Am in the planning stages of a new layout and considering some staging. Just watched one of the “User Videos” that the train left and eventually returned to what appeared to be a single ended staging. Have seen ones like it at shows, but since they were running other trains in and out, plus there were many other things to see, I never paid attention to how they turned locos.
I know many folks do not like to handle locos or even rolling stock any more than necessary. If the staging is stub ended, how are locos most often turned? My feeling is with an 0-5-0. carefully.
I have placed a turntable at the end of single-ended staging yards on some of my designs. This can serve as the runaround (saving one yard ladder) and the means of turning the locos end-for-end. I wouldn’t recommend this unless the end of the staging yard is visible and relatively accessible.
The trains that lay over in my two single ended staging yards back through a reversing connection between the DOWN and UP main lines, made possible by the unusual interweaving of the two directional mains in the netherworld under the visible surface of my longer peninsula. All such trains are powered by catenary motors.
The same reversing connection (a long, sinuous crossover) turns catenary motored passenger trains (backup move), combustion powered trains (straight-through, no reverse) and can be used to turn DMU end-for-end to equalize flange wear.
Auto-stop circuits and indicators help me keep track of the action, and easily removable panels provide access for routine maintenance and correction of [oops] events - which have yet to happen. There are things to be said for bulletproof trackwork!
My staging yards (all single-ended) represent “elsewhere”, so most rolling stock cycles off the layout when a train rolls into one of them. Exceptions would be cars destined for industries in the town just outside of that staging yard.
Locomotives generally stay on the layout, so, once the cars have been returned to their boxes, the loco runs back to the town just outside the staging yard, where it’s turned, either on a wye or a turntable. Those turned on the wye return to staging to await placement of their next outbound train, while those turned on turntables usually go to the adjacent roundhouse until called to pick up a train from staging.
Here’s a view of staging:
The single track on the lowest level represents another railroad, and trains from it run only across a liftout over the aisle (foreground), to a nearby locomotive facility. Locos are turned on the turntable, and return to staging with interchange cars. This would generally be one freight train per day in each direction and one or two short passenger or mixed trains in each direction.
Above that (with some reefers parked just beyond the post) are two industrial staging tracks. They represent industries (as many and as varied as I wish) which are not modelled but which do generate traffic. Those industries are considered to be part of the town just beyond the staging area (with access just out of the photo to the right). Locos (usually switchers) drop-off or pick-up cars here, but are not kept here.
Above those two tracks is the main South staging yard. Trains enter or leave the layout at right (just out of the photo) through the same town as the those from industrial staging, but, of course, on a higher level. That town has a wye where locos are turned when required.
I have a double-ended staging yard with close access to a turntable. The yard and turntable are easily accessible. I don’t want to handle the locos any more than necessary, hence the turntable, although I can use the 0-5-0.
Some creative ideas. Fortunatly my staging plan will be fairly simple and visible when at the workbench in the room next to the layout. It is a small layout and I am primarily a lone wolf operator, but hope to have a friend or grandchild join me at times. A wye at the entrance is a possibility, but it would be at least partially hidden and a little difficult to get to, so it’s not going to be my first choice. Have plenty of time to think about it, before I get to the building stage.
Your situation sounds like it may be similar to mine. I’ve got 6 staging tracks (2 are actually on the other side of the wall in the layout room if you’re counting in this pic), plus the main, which is the track closest to the aisle. There’s also enough space to set cars along the front, where garage door rubber seal works as a catch guard.
Sorry, kinda distant and dark, but I have drawers underneath for rolling stock. There are no turning facilities, but more i a moment.
There is a loop on the layout I intended to use for turning, but it’s worked out better as two major industries. I rarely found a need to turn a train, since it was a low traffic operation for a long time, just me as construction was underway. Plus the loop was on the far side of the layout from staging, so trains have to travel over there…
So back to my set-up. When I do need to turn a passenger or other train. I get it on Track 2, with Track 1 (Main) open. I pick up the power and either turn it right there as I set it on the main and run it down the track in the opposite direction or carry it there. Then I pick up each car, turn an set it on Main 1, giving it a gentle shove to couple with the train building behind the motive power. Takes less than 5 minutes and I have a car railing tool to help. The 0-5-0 takes a lot of flack, but is still a reliable source of switching. Make it easy on the crew and it can get done evan faster.[8D]
Found 3 better pics while the Cascade branch grew above staging.
I have two single ended staging tracks on my layout. I don’t turn the locos. (I run all diesels.) They come out of staging going in the forward direction and run to their destination. There, the loco and caboose swaps ends with its train and returns to staging. Between operating sessions I re-stage things. Change out pulpwood loads and coal loads, and swap the locos and caboose on the ends of the trains at the nearest passing siding. This gives me things to do inbetween sessions.
If I ever get to the point where I do turn the locos at their destination, I would just run them down again between sessions and turn them again, and then run them back to staging. No 0-5-0 for me.
I have a relatively small shelf layout (13’x10’) with hidden staging yards at both ends. One of this staging yard is located in a reversing loop.
Between sessions, every train is run through the reversing loop and replaced in the staging yard facing in the right direction. It’s a good occasion to run trains forward and backward and check if every car is doing fine. And have more fun running trains in a less prototypical situation. I then never have to handle the locomotives.
I can understand setting things up to minimize handling.
On the other hand, if you have more locos than space on the layout, and they’re coming and going by hand to storage drawers, then they get handled anyway. Thus, minimizing handling is not really a factor if it’s part of the operating plan.
Then there are sitautions where it’s a choice between one or the other, because a loop takes up space for something else that’s more desirable.
This is one of the layout features where it’s really helpful to consider how you plan to operate. That’s what happened with my loop. It just didn’t work as a loop, more because of where it was than anything. In my case, it was otherwise available real estate that had no other claims on it. Sounded like a good idead, but turned out to be more useful for other purposes
