Yards!
Well, I've got more progress to report. This was done a week ago or so, just been to busy to get the pictures in. This picture shows my staging yard, though not yet complete:
Currently I have a short runaround and one stage track built. That line will extend into the foreground as well. That will offer me a stage track in each direction. I have it in my mind to put one more line of stage track between the wall and what is currently built (that'd be about where you can see some flex track just sitting there idly). Since there will be a level over this I'm thinking I should fit as much trackage in there as I can... add now rather than deciding I need it later.
The portion of the SJM&E that I will be modeling will have mostly short, local trains (mainly freight with some passenger). I may run a longer train through from time to time, but my staging really won't be equipped to handle that, nor will my scenery due to the small/medium size of my layout.