staging, is it worth the headache?

[asciibaron]

i'm starting to wonder is staging is worth the headaches.  next house has a massive basement that will allow open staging.

[wm3798]

Yes it is.  If for no other reason that it gives you some operating variety, and you don't have to box up the cars you're not using today.

Lee

[asciibaron]

Yes it is.  If for no other reason that it gives you some operating variety, and you don't have to box up the cars you're not using today.

hidden staging is problematic - i'm just not sure how much hassle it's worth to have hidden staging that you can't access - picking up derailed cars, cleaning track, keeping turnouts happy - these are real issues the minute you put a mountain over things.

[Mark5]

I think staging is very much worth it, if you can make room for it.

My current layout is tiny, and after gnashing of teeth I'm close to concluding that I don't have room for it (still thinking on it though).

For my next layout (larger) I have decided that staging is essential.

Mark

[Mark5]

hidden staging is problematic - i'm just not sure how much hassle it's worth to have hidden staging that you can't access - picking up derailed cars, cleaning track, keeping turnouts happy - these are real issues the minute you put a mountain over things.

You've gotta be able to access it - this is a key element is designing it.

[sizemore]

Yes it is.  If for no other reason that it gives you some operating variety, and you don't have to box up the cars you're not using today.

hidden staging is problematic - i'm just not sure how much hassle it's worth to have hidden staging that you can't access - picking up derailed cars, cleaning track, keeping turnouts happy - these are real issues the minute you put a mountain over things.

Those issues can be mitigated, it's called PECO Code 80 with removable scenery hatches.

The S.

[Nato]

   Building a Mole if you have the room with double ended staging tracks,storage shelves for cars and room for a mole operator to make up trains to be sent out and break down trains that come in is the way to go, but most of us do not have this room so we have to settle for hidden staging usually under the layout and maybe a small web cam to show the tracks so we can check for problems. Not very handy then if it is a single ended yard trains must back in or out or be hand turned between op sessions. Open yards are better ,but look plain if not scenicked. Might as well use a finished yard on your railroad for both staging and regular usuage. Nate Goodman (Nato).Salt Lake, Utah.

[conrail98]

Staging is definitely worth it. Lee's post was spot on as far as operation goes and it could have some scenery. Where you end up compromising to get some is into your layout plan is where it sits and what the method of entering it is, like do you have a helix, is in another room, etc.,

Phil

[DKS]

The suggestion I offered is to place the hidden staging along the front edge of the layout, with open access. A removable vertical panel--flexible clear plastic for visibility, perhaps--would prevent accidents such as operators bumping into cars or derailments sending cars to the floor. The visible yard above can be "cantilevered" over the staging yard on plywood to keep the height difference (thus the grades) to an absolute minimum.
 


As an alternative, the staging yard could be pulled forward so some or all of it is exposed. It could then be protected with a sheet of Plexiglas.
 


If you wanted to get ambitious, you could make the staging yard double-ended and have a hidden return loop.
 

[Blazeman]

Staging in and of itself is a technique that greatly enhances the operating satisfaction of the modeler.

The degree of staging employed is the question that requires a lot of thinking and accomodation of the space allowed in order to make for successful operation.

Look at the simple staging in the Carolina Central HCD layout that was designed. Then look at the intense staging planned and built by several of the regular contributors here.

Keep your staging plans in line with your operating scheme and keep access to the area in mind when planning.

[Dave Schneider]

David,

Thanks for all of your positive design support to this forum. You have really great ideas and it is interesting to see how you bring them to the group. I have learned quite a bit by following these threads, and I appreciate your contributions.

Best wishes, Dave

[mionerr]

  Building a Mole if you have the room with double ended staging tracks,storage shelves for cars and room for a mole operator to make up trains to be sent out and break down trains that come in is the way to go,

Nato,
The only "mole" layouts I've seen are Lee Nicholas's and Rob Spangler's old layout. Are you aware of any others? I may have one on my new layout. Time will tell. We have lots of operators around here, but only a couple of N scalers. I'm not sure the HOers can handle the N scale cars.

[MichaelWinicki]

Yes staging is worth it and yes, hidden or even semi-hidden staging can be a pain in the arse.  I'm not going to BS you about that.

But it is worth it, just like Lee said. 

My particular issues have been more to do with keeping the staging areas clean more so than the Atlas code 55 failing or derailments occurring. 

Make it easy or less difficult to clean your staging track and your issues will be minimal.

I don't have the yard capacity to run the lengths (or the shear number) of trains I'd like to run, so to have a layout without staging would greatly diminish the operating potential.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I agree 100%, staging is absolutely critical, but I don't think it has to be traditional staging.

On my current basement plan, I'm including 3-4 tracks worth on the back side of the layout, where it's still quite accessible, but that space is ALSO going to be doing two other jobs:
1. Scenically, it's giving me a chance to FINALLY build something that looks like the NEC.
2. There's going to be an industry off of one of the tracks. Yes, this seems annoying to get to, but so is trying to switch off the NEC. Gotta watch out for the 100mph meatballs!

[asciibaron]

i have only ever seen this once on a layout and it made perfect sense.  you don't need to have massive amounts of staging, you just have to consider how railroads operate...


look real hard at this picture:



that's CSX Q410 passing Q406 which has been sitting without a crew for over 8 hours... so with limited staging tracks, putting staged trains in sidings along the main is very realistic.  the issue becomes balancing the numbers -how much staging vs. number of trains to operate vs main line siding space.  that's where i am right now.

i'm just looking for some other solutions to the large hidden staging space that seems so common.  on a smaller layout, hiding things in the open might just be the correct solution.