Adding a staging yard, part 1

[@jacko9759]

I'm just si impressed with how you figure all this out. 😮

[@zacharyschnepp4860]

That’s awesome. There’s a lot going on in that train layout

[@kilrbe3]

Man, 5 days in and it's only half way in for just a staging yard... People have some deep pockets to pay you to travel and build in house. Also noticed as you said built this a few years ago, and still tons of scenery not finished. I take it the owner just does not care or know how and just runs trains. With deep pockets like that, sure he don't care. Great job as always! People like this guy is what keeps you fed and bills paid haha

[@mpeterll]

The client is a very busy doctor who doesn't have a great deal of free time between running a clinic and all the charity work that he does. Until he retires, progress is going to be slow.

[@michaeldeckert6023]

Happy New Year to you and Zeus. Bet you the puppy wonders where you are? Thanks for taking us along on this add-on. A lot more struggle when you have to do work this way that's for sure.

[@prrmodeler953]

Staging is very helpful. My first time was using staging was on a club layout which I belonged to. Made open houses so much easier to accomplish. Plus the options that staging offers for off site modeling. I'm looking at a two deck layout, but it will have a 3rd deck for storage. just not sure if it will be the lowest or the highest deck. I also believe that in a past video you talked about the advantages of the type of benchwork you incorporate compared to L-Girder I believe.

[@mpeterll]

I do remember having an on-line argument about it a couple of years ago, but I don't remember which video it was on. Since you are planning a multi-deck railroad, all you need to know is that L-girder is a total non-starter as it needs to be at least twice as deep as grid benchwork.

[@Tanja-HH]

Thank you for sharing this installment

[@titch7444]

Amazing work. Very inspirational. Thanks.

[@PeterTillman3]

I can see why you recommended we go for additional staging yards during the initial build Peter - very complicated to add them post installation. Also I really prefer the longer videos posted once per week just like the old days. 😁

[@mpeterll]

Yes, it's much more difficult that way (and probably not even possible in the majority of cases). Kinda like digging a basement under a house that's already been built.

[@PeterTillman3]

@@mpeterllhahaha indeed Peter… indeed

[@randydobson1863]

hello Peter & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool Thanks Peter Friends Randy

[@mhbpodnk]

Nice job keep up the good work

[@thomasdecker7631]

Amazing engineering as always. Question: When you travel to work on a client's layout, how many of your tools do you take, or do you use what the client has on site to avoid hassles with TSA, etc??

[@mpeterll]

I don't mess around with tools when the TSA is involved - they are too unpredictable and I can't take a chance of them confiscating stuff I need for the job. In this particular case, the client provided a table saw and miter saw, and I brought everything else with me. The back seat of my truck was stacked all the way to the ceiling.

[@leestoddart7014]

Fascinating as always Peter. Isn't that cabinet at the end of the peninsula where the DCC controls were supposed to be installed? Did the client have them somewhere else or did you relocate them at the start of this work?

[@mpeterll]

There are three cabinets in a "U" shape under the end of the peninsula. The DCC control systems are mounted in one of the side cabinets. You can see the wires hanging down in some of the shots.

[@shed66215]

Nowt like working in tight spaces 🤣be interesting to see how these two yards tie in to the rest of the layout - was it always the intention of the client to have these added?

[@mpeterll]

Not at all. When I started designing this railroad, the client didn't believe that he needed any staging at all. Fortunately, he trusted me enough to let me include the original 9-track staging yard below the layout. It was only when he started using the railroad that he understood the value of staging. As he started adding trains to the railroad, his visible yard filled up, so he moved those trains down to staging to make room for adding some more trains. Then the yard filled up again, so he repeated the process. until the staging yard was completely full with many trains still in boxes. I didn't expect to be doing this at all, but a chance comment last time I was there sealed the deal.

[@shed66215]

@@mpeterll It's the one thing I like about model railways - even when a layout is seemingly complete there is always 'something else to do' and as we all know no layout is ever finished.

[@Jeremiaha284]

Peter, interesting comment you made about L girder bench-work. I'm interested in your thoughts about it. I've found L girder construction useful by modifying it with a 1/2" profile end plate screwed/glued into both the vertical and lateral components of the L girder. In effect this method creates a box L girder. Anyhow, my experiment creating a 4' and 6' sections was successful. It's allowed me freedom in the placement of the stringers. BTW, do you normally use cleats on your risers?

[@mpeterll]

The reason I never do L-girder benchwork is that it is completely unsuitable for any railroad that needs to be moved since it has no inherent rigidity once lifted from the floor that it rests on. It's also twice as deep as grid framing, making it a non-started for multi-deck layouts.

[@Jeremiaha284]

I find multi-deck layouts hard to use for modelers with back and other mobility physical issues.

[@mpeterll]

@@Jeremiaha284 Multi-deck layouts are not for everyone. There can only ever be one deck at the ideal height, so adding another will always be a compromise. That is simply the price one pays for getting almost twice as much railroad into any given space as one could with a single deck layout.

[@derekalexander4030]

If I give you the dimensions of my house can you dig a basement under it and install a layout for me? (Sarcasm) I have a full basement and the more I watch of your videos, the more I realize how important your experience in planning would pay off in the end. When you design a layout, I’m pretty sure you would suggest things like staging and then try to convince a client that it is needed but it must be a fine line because, “The client is always right.”

[@mpeterll]

Not such a fine line really. I frequently find myself explaining in detail why something should be a certain way and then writing something like "it's your railroad so I'll draw whatever you want, but this is what I would do if it were mine . . .". Then, I let the customer decide.

[@DaleDix]

People take their trains seriously!