02-15-2009, 12:22 PM
While my layout is not yet fully built to the point where trains can be operated totally in the manner intended, the premise is that it's a point-to-point-to-point with staging at all three ends (double staging, actually, at the south end).
Here's the south and west end staging yards - the main south yard is the the upper level, with five stub-end tracks, and an additional two tracks immediately below, (with the string of reefers, just beyond the post) representing an industrial district. On the lowest level (with the train of loaded hoppers on it) is the west end staging. This is meant to represent an interchange with the TH&B, and access is via a lift-out at the room's entrance - immediately across the aisle is GERN Industries, in Port Maitland.
The north end staging yard will be built directly above south staging (the bit of backdrop visible at far upper right will be at track level) and access will be via another lift-out across the entrance aisle - I'm planning on five or six tracks here, all stub-ended. There will also be a modelled interchange with Mister Nutbar's CNR on the upper level - this will be a single stub-ended track leading to another room, making it, I guess, a fifth staging area.
[album]372[/album]
Because I usually operate solo (that may change when all trackwork is in service), all trains are operated in sequence - I select a train (possibly using a timetable
) then run it either to its destination or to a suitable passing siding, where it can be parked while I operate another train. Pretty-well all trains will have en route switching to do, so a single train may require an entire operating session to complete its run.
Once a train reaches its destination, either one of the interchange points or a staging yard, it will be considered either "gone elsewhere" or "arrived". The same train will not appear again. All of the cars will be removed from the layout and returned to their boxes (stored beneath the layout), leaving only the loco and caboose, which can then be turned either on either a wye or a turntable. (That's why there are no crossovers or escape tracks required in any of the staging areas.)
Operation will be with car cards and waybills, which will determine which cars and how many will be selected to make up the next trains out of staging.
Because my layout is multi-level, I was able to save a lot of space by stacking the staging yards, but, of course, this is not an option for a single level layout.
Wayne
Here's the south and west end staging yards - the main south yard is the the upper level, with five stub-end tracks, and an additional two tracks immediately below, (with the string of reefers, just beyond the post) representing an industrial district. On the lowest level (with the train of loaded hoppers on it) is the west end staging. This is meant to represent an interchange with the TH&B, and access is via a lift-out at the room's entrance - immediately across the aisle is GERN Industries, in Port Maitland.
The north end staging yard will be built directly above south staging (the bit of backdrop visible at far upper right will be at track level) and access will be via another lift-out across the entrance aisle - I'm planning on five or six tracks here, all stub-ended. There will also be a modelled interchange with Mister Nutbar's CNR on the upper level - this will be a single stub-ended track leading to another room, making it, I guess, a fifth staging area.
[album]372[/album]
Because I usually operate solo (that may change when all trackwork is in service), all trains are operated in sequence - I select a train (possibly using a timetable
) then run it either to its destination or to a suitable passing siding, where it can be parked while I operate another train. Pretty-well all trains will have en route switching to do, so a single train may require an entire operating session to complete its run. Once a train reaches its destination, either one of the interchange points or a staging yard, it will be considered either "gone elsewhere" or "arrived". The same train will not appear again. All of the cars will be removed from the layout and returned to their boxes (stored beneath the layout), leaving only the loco and caboose, which can then be turned either on either a wye or a turntable. (That's why there are no crossovers or escape tracks required in any of the staging areas.)
Operation will be with car cards and waybills, which will determine which cars and how many will be selected to make up the next trains out of staging.
Because my layout is multi-level, I was able to save a lot of space by stacking the staging yards, but, of course, this is not an option for a single level layout.
Wayne