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The "double stop" idea sounds pretty appealing as a "random event" passenger operation idea. It requires the train operator to do more than just wait an additional period of time at the station--instead the operator needs to restart and stop the train at a particular spot to accomodate the embarcation or detraining of passengers from different cars. Typically our model station platforms are pretty short, so there is a physical justification for the practice of "double stopping." On most passenger trains, the "short" passengers were loaded on the first coach. The conductor or head brakeman assisted the engineer in making his stop by passing hand or lantern signals (indicating so many car-lengths from the desired stopping point, etc.), and the closer the signalling employee was to the engine, the better. Also, the head-end (mail, express and baggage cars) had to be worked from the depot platform, so carrying the "short" passengers on the coach or coaches closest to the head-end cars made sense. With a platform shorter than the train, a "double stop" to embark or detrain passengers from the rear cars was required. However, "double stopping" would only be done when absolutely necessary, and not as a routine matter, since the chances of rough train handling are greatly incresased in the process. The use of a card or dice system to indicate the random need to detrain passengers from the Pullman at the rear of the train would be an interesting--and prototypical-- addition to passenger train operations.
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