EVOLUTION OF RAILROAD STATION TRACKAGE

     While there are regional, physical, and era variation which
effect how a station might evolve a simple series of examples
might shed some light on the subject for would be track
designers.  Assuming the railroad is developing the town in the
early days out on the plains of Texas, Oklahoma or Kansas things
usually proceeded about as follows.  The first track built in
town usually was the passing track which due to this fact to this
day is usually track number one in the records.  This track could
take the form of a straight passing track or a passing track /
house track depending on the importance of the location as a
point to meet trains or as a point to build local business.
    A vast number of stations never advanced beyond this point of
development due either to no local business to develope or  no
pressing need to pass trains and very little local business to
block passing/ house track.  If the town grew or had good
prospects to start with the next stage of development might see
the addition of a dedicated ho;use track or a dedicated passing
track if the town started with a passing/house track.
     In a developing area the next stage often was the addition
of one or more industry tracks to encourage the development of
small carload businesses.  These tracks typically were built just
in side of the right of way; and typically attracted business
like bulk fuel dealers, grain elevators, lumber yards, etc.