in steam days, i am told, track formations in a terminus station could include a points arrangement to allow a loco to run around its train , release it from a dead end etc. Now, in every model track plan I have seen, (including CJ Freezer's books), one of the points is placed in the middle of the station. so that any train standing in the station is blocking the points. Is this just an example of space compromise on the model, or was this typical of the prototype? And if so, what would the movements be, in order to release the loco? Something like,
a) loco reverses train out of platform area to clear points b) loco uncouples, moves forward, points change, loco reverses over points and runs around train.
Seems difficult to emulate on a small model.