"You show me a man with both feet on the ground and I'll show you a man who can't get his pants on." -anonymous
Don,
Many believe that a multi-level layout is an absolute. My second layout was a two level with lower level staging.
I wrote about my experiences on my blog which can be found at this link:
http://wwwjoe-daddy.blogspot.com/2007/08/ll-pox-on-hidden-staging.html
The current issue of Model Railroad Planning (2008) has an article on building and designing helixes.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
Others have some pretty good plans and can post. I just created a basic curvature form that was 1/3rd of a circle (120 degrees) with a 26" center. I then kept cutting them out of 1/2" plywood. Mine was single track so I used a width of 2.5" . If I had to do again I would go 3 or 4". Since I was dropping 12" to the staging/storage area, I wanted 3.75" clearance and exited out the opposite side I entered it took 3 1/2 turns . The grade is around 2.1 degrees. For supporting the helix some folks use threaded rod. I used L brackets screwed to 4 vertical 2"x2" pieces of wood in the center of the helix. The brackets then go under the 1/2" roadbed. The threaded rod is easier to adjust but with being only 2.5" wide, there was no real easy way to attach threaded rod too the roadbed. Thus I went the L bracket approach. I used 3" L brackets and added them as I added each layer. I started at the top and worked towards the bottom (since I finished the top first.
I hope this helps a little.
Edited 2/27/2008 -
I thought a picture might be helpful. Here's an early construction picture of the helix showing the bottom portion of it.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
How did you plan and built the helix?
The concept is straight forward, a series of circles. Are there plans for these available or do you simply build by trial and error?
I went the helix route down to my lower level which is a staging/storage area. I put the helix in when I built the upper layout level and then added the lower level track after I had all of the main work done under the first level (i.e. turnout controls, wiring etc...) . It was designed this way from the beginning, even though the construction was in phases.
I am so impressed and also envious of the area of your layout. Looks like you will have no problem with adding the storage/staging yards.
I have an idea for how to tie in my mainline to a lower deck, my problem is that I also need to tie in my inner line as well and that is where my problem lies at the moment.
As a last resort I can add to the inner line by punching through a wall into my garage, which unfortunately at this moment in time seems to be my only option.
However, I will keep looking for ideas until then, as I said progress will be slow.
I don't know if this'll help, Don, But I am adding my staging after the fact. My layout is around the walls with 3 pennisulas. The staging will be under the back 30' wall. It starts here:
There will be a 2 track main where you see the foam below the main level. The staging tracks them selves will be here:
And will run arond the exterior 42' wall and hook into the layout here:
Basically one big circle.
So yeah, I'm adding staging after the fact. Hope it helps!
Terry
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
Hi, I am currently in the process of slowly completing my first permanent layout in over 25 years.
The layout is basically a U-shaped 8' x 12 x 8' layout. It has two independent lines, the outer line with 22" curves is my mainline, this is essentially a dog-bone with town/engine facilities at one end and the other end of the dog-bone is another town with a few industries.
The inner line is a mining/logging line which services a mine and a logging camp and brings the products to the town with the industries.
I am satisfied with the overall plan, however I am at this point trying to determine how best to add a large hidden staging yard to the layout. I assume the easiest method would be to add a lower deck.
My question is how many of the readers of this forum have ever added a staging yard after the fact?