Hidden Staging
for a Model Train
Staging provides a place for trains to
originate or terminate off the modeled layout; it represents “the rest of the
world”. Staging may represent other divisions of the railroad, or connecting
railroads. You may have multiple staging yards – staging provides a pool of
complete trains, ready to run onto or across your layout.
As a realism artist, we never paint the road or creek coming to an abrupt end…
rather we make the road disappear around a group of trees, or behind a large
building. The creek will narrow as it passes out of view, finally disappearing
behind a mountain or bushy knoll.
Wouldn’t it be just as exciting to have your train come out of seemingly
nowhere, run across the bridge and around the curve towards you? And just as
exciting, what if it disappeared behind a mountain but a different train came
into view from somewhere else? Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.
Hidden Staging Yard
A generous staging should be designed into the layout from the get-go, as you
will always wish you had more or longer staging. You need at least one more
staging track than the number of trains you plan to run, and staging tracks
should be longer than your longest train. Continuous staging is better than
stub-end staging since you don’t have to turn the trains. Or worse case, back
them over the entire layout to their original staging location.
Because staging tracks are frequently semi-hidden, or at least somewhat
out-of-the-way, design them to operate as reliably as possible. Use #6 or larger
turnouts, avoid any reverse curves, and install a rerailer at the end of each
track. Make sure you can easily see and reach staging tracks.
Should your staging yard have any loops so that trains can be turned easily?
This would be ideal for passenger trains that don’t have to appear loaded or
unloaded when they reappear on the layout.
However, freight trains, when they go into staging usually are changed
from loaded to unloaded or vice versa.
It doesn’t make sense for your loaded coal car to go out of the layout from the
coal mine, and then return to the coal mine later – still fully loaded… right?
So you will have to do some switching while the train is in the staging yard
before the next session.
The whole idea of a model railroad is to have your operating sessions
interesting, socially inviting and friendly – never boring, and always fun. This
goes doubly so for any invited guests who are watching you, as the dispatcher.
All Aboard……
Esther Smith, author