02-18-2009, 11:38 AM
Loren, I'm presuming that you are still in the planning stages on the layout thread you started in this forum. That plan was for a branch line. It depends on what you want to do, but often a branch line will originate on a main and just go to the end of the branch with no connection at the other end. In that case you would only use staging at one end of the layout, and train would leave staging, and go to the end of the branch setting out loads and empties and picking up loads and empties to go back to off layout staging. I think the operating system of many railroads would be to work only trailing point switches when possible. You would then work all trailing point switches going out. Using your original track plan as an example, your branch would end on the far end of the upper level. When your train gets to the end of the branch, uncouple the engine, and run around, uncouple and pick up the caboose. The train would be on the inside track at the end of the branch. You would then drop the caboose at the tail track of the run around. Go back and pick up the train at the other end, pull it out and hook up to the caboose. As you go back down the branch to the main, you would work all of the sidings that you missed on the way up, which would all be trailing point on the way down. If you are running diesel power, you might want to run a pair of engines coupled back to back, and the "crew" would change locomotives to go back down; so that the crew is always going forward in the lead locomotive. If you are running small steam, you might want to incorporate a small turntable to turn the engine on. I think a lot of small branch lines had a turntable at the end of the line in the steam era to turn the engines around for the return trip.