staging yards???? Do you have to have one????

[markpierce]

Do you need staging?  Almost without exception!  Where would your railroad traffic come from and go to without staging?  I can think of some scenarios (like industrial tram railroads) when it isn't necessary, but that would be exceptional.

Mark

[tomikawaTT]

Your need for staging will be driven by your operating plan, your rolling stock roster and your sense of what is (or isn't) right.

In my case, working with the prototype's timetable, I designed (and am building) my staging first.  To make the timetable work, I have to be able to store and retrieve 16 freights (9 with catenary motors, 7 with steam locos) and eight assorted through passenger consists, plus five EMU cars that mix and match to cover 43 weekday schedule slots!  Add in that most have to be turned (hello, hidden reversing loops!) and provision to attach cassette 'car ferries' to one hidden yard lead and the end result is that the netherworld is more extensive and more complex than the visible track will ever be.

I don't recall which of the Allegheny coal protolancers said that you will find that you need 2n plus 1 staging tracks, n being the number you thought would be adequate.  In my previous modeling, I found that to be true.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[dinwitty]

I have a 12'x20' ft. layout and after I built the table i forgot to put in room staging yard. I can fit a SMALL staging yard, 3 to 4 tracks..............................but no room for a helix. I can add a small incline to make it work, but it might have some problems. Will that be big enough??? Any comments will be appreciated!!!

Thanks

 

I have slightly less room than you and I have figgered out multi-level shelf modules. I could have hidden staging but went against that idea to keep everything visible and scenicked. But there are tricks to make staging possible even if its not hidden. An  interchange track can serve exactly the same thing, I have Walther's Car Float which I will use as an excuse to bring cars on/off the layout. I will have no serious "traditional" yard but will have a freight terminal that generates plenty of freight traffic (Chicago early fifties South Water Street area)

So there's plenty of tricks out there without a staging yard needed.

 

[carknocker1]

I just added a small staging yard ( 2 tracks ) but it is perfect for my needs on my 2 1/2 x 10 foot layout . It has improved operations 100 fold . I love it .

[trainman6446]

running it behind buildings would work. just make sure you have access to the tracks and turnouts.

[Trainman24]

Well, I'm going to operate, not just run trains. But thanks for the info!!! How about running it behind some of the buildings???

[selector]

It really depends on how you "drive" your layout, and how much driving you do.  If you keep everything on the layout, and have lots of everything, well...four tracks is probably rock bottom in terms of efficacy for staging.  Then again, what is the true capacity of those four tracks?  Will they be double-ended, as in drive-through?  If stub, they'll really be limited in their utility.  Just ask me.

[trainman6446]

3 or 4 tracks is better then nothing. you don't need a staging yard but it is good for storing equipment. doyou plan on "operating" your layout or just running trains? with your setup you could have 3 trains ready to go with 1 track for the running train.

[Trainman24]

I have a 12'x20' ft. layout and after I built the table i forgot to put in room staging yard. I can fit a SMALL staging yard, 3 to 4 tracks..............................but no room for a helix. I can add a small incline to make it work, but it might have some problems. Will that be big enough??? Any comments will be appreciated!!!

Thanks