I'm currently building a 2' x 4' double track oval in N scale. I have all of the track down, and was ready to begin wiring when I discovered I need to move in a couple months. Fortunately, it will be in a slightly bigger place. A couple months ago, I purchased a copy of Tony Koester's new model railroad operations book, which had an HO scale 4'x8' layout with the front half a small Indiana town, with the back half being staging. I think this would be a great start for me to do the kind of layout I really want to in N, perhaps on a 2'x4' or or even better, on a door. Has anyone else read the book? Ideas? John
Haven't read his book. but I'm just starting a larger city layout ( in N) on a 36x80 door, using a double sided back ground. swithcing & continuous running on one side, yard and staging on the other. [ 31. July 2003, 03:15: Message edited by: rksstl ]
I don't remember what issue, but a couple of years ago, MR ran a 4 by 8 HO layout that had a helix strictly for staging. The helix went down underneath the layout, rather than up over the main deck. Helix's can hold an amazing number of trains, especially if double or triple tracked. The layout was industrial in nature and urban, I quite liked it. But you might want to consider a helix solely for the purpose of staging - linear staging.
What I was thinking of doing was using the town side to represent some town in Cali with the back staging area holding trains from my fictional railroad and from the WP (a couple locals, through trains and the Cali Zephyr). This would allow me to keep most if not all of my rolling stock on the layout, which I can't do on my current double track one. John
I remember seeing that plan when it was published in one of the first Model Railroad Planning issues. I thought the staging tracks were too short for what kind of trains he wanted to run. About 6-8 years ago MR had a project layout in N scale with staging and it was built on a door. I think it was called the Carolina something or other. Staging can add lots of operation and it should always be considered.
Speaking as a person with a small layout (1 foot by 6 feet) , in my opinion staging is even more important. Without the staging, trains don't go anywhere. I'm currently building a detachable piece for staging that will allow we to run in 4 different trains. they will drop off cars, and the industrial terminal swithcer will pick them up for spoting. I think the stagin will accomplish 3 things 1) the cars will "go" somewhere instead of always being in the industrial park 2) I get to run 5 engines, not one (I like the variety of lots of engines) 3) I will have 4 times as many cars on the layout thus increasing the variety instead of seeing the same car all the time. I encourage staging use whenever possible.
That is what I'm facing right now. Moving to a slightly bigger place gives me a reason (excuse?) to rebuild. I haven't even finished with the current layout, and I realized that it's not what I really want. My railroad is a double track oval with 4 sidings; a lumber yard, a produce warehouse, a grain elevator and a very short interchange track. There's really no place to store cars that aren't in use. I have a 1'x6' switching layout that I was hoping to connect to it via the interchange track, but trains would have to back up to return since I don't have a return loop unless trains do the out and back thing. Unfortunately, that wouldn't work if I'm running the Zephyr. Tony's plan looks like I could do what I had planned on doing from the beginning. WP locals could come in from staging, drop off or pick up cars and then return, a couple of through freights could do the same but continue around the layout to run off miles and I could have a short 8 car Zephyr (circa March, 1970) stop at the station and then continue on. Okay, I'm done ranting! John
Well John,I do have the book and know exactly which plan you are talking about.The concept is a good one even though the layout itself was lacking enough to keep it interesting for long.I think if you had the option of adding an L or another say 6'foot section on the end of that plan for a yard area,servicing facility etc and turned the main section into additional industies etc.Your Local would have more to do,you could still use the hidden staging and do run throughs etc. Like i said the concept is a good one and 1 i am incorporating into my layout.If you look mine over,on the first page of "preliminary start for tileguy" You will see a yard and servicing area.a large center section(with no trackwork) and an ore penninsula on the left.My hidden staging will be in the center section about 14" wide or so.I will also have an option of adding additional staging at the end of the yard by running above my workbench(this will look like a shelf with drawer fronts(false) but the entire thing will be accessable.i can use it to stage, or as a fiddle yard.I realize this may take up more space than you are considering but once again,its the concept that works so well.Look over many plans that are out there and see if they can be adapted you may find just what you want.
I'm really hoping I can expand a bit on a door so I can have broader curves for my Cali Zephyr. I was toying with an idea like yours; a door with an extension for the staging yard. There was an interesting layout like that a few months back in Model Railroader. I think represented New Hampshire or Maine. It could be changed a bit for a western railroad, it just depends on how much room I have in my new place. John
Well john, I wish you luck on getting lots of space cause theres never enough.Remember to stake out an area early in the moving process and continue to mumble the words Emminent Domain!! Perhaps the wife will give in
I'm fortunate that my girlfriend supports my hobby. She says she'd rather have me at home with my trains than out at a bar somewhere. John
I'm wondering if, in the small space of an apartment, do I really need to stick to the shape of a door (rectangle)? In conversations with friends, some suggested shelf type layout, with areas on the ends for loops, still with the scenic divider hiding the staging tracks towards the back. I was also pondering how would one see or keep track of what was going on behind the divider without getting too complicated. John
A couple door mirrors mounted above and tilted at an angle would certainly help.The shelf type layouts have advantages.they are easy to maintain because you can reach everything.Consider a slide in backdrop/viewblock.This way its easier to maintain that hidden area.the framing for such can be hidden by building flats etc.
while the mirrors will work, I have given up on hidden staging.... yes, its more realistic but its much more complicated to work with/around. I use a detachable piece for my 4 track staging yard, and if someone chooses to look, all 4 trains are visible. Besides, as much money as I've invested in those 4 trains, its nice for people to see them without having to run through the whole layout operation.
I've toyed with the idea of open staging. It all depends on my new place. I've seen some great looking layouts along a wall or two that have potential. I may be forced to use the benchwork I have which would mean I'd have to leave one side away from the wall for access. John
Radio Shack Special! A $30 dollar B&W closed curcuit TV secruity setup. Postion camera at upper end on one end. Place some hi-contrast color lines along the rail to tell where the train is. Also gives the fill of a big layout. Plus... it just seems kinda cool!
I'll save TV cameras for watching my kids to make sure they don't mess with my trains! Whatever I come up with, I mostly operate by myself so I'd like to be able to run one train while the other runs off the miles. This is part of the reason (lack of space the other) that I decided on the double oval layout that I have now. I have a switching layout, but that got boring since I like to take a railfan approach to my modeling. Picky, ain't I? John
