Why You Need Staging On Your Model Railroad

[@ThomasFredenberg]

Good morning! I just watched your video. Drinking Cafe Bustelo Espresso! I agree with having staging as well and as you mentioned, those freight cars need a destination, either coming or going. If a person doesn't have room for an actual staging yard, one could add an 'interchange track'. This could be a single or double track that holds 2-5 cars. These tracks could be off to one side of the layout or module, these could also provide for future expansion. Love your videos! Thank you for making and posting them!

[@TheTrainFreak]

I agree that staging is extremely important and it doesn't matter if your an ops guy or rail-fanner. I am in the process of building a new layout and the new design will be on a video soon that includes 4 staging areas as I will be having 3 running railroads on my layout. - Jason

[@Maurice00PA]

Good old Maxwell House, "House Blend" in my Keurig, with a touch of cream. Some say you can never have enough staging, while others simply place cars on the main line one end of the layout. It all depends on how big your layout is and how you designed it to operate. I try not to handle my N-Scale cars too much. Besides the possibility of breaking details, you can also ruin weathering because of oils in your skin transferring to the model. That is why I put a staging yard on my layout which is really just an expanded switching layout. Stay safe and model on!

[@keeganseva3975]

I'm drinking a Pale Horse Cinnamon Blend with just a dash of oat milk. Pale Horse is a local Veteran owned Small Business in Chesapeake, VA coffee house. They make their own coffee and it is amazing! But more important, an actual question about staging from someone who is still planning their first layout. I'm HO scale. I have about 6' x 8' available space. How much should I in theory dedicate to staging? The layout itself will have one complete loop (most likely) with an industry or two and a small yard. Inspiration comes from the Shenandoah Valley Railroad (SVRR) Modern. They have their own yard: Staunton Yard in Staunton, VA and service a few industries from Staunton, VA to Harrisonburg, VA, interconnecting with CSX from the South end and NS at the North end. Cheers!

[@TB-ModelRR]

Drinking Starbucks french roast. I have very little space to build in. But I do plan on having a staging area. Planning on a 18"×50"/24"×60" L shape with staging below deck at the nook of the L.

[@Steelerfan820]

Wish i had seen these ideas, before completing the layout leaving no room for expansion

[@danpugatch]

Good Morning! Today I'm drinking Trader Joe's Breakfast Blend "as is" aka black no sugar. Ive never been one to use staging yards before. I am embarking on what could be called my MMR6 and for the first time I am letting someone else design the track plan. The great part of this hobby is we make great friends from all over the world. What used to be someone I talked to in a Forum or Facebook is now someone I have their cell phone number and they are my phone a friend for troubleshooting an issue or standing deer in headlights at the hobby store and not sure what to buy. My buddy Scott Horgan from California designed my L shape layout to have a 2-3 foot staging track at each end with the purpose of one day turning this layout into a U shape and even again later into an Oval. I will be using tunnel portals and some hills to give the illusion of off scene to these fold up/down "cassettes" to be used as needed to swap rolling stock out. -Dan Pugatch/Breakwater Branch Railroad South Portland, Maine

[@SaiaArt]

I had an epiphany of staging yard design. Keep in mind, mine in planned to be on a lower deck peninsula. Of course the biggest problem is ladder(s) taking up too much space. My cosmic solution: I’m planning 6 continuous loops, with an integrated/staggered ladder or a series of cross-overs spaced about train length apart. This design compared to my first traditional design, hold up to 12 twelve foot long trains at maximum capacity. As it is open, a backdrop & building flats represent the city. I run in HO so, 12 foot long trains isn’t all that big. But the design eliminates space solely for the ladder, and maximizes storage space.

[@yllekpat]

I get my caffeine from Diet Coke... Never was a coffee drinker - like your blog though!

[@jolliemark6294]

Staging is a really good idea so your railroad doesn't get over crowded too, my first few railroad designs I was trying to put to much in so adding a staggering yard ment it really got more for less👍👍👍👍

[@christopherkelley1999]

Another great C&T! I will be including a hidden staging yard in my next railroad. Using staging is very common in German track plans due to space limitations. Not so much a problem in z scale! But staging adds to more realistic operations (passenger trains that “go somewhere”, etc…) Drinking “Smoke Jumper” from Late the the Train Coffee Roastery in Flagstaff, AZ. (Yes, that is the name of the coffee shop - had to stop by when we were there!!) Thanks Jimmy!

[@kraigsickels3918]

Staging is always a great idea 💡 ….. you are right in your explanation of reasoning to have it ! I have a staging area as well 😁 !!! Thank you for your video so others can learn!

[@markdalton3834]

4 shots of espresso Americano for me!

[@joshuaskress]

Hey jimmy! I got my wife a coffee/latte maker for Valentine’s Day. Silly me thinking that would help cut down on her Starbucks visits. Do you know that feeling? 😂

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

Very nice, I hd to move my staging yard from the middle of my layout to the end to make traffic flow better

[@farmerjohn6192]

Sumatra Mandheling coffee taken black from my expresso machine Americano style ☕️

[@patrickhawes5007]

Hey Jimmy. My staging yard is a little unorthodox as my trains stop and back into the yard. The second yard I am building is a straight thru with lots of siding. My railroad grows as I purge junk from the garage. Since I am building everything module style I just keep going. Cheers 🍻. Also, Maxwell House original blend for me.

[@4everdc302]

Himming&hawing the last couple days now over that type of thing.Might be going semi below the layout.🚂🚃🚃🇨🇦

[@donaldlewis1836]

Good points, not a operation guy but get a lot of use out of the staging yard. Mine is actually between two loops but it has a run around so I can keep running trains while still setting up trains!

[@crescentjunction]

Nice video! The staging yard on my railroad takes up almost half of the layout. At least the portion I am building right now. eventually it will be a double track main line with 4 staging tracks in each direction. I also have a fiddle track for train setup. And even now, with only one main line track complete, I can see the need for more staging!

[@tonykardotzke3384]

I will have to keep this in mind while build my new layout. Maxwell house original blend cream and sugar like your show it keeps me more interested in the hobby Thanks.

[@takeflypics]

I plan to have staging and storage tracks on my layout, I was actually designing and working on it with SCARM the other evening! I also want to incorporate a turntable with storage tracks to hold locomotives and a couple maintenance shops! I don't plan on having a round house due to limited space, but I feel like I can streamline these tracks in the space I have to make it work!

[@kenr86]

Great video, lots of ideas. Sipping my 'chock full of nuts' (which doesn't contain any nuts).

[@DinsdalePiranha67]

I am planning to add a staging/fiddle yard to my switching layout at some point. Now I need to get off my butt and start working on the layout again!

[@damianl3]

My next layout, which I'll be be starting soon after moving to a new house, will have staging below the layout. I have always had staging on my layouts. Trains are always coming and going from somewhere.

[@thesheq5023]

In my opinion i like semi hidden staging. I have a yard on the back of my layout hidden by a town in front of it. The yard exists there in real life but the yard isn’t really functional. Its a good place to park 3-4 trains im not using that session

[@kents.2866]

Erie Island Coffee Co Jamaican Me Crazy roast is absolutely amazing.

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

I had a single stanging track on my HCD layout. I ran down the back side and went up to the end to represent a connection with the Western Pacific in Stockton, Ca. If I wanted to, I could run my layout as a point to point that way.

[@TheyMakeItLikeThat]

I love Staging but I don’t have any. I’ve thought about it, and it may happen in the future. Tim Hortons K cup! What coffee machine do you have? I want to send you some Tim Hortons

[@gregp1621]

Great topic, thanks for sharing your insights

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Great advice, Jimmy, wish I had more space for better staging. Watching with Black Rifle Coffee Company's Space Bear light roast today, black.

[@richardwest9054]

I am currently trying to develop an add-on staging yard for my folded dog bone 4' by 8' N scale layout.

[@scottericcatalano596]

Always with staging if you need 6 tracks you will need 12....X times N is rule of thumb

[@DinsdalePiranha67]

According to Tony Koester, the number of staging tracks is determined by the following formula: N = 2n + 1 Where n is the number of staging tracks you think you need and N is the number of staging tracks you actually need.

[@houseofsploot]

Black, 2 sugars 👍

[@markarnold8160]

I have a team track that I do staging on so it is on the layout.

[@edwardaudet8367]

Today it's Bromley green tea wirh sugar and lemon.

[@iannarita9816]

Lipton tea. Or Red Rose.

[@robertschmidt6383]

If you don't have staging you don't need as many cars to show off. Isn't that one of the reasons to have a train layout. Besides, gotta put the cars somewhere. 👍

[@loispadgett6306]

I was thinking of adding line that goes off the end so I can expand later. In am not into industry's more country side lake and station. GOD BLESS 🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂💖

[@marchebert9813]

COAL!? Do you not know about global warming!!!??? Just kidding. Great video.

[@johnbanicki7232]

Going to add staging yards to both ends of my layout. Not sure on the number of tracks yet. Sorry don't do coffee. Never have, never will. Do not even like the smell of coffee or coffee beans.

[@bobsinclair9886]

JIMMY DO YOU HAVE GOOD IDEA HOW BIG (I MODEL HO ) HOW BIG OR WHAT SIZE DO I NEED MAKE OFF LAYOUT YARD THANKS

[@needs2quit1atgmail87]

Ok...what if you dont have room for staging and can you elaborate on helexes and how to start them. Not physically i mean start the curve and grade (vertical curve) mine is too steep i think. Everything slides off or uncoupling happens alot

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

To answer your question quickly. Track cassettes are a great solution for staging with no space. In terms of a helix. Let's just say that I have been looking a taking one one. Stay tuned. If you are an N scaler. I would try for 2 inches of height per turn max, which is in the 16-18 inch range for a good grade.

[@needs2quit1atgmail87]

@@DIYDigitalRailroad its fine once the whole train is on the helix. It just has trouble getting on the ramp...so to speak