasn't sure if there were any other ingredients.
Not sure why you would need that much extra material. Here's an example, assuming screen wire for scenery contours that doesn't need additional support. But it would be possible with other scenery methods, some of which might need an extra riser here or there to support a scenery former.
This sketch was for a particular client situation where access was easiest from the rear (left on this view), but this also works at the front, behind removable fascia or below the fascia level.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Trying to fit the staging yard in later ship-in-a-bottle style is going to be a challenge, especially mating it smoothly to the ramps that will bring it to the surface. Not impossible, but a challenge, one that is easily avoided.
The slide-in / slide-out staging yard is best built before it is covered by visible layout. The last article I remember on one of these was John Signor's fine example in Model Railroader magazine, Dec 2000.I'd say that avoiding the work and purchase of the track components now is a false economy. Better to leave some of the visible track undone and do the subterranean staging first, diverting already-purchased track components to staging. Saving some dollars or time now and spending a lot more of each later may not be a recipe for enjoyment.There have been multiple versions of Westcott's Benchwork book, but the version I have shows some examples of track supported below the main deck height in figure 6-3 (page 29 of the sixth printing of the original version).The key is to think not of tabletops, but of bridges (the subroadbed) supported by columns (the risers). Then you can have many different heights for subroadbed with scenery smoothing the transitions in between.Looking at benchwork as tabletops only is often a mistake. Trying to retrofit something underneath the already-built tabletop is even tougher.ByronModel RR Blog
gandydancer19 wrote: Capt. Grimek wrote:I'm going to try and come up with a build on the work bench and slide in/under laterscheme. Anyone know of an article or someone who's done that kind of project?There was an article a few years back in one of the two major MRR mags about a staging yard on drawer slides. The physical location was close to the front edge of the layout and very close to the upper level. Sorry that I can't remember which issue.
Capt. Grimek wrote:I'm going to try and come up with a build on the work bench and slide in/under laterscheme. Anyone know of an article or someone who's done that kind of project?
I recall that the layout had a So Cal theme, but, like you, I can't remember the issue.
IIRC, the traverser was used as a giant transfer table, with one connecting track at each end. Look, Ma, no hidden turnouts.
Were I to try anything similar, the temptation would be to use a hollow-core door for a traverser. My current scheme will also use hollow-core doors, but there will be hidden turnouts. The passenger staging yard will be up between the L girders under my main station, with sections rigged to be removed from below for maintenance and for access to the underside of the visible world. That's scheduled to be the next step in the construction process.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Hi,
Start with the lowest level first, and work your way up. And don't forget to leave room for that 0-5-0 switcher to work.
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Capt. Grimek wrote:I'm also undecided about under the table staging or a cassette/car ferry or off layout/other room solution.
I also have a car float operation as well as a three track interchange/staging yard. It will be made to look like a rundown yard.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Do you have room for a helix? I have seen lower level staging accessed by a two or three turn, two track helix. That way there was adequate room for wiring above and handling trains below, if required.
But I agree that the lower part should be built first, then the upper scenic'ed portion above it. And for that, you have to plan ahead, as said before.
Sorry, no pics.
If you are talking about a five to eight foot long area or longer, I would build L-girder mounted on 2 x 2 legs. L-girder for the bottom staging level and then L-girder again for the upper level. Make the legs long and use them for supporting both levels. On the lower level, just use plywood directly on the girders, no joists.
EDIT: Oh yea, I built a lower staging area once. It was a four track reverse loop type, and it was an after thought. I was using L-girder benchwork at the time supported by 2 x 2 legs. I added two more lower L-girders and a chip-board surface. I had to install it in pieces. Laying the track on it was a pain, so I hot-glued it down. The turnouts were all mounted on a removable section and the turnouts were laid at the bench, as were the switch machines. The route up was on a linear grade.
You could also add a lower level staging yard below the benchwork. It could be concealed by a curtain hung from the fascia, but still easily accessible. That's my plan, anyway.
The access track will need to be well planned to mate with the rest of the track plan, whether a helix or long grade, etc.
Most people I know don't put hidden staging "under" the benchwork. The best way is to layer the benchwork with the benchwork on the bottom, the staging next and then the "layout" the visible layer above it. Doing it that way is more flexible and saves you from having to "tunnel" through your benchwork. It does require you to actually plan your layout and its construction ahead of time.
Dave H.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com