Completed my 6th major revision to my first ot two proposed retirement projects; still a few years out from really starting...
Looking for constructive feedback (Good or Bad) and yes I know this is not your typical design and thus not Prototyipical and it's also Track Heavy and Helix Centric in design by design.
This is for the first of two major layouts I hope to spend my time on in the coming years; this be N-Scale and the other to be HO-Scale. I already have large rosters of both from years of collecting.
Major Goals:
One thing I have found with my presentations as people "Don't Get It" so I have tried to but in more time with details and have broken out the design into 26+ screen shots so I can try to better explain the concept via showing things from Bottom to Top in layers. The design uses a continuous climbing Figure-8 type path...
OK, with that, let me start posting the screen shots starting with these first two to explain the space and the ROW within it. Oh yes, the doors will remain as is; part of the agreement with the wife who is already being gracious enough to allow passage through one wall in the basement...
Figure-A: A basement storage room that will become my N-Scale Train Room
Figure-B: ROW
To maximize the space I am willing to go down to 30" aisle to get the needed radii for the roster. Given the doors open into the space and the needed access to a Shelf, the aisles have been set accordingly. You can also see where the ROW passes through a small wall into the Family Room where it will pass above my desk; limiting to backword to have to be at least 47" above the floor in this section AND leave access to our basement Fire Escape.
The Fireplace is not used so I will build right up against it but not bolt anything into it; the bechwork will be support from below. To the right of where the layout pass through the wall will be a cabinet that will hide the Helix from view but accessible; see the PINK folding door ways that can be open/closed as well as have access to the interior from below the physical helix...
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Figure-C: Heavy Benchwork
The above layer shows where I think the heavy benchwork will be to support the lower Deck #1 as well as postions to pass upward to support Deck#2. The brighter Yellow area will be the planned "Hidden Access" areas for the Helix as well as to the Hidden Track from all Tunnels...
Figure-D: More of the Bechwork
Given this room is a storage room I have worked in below Benchwork storage areas for storing all the thigs I plan to keep. For looks these will have cabinet doors on them but will also allow access to the layout above when needed.
Note the heavy 4x4 (or dual 2x4) posts in somw places as well as the "L" girder supports to hold the benchwork over the desk...
Figure-E: Deck #1 (Tunnel & Mining Districts)
OK, time to place Deck #1 on top of the Bachwork. Planning to go with solid plywood and build on top of that. You can now see the location / size of the three (3) Hidden Access holes that will be accessible via two different Duck-Under locations.
Deck #1 is my Rouged Rocky Mountain Tunnel District that includes a deep River Canyon on the eastern section that will have a View Block seperation from the main layout area. The northern section by my desk will be my Winter Zone with a Mine. There are planned Lakes and Rivers shown in this diagram as well. You can also see the 2x4 and 4x4 supports are will be heading up to Deck #2 to support it as well
Also not the Helix is setup the a 4-Track as welkl as a 2-Track; The outer for planned Upward traffic and the inner for downward traffic of the two main lines...
Figure F: Helix - 2-Track Ineer loops
Ok, lets put some track on this beast. To best explain the concept / design I will start with the Helix that has two tracks exiting the Helix Cabinet into the Mining District just above my Desk
Figure G: Mining District
As mentioed earlier, you will notice a heavy usage of a Figure-8 through out the design. Track #1 (GREEN) will be my Primary Passenger Serice track in two train operation mode. Track #2 (BLUE) thus will be my Primary Freight Train track. Note Track #2 has access to a Wye that takes you over to a Mine. Both tracks will drop down 2" in elivation using two trestles. Clearance will be a minimum of 2" on all track crossings while maintaining grades of 2% or less...
Figure H - Deck #1 (Palmer Lake Siding)
Here begins the madness of this design with both Track #1 and Track #1 passing "through" Helix Cabinet in front to the Helix itself, passing round a lake and then reach seperate sidings for both tracks before passing around the bend into the heart of the Tunnel District.
Figure I: Deck #1 Hudson Canyon and High Line
Here, my Passenger Liners (Track #1/GREEN) will operate along the bottom of the canyon right near the waterline of the River; same as the D&RGW and other railroads of COlorados past once did. The Fright Trains (Track#2/BLUE) will actaully be hidden under the steep canyon wall; only poping out briefly over a bride crossing the river. Access to this hidded track will be the the exterior side. The "Vew; here is either from looking "Over the Canyon Edge" or fro m "River" level down through the canyon. A D&RGW type landmark will also be part of this canyon (details later).
It's now the Fright Lines turn to live on the edge along the "High Line" a term folks that know the Durago and Silverton will understand. The Passenger line will still be hidden until they both reach the curve and beome parallel tracks once again.
Figure J: Crssing the Delaware Creek / Falls
Once again, both tracks start into a Figure-8 path while making there 2% (or less) grade passing over Delaware Creek into a tunnel and exiting once again up at the Falls passing over another tressle. Both tracks will then pass around the outside of the mountains in this area
Figure K: Upper Hudson Canyon
We continue our climb and Figure-8 path cross over the tracks. This time it's the Freight Train (Track #2/Blue) that enters into the Hudson River Cayon on the far side of the river while the Passenger Train (Track#1 / Green) remains hidden behind the View block. Note the Freight Train is now passing Over/Above the hidden section from earlier and now several inches above the river.
Figure L: Deck #1 - Twin High Bridges
With both tracks now clear of the River Canyon they will cross over Delaware Creek one last time over two Long / High Bridges and they nearly complete their tough climb up the Rocky Mts crossing over the tracks they once started their climb on.
Figure M: Deck #1: Far View
With both tracks now beyond the Rough Mountains they make their turn towards to Helix with Delaware Crrek and Falls now in the distance with only one final tunnel to enter taking the trains back into the Helix Cabinet...
Figure N:n Deck #1 to Deck #2 tranistion
Both trains now enter the Outer section of the Helix to make a few loops to make the final climb to Deck #2. This is the only area where it's a Quad-Helix. On this diagram I have also placed the likely locations of the tunnel portals and you can see that each are accessible from one or two of the three hidden access areas from below the benchwork. The farthest reach being about 30" but I can easily reach 33" given my long arms while all the rest are within the 24" or less reach range...
You can now see both Main Lines of Deck #1 that start and end in the Helix Cabient...
Figure O: Deck #2 - City and North Yard Distrincts
Deck #2 is know added to the layers. Nearly the exact same shape as Deck #1 with the exception on the eastern end where it will be shorter allowing vertial views down into Deck #1 River Canyon. Here too I will note the Hidden Access areas from the Mountain District that will give me access to the Lift_Outs for access to the interior of the City District.
Figure P: Lower City Siding
Here the two Mainline Tracks exit from the Helix and pass through the Lower City siding before entering into the City District...
Figure Q: City District
No additional track shown but adding in the City and showing that the Lower City Siding sits visable but under the Upper City Siding...
Figure R: Union Station and Trenchs
In this section, the Passenger Train (Track #1 / GREEN) splits away and breaks into four tracks heading underneith Union Station.
The Freight Train (Track #2 / BLUE) slipts off to enter into a Trench passing under several roadways of the city. If you look at Figure P above this is the part of Deck #2 that passes between the two Lift-Outs.
Both tracks rejoin their parallel path as they both climb out of their trenchs
Figure S: Warehouse / Street Runner
With both tracks out of the treches, the Freight line will become a Street Runner while passing through the Warehouse section of the city. The Passenger line will swing wide as both tracks pass the D&H Manor as they head into the Upper City Siding
Figure T: Upper City Siding
Now past D&H Manor, both tracks pass through Upper City Siding with the Fregiht Line also having access to a Card Yard as well as can head for North Yard (Coming next). Both tracks now head for the Helix to enter into the Inner Helix loops to return downward to Deck #1 completing the loop...
Figure U: North Yard
Note the North Yard is setup to be mixed era with both an old Roundhouse as well as modern facilities so depending on angle of view it could be seeing as various eras. The City itself will be setup with old Buildings such as those still found today in Colorado Montain commnities of Narrow & Stand Gauge RR towns. So, this will aslo allow mixed era viewing...
Figure V: Lift Outs
This view is to show the three Ligt-Outs now that you have my Deck #2 conceptal design. Yes, the Roundhouse is sitting over the Helix and can be removed as needed for maintenance.
Note, all Switches/Turn-out are in the open which was one of the major issues pointed out in earlier designs...
OK, last post telling the story of this design I am looking for feedback on...
Here is a few 3D images of Deck #1 and Deck #1 to get a feel for how this might look...
Figure W: 3D Image #1 of Deck #1
Figure X: 3D Image #2 of Deck #1
Figure Y: 3D Image #3 of Deck #1
Note the View up the River Canyon
Figure Z: Figure Y: 3D Image of Deck #2
Yes, I know, it's a bit(OK maybe more than a bit) crazy but I am seriously looking for feedback...
Ambitious!
I'm not a great designer, but will make a couple of comments.
The layout over the desk looks wide. Will you be able to reach any potential trouble spots?
If you use curtains or sliding doors on your under the layout cabinets, they should never get in your way.
Good luck,
Richard
Very Ambitious...
Being 6'5" I believe I can reach all areas with easy other than maybe to deepest part of the water fall which would be a reach but I believe doable - Valid Concren so thanks for posting that concern!
I think double doors would give me more access than sliders but will keep your idea in mind too!
OK, lets try this another way... Using the August 2013 MRR (Page 45) magazine for reference, the HO Layout built by Jim Bonnett is based on Canadian Rockies that is 11x22 feet. It's lowest point is 42" (hidden below the Roundhouse); the Roundhouse itself is at 48". This is a Continuous Loop design using a "Figure-8" loop through a Mountain with the high point being at 57". Behind the Mountain is a Staging Area that is at 52". Maximum Grade in this design is 3% and there are 5 Tunnels / 10 Portals; mostly in the Mountain Zone. I have a strong interest in a N-Scale, 2-Deck Layout in which I want to incorporate this concept (not a direct copy) as one of the two decks.
The major modifications I am looking at are:
OK, what would be the technical issues I would need to watch out for in such a modification? Something like this given my ROW space
Any feedback about convering this from HO to N given the space?