I am in the very beginnings of layout design for a new railroad and it has been suggested to me that I need hidden staging. I operate by myself . Because I operate by myself , I am thinking that a bit larger yard with maybe 2 extra tracks would be perfectly acceptable in relation to operations . What are some thoughts on this VS. a separate hidden staging yard?
Staging - is it really necessary?
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Do you want to model both the origin and destination of your trains? Or do you only want to model only one?
Staging is really only for the appearance that trains come from/go to somewhere, usually some place that is far away or somewhere the modeler doesn't want to model.
Edit: it’s also for hiding trains you don’t want to keep taking off the layout only to put it back in later!
Hope this helps.
On topic, Necessary, "no", but I think everyone has pointed out the good arguments for having staging. My first was in 1980 before it was a "thing". I put three tracks behind a backdrop so I could keep the trains there without cluttering up my pretty scenery on the front of the back drop. Since then I've included it whenever possible, and follow the mantra - one cannot have too much staging. The Greeley museum started with 7 on each end. Added 2 more in the isle on each end. That sucked up all the isle space so came back and added 4 more "through" tracks (equivalent of 8 of the above) and 6 stub ended ones under the upper deck of the layout. And we still have issues putting trains on a off because there isn't enough room.
You can easily spend 2-3 hours there (well I can) and first go all the way around the layout. Then take your time and really look at all the details and small scenes they have along the route. Take lots of pictures so you can remember what a scene looked like if you would like to model something on your layout.
Anyway, can't say enough good about that layout. Yeah, it's a museum of railroad stuff but the main attraction is the layout itself.
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Hiding the staged trains is more about creating the illusion the trains are somewhere else, traveling through where you are, then going on to another place. While you can simply park everything out in plain sight, it adds to a feeling of congestion on the layout.
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
It's all a matter of what you prefer and what area is available to you. I use visible staging (2' x 16' with 12 tracks), because it's much easier to add or remove cars, or if the case may be, rerail cars. To make it seem like the trains are coming or going somewhere else, I use a scenic divider to separate the staging from where "the railroad starts". On my layout, it's a highway overpass with undergrowth and trees on one side. Note that hidden staging can be in another room or behind a wall-like barrier with a tunnel portal. Much easier than under the layout hidden staging.
grande man
Bonafied Grande Nut
It really is all about what you want and enjoy. Your specific desires and the space available should drive the track plan. For instance, on our old railroad there were three small hidden staging yards. This was done so we could "railfan" the main scenes, with multiple trains entering/exiting from different areas and directions. For actual operations the staging added much realism. It was fun, and I'd like to do it again on a future railroad!
Selector
Well-Known Member
I have been in the hobby just over 20 years, and learned about staging fairly shortly after joining. To me, staging offers convenience. I don' use it to stage consists as if my road runs on a timetable. I use mine to keep consists together so that I'm not constantly unboxing and boxing, or breaking up, passenger consists and freights. As I get older, handling becomes more fraught....which I also learned at about the same time (that as I got older, this hobby would get tougher). So, my staging access runs into a tunnel on a siding and from there descends in a spiral following my main lines around the walls...but down to the staging. There, a hidden underworld stub yard with ladder holds entire consists, or if too long, broken in two. When I want to change the livery and action, I bring a train or two up and return others to the netherworld.
timlange3
Well-Known Member
Definitely do what you want and what makes sense for you.
I was dispatching last week, had eight trains running at the same time plus three yard operators working. This was a 2500+ sq. ft. basement railroad that modeled the Pueblo, Colorado area. Four railroads are involved in this so there was four hidden staging areas. Each staging area was at least five tracks with 30+ cars in the train. Staging was necessary for this setup to generate the necessary traffic. Usually if you have staging I would think you are needing multiple operators to make it all work.
I was dispatching last week, had eight trains running at the same time plus three yard operators working. This was a 2500+ sq. ft. basement railroad that modeled the Pueblo, Colorado area. Four railroads are involved in this so there was four hidden staging areas. Each staging area was at least five tracks with 30+ cars in the train. Staging was necessary for this setup to generate the necessary traffic. Usually if you have staging I would think you are needing multiple operators to make it all work.
Colorado Midland Modeler
Proudly modeling the CM, MT & SL in HO Scale
I'd say it depends on your operating preferences. I mostly run small, local area excursion trains and periodic ore trains between the mining and milling areas on my layout, so I can get by without it.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
AstroKnight
i am speed
I'd say it's up to you.
Do you want to model both the origin and destination of your trains? Or do you only want to model only one?
Staging is really only for the appearance that trains come from/go to somewhere, usually some place that is far away or somewhere the modeler doesn't want to model.
Edit: it’s also for hiding trains you don’t want to keep taking off the layout only to put it back in later!
Hope this helps.
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Rico
BNSF Modeller
I’ll add one more point…
Back in the day of blue box locos and five dollar freight cars you could run a train or two then just swap them out for other trains. You could handle those things with welding gloves and they’d be just fine.
Nowadays with locos and freight cars running into the hundreds it’s best to handle them as little as possible.
I’d say if you have room or siding tracks to hold them then great!
If not then perhaps a staging track or two will save you in the long run.
Even a track that backs in behind a backdrop or row of buildings will give the illusion of going somewhere.
As has been said, do what works for you and have fun!
Back in the day of blue box locos and five dollar freight cars you could run a train or two then just swap them out for other trains. You could handle those things with welding gloves and they’d be just fine.
Nowadays with locos and freight cars running into the hundreds it’s best to handle them as little as possible.
I’d say if you have room or siding tracks to hold them then great!
If not then perhaps a staging track or two will save you in the long run.
Even a track that backs in behind a backdrop or row of buildings will give the illusion of going somewhere.
As has been said, do what works for you and have fun!
D&J RailRoad
Professor of HO
yep, staging gives ya the place to conveniently store cars on the rails that would otherwise crowd the main layout.
Someday, maybe in the not so distant future, you're going to buy another piece of rolling stock that ya just have to have. You're gonna go to your layout and put it on the tracks with the satisfaction of putting the final touches on a wedding cake. You'll admire the details, the wheels, the road name and color, then you'll couple it up to a loco to run. As you roll over the layout, all the sidings are crammed full of rolling stock, with no room for even the smallest of hoppers. Only thing to do is take a car or two off the tracks and set em on the chair while ya run your train some more. As you are totally immersed in running the train, momma calls ya, but ya don't hear her. She comes to the train room and calls ya again then takes a seat before she begins to tell ya what she called for. Your rolling stock goes to the floor or is crushed.
So ya see. A staging yard is a must to protect your rolling stock.
Someday, maybe in the not so distant future, you're going to buy another piece of rolling stock that ya just have to have. You're gonna go to your layout and put it on the tracks with the satisfaction of putting the final touches on a wedding cake. You'll admire the details, the wheels, the road name and color, then you'll couple it up to a loco to run. As you roll over the layout, all the sidings are crammed full of rolling stock, with no room for even the smallest of hoppers. Only thing to do is take a car or two off the tracks and set em on the chair while ya run your train some more. As you are totally immersed in running the train, momma calls ya, but ya don't hear her. She comes to the train room and calls ya again then takes a seat before she begins to tell ya what she called for. Your rolling stock goes to the floor or is crushed.
So ya see. A staging yard is a must to protect your rolling stock.
The more delicate stuff is, the less you want to handle it.
kgstakes
Well-Known Member
I'll put my two cents in here. I have a switching layout and off staging is a must. Now I agree with others todays models, you handle as little as possible or at least with kid gloves sorta speak.
Now for me and what I have for rolling stock is roundhouse cars that can be handled not hard or rough but can be picked up without any damage to them. I've had them for years (30+) and very minimal damage over the years of moving, packing, handling etc.
What I use for off staging is one of those plastic drawer systems that I got from Walley World (Walmart). One of my tracks (main) on the right end is where I put cars on and off. I have a rerailer there to help get wheels on the track. When operating loco comes in and picks up cars and goes about switching in and out cars and then returns to the main (right end) and then "travels" to the left end and the session is over.
I've seen large layouts with staging behind the backdrop and I've also seen "staging" as a active yard. Trains come in one end and then leave the other end. I've also seen where the yard is, they have a drawer system under it for storage of cars.
Other idea I seen was one track comes in to a yard but no switches in the yard. The yard is made up with straight track and the whole thing is mounted on drawer slides. You bring the train in, Move the "yard" to the track you want and then pull in or back in to that track. Yes, you are moving a lot of cars and there is a chance of some derailing but it is a staging yard that really doesn't take up to much room if you don't have the room for all the switches.
Another idea is a sector plate. Bring the train in (usually loco and few cars) turn the sector plate to the track you want and pull the train in. I seen this done on MRVP Olympia Logging RR and it worked fine. Again though to change cars for next trip you handled the cars off and on the layout.
I personally don't have any "delicate" cars on my layout. One just don't need to buy any more and Two just to expensive for what I am doing with the switching layout and how I have it set up.
Now for me and what I have for rolling stock is roundhouse cars that can be handled not hard or rough but can be picked up without any damage to them. I've had them for years (30+) and very minimal damage over the years of moving, packing, handling etc.
What I use for off staging is one of those plastic drawer systems that I got from Walley World (Walmart). One of my tracks (main) on the right end is where I put cars on and off. I have a rerailer there to help get wheels on the track. When operating loco comes in and picks up cars and goes about switching in and out cars and then returns to the main (right end) and then "travels" to the left end and the session is over.
I've seen large layouts with staging behind the backdrop and I've also seen "staging" as a active yard. Trains come in one end and then leave the other end. I've also seen where the yard is, they have a drawer system under it for storage of cars.
Other idea I seen was one track comes in to a yard but no switches in the yard. The yard is made up with straight track and the whole thing is mounted on drawer slides. You bring the train in, Move the "yard" to the track you want and then pull in or back in to that track. Yes, you are moving a lot of cars and there is a chance of some derailing but it is a staging yard that really doesn't take up to much room if you don't have the room for all the switches.
Another idea is a sector plate. Bring the train in (usually loco and few cars) turn the sector plate to the track you want and pull the train in. I seen this done on MRVP Olympia Logging RR and it worked fine. Again though to change cars for next trip you handled the cars off and on the layout.
I personally don't have any "delicate" cars on my layout. One just don't need to buy any more and Two just to expensive for what I am doing with the switching layout and how I have it set up.
kgstakes
Well-Known Member
Question,
Is your layout going to be
"around the walls" say only 18-24" wide and travel around the room and meet up with itself (continuous running)
Point to Point - train travels through and back again (turntables or wyes at both ends - steam loco).
Island layout - In the middle of the room
Table type (what I call it) - you push the layout against one wall, access three sides only.
Track - folded dog bone arrangement for continuous running, double track main, single main, branchline.
Industrial, Country side with few industries, city scenes and switching.
Double head locos or single. How big a locomotive you are ever going to use on your layout. Along with that passenger cars? Long ones or old time short ones.
Tunnels? Great for storing trains also.
Just some ideas for you to think about in the planning stages. Might be too much information but if your in the drawing stages, just think of all the possibilities that you might want to do down the road with your layout.
Lastly, Make it portable. What I mean by this is build it in sections so that when not if you move you can take it with you instead of starting all over. You can continue track over the joints but make it so you can take the layout apart if needed. Even scenery can be cut apart so don't worry about that to much.
Hope some or all of this helps.
Is your layout going to be
"around the walls" say only 18-24" wide and travel around the room and meet up with itself (continuous running)
Point to Point - train travels through and back again (turntables or wyes at both ends - steam loco).
Island layout - In the middle of the room
Table type (what I call it) - you push the layout against one wall, access three sides only.
Track - folded dog bone arrangement for continuous running, double track main, single main, branchline.
Industrial, Country side with few industries, city scenes and switching.
Double head locos or single. How big a locomotive you are ever going to use on your layout. Along with that passenger cars? Long ones or old time short ones.
Tunnels? Great for storing trains also.
Just some ideas for you to think about in the planning stages. Might be too much information but if your in the drawing stages, just think of all the possibilities that you might want to do down the road with your layout.
Lastly, Make it portable. What I mean by this is build it in sections so that when not if you move you can take it with you instead of starting all over. You can continue track over the joints but make it so you can take the layout apart if needed. Even scenery can be cut apart so don't worry about that to much.
Hope some or all of this helps.
Iron Horseman
Well-Known Member
Off topic, but this post piqued my attention. What era and which 4 railroads did they choose to model ATSF, Colorado Southern, Mopac, and Rio Grande? I intend to include the C&W and Rock Island also.
On topic, Necessary, "no", but I think everyone has pointed out the good arguments for having staging. My first was in 1980 before it was a "thing". I put three tracks behind a backdrop so I could keep the trains there without cluttering up my pretty scenery on the front of the back drop. Since then I've included it whenever possible, and follow the mantra - one cannot have too much staging. The Greeley museum started with 7 on each end. Added 2 more in the isle on each end. That sucked up all the isle space so came back and added 4 more "through" tracks (equivalent of 8 of the above) and 6 stub ended ones under the upper deck of the layout. And we still have issues putting trains on a off because there isn't enough room.
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kgstakes
Well-Known Member
The Greeley museum has a huge staging area. 30-40 feet long (if I remember right) along with arriving and departure tracks. If anyone has the chance to see that layout, it's a must to see. Try and get someone to show you around (behind the scenes). I was talking to one of the guys running a train and told him I was a model railroader and he asked if I had seen the staging area (no public access). Told him no and he just took me back there. Then talked about how the railroad is run and walked me all around the layout telling me which trains use this branch, which ones use this branch, etc. etc.
You can easily spend 2-3 hours there (well I can) and first go all the way around the layout. Then take your time and really look at all the details and small scenes they have along the route. Take lots of pictures so you can remember what a scene looked like if you would like to model something on your layout.
Anyway, can't say enough good about that layout. Yeah, it's a museum of railroad stuff but the main attraction is the layout itself.
timlange3
Well-Known Member
Yes, you named the four, era was early eighties I believe.
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