I have two separate levels-layouts. The top is HO scale and the bottom is O scale. I wanted somewhere to run the Lionel trains bought for me in the early 50's when I was born. The O scale layout has grown far beyond my original intentions but that's what this hobby is all about. Perhaps that may apply to you, just throwing that idea out for consideratio.
Mobilman44 said what I was going to say - having two unconnected levels would really be two different layouts. I thought about doing it with my current situation, having standard gauge HO on the lower level, with On30 on an around-the-walls shelf layout higher up. I did some testing - a nice thing about using shelf components for benchwork, easy to test different heights and such - and decided I'd rather have the higher backdrop of just doing the one HO layout.
The last two layouts I built have two levels, and on both layouts, the levels were connected by a 2 percent grade.
Seems to me, if you have two levels that are NOT connected, then you really have TWO separate layouts................
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Hi guys,
Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately, I can't post a picture since I'm traveling and on my laptop. My desktop has a converter to change PDF to a JPEG, then I can add it to Photobucket. That being said. I do have room for a helix to the left of the door, a 70" area. The door opens to 36". What I was thinking was to have the helix and possibly add a track around the top and bottom PLUS add a dual level moveable section just past the entrance so I can connect both levels for constant running. My other layout has a 2 track helix plus tracks around both top and bottom for constant running. My upper level has a 2 track dogbone.
The nolix idea I'm giving serious consideration, as I don't know if I'm ready to tackle it. I've tried a 2 track nolix and failed miserably at it. I had a helix custom built for me in 2014 and it's great.
I'm back home in 10 days, and if I'll post a pic of the room as well with the obstacles. FYI, I don't consider windows obstacles. I'll build right across them!!
Neal
An around-the-room helix would typically cross the door one or more times, which may not be acceptable for some. Note also that the Original Poster said that he had "some small obstacles" in the room, which might preclude climbing around the room.
As was noted, posting a sketch of the room would help others help him.
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nealknows Hello everyone, Not sure if this has been asked, but I was wondering if anyone built a layout with 2 levels without connecting them? I can build a layout with a helix and we know how much space they take (I'm in HO scale). My space while 12' x 13' sounds like a lot, I have some small obstacles and Iwas thinking if having 2 levels point to point would be enjoyable to operate. I guess like 2 separate railroads in an area? Most of the time I will be solo operating the layout. I have alternatives, but this one sounded unique. Looking forward to the replies! Thanks! Neal
Hello everyone,
Not sure if this has been asked, but I was wondering if anyone built a layout with 2 levels without connecting them? I can build a layout with a helix and we know how much space they take (I'm in HO scale). My space while 12' x 13' sounds like a lot, I have some small obstacles and Iwas thinking if having 2 levels point to point would be enjoyable to operate. I guess like 2 separate railroads in an area? Most of the time I will be solo operating the layout. I have alternatives, but this one sounded unique.
Looking forward to the replies!
Thanks!
The Brits are most famous for such things, but not so much in the US. A 12x13 room doesn't sound all that big - my 10x18' room seems small for my HO layout but I built a second level over a staging yard and used a no-lix to get up to the main level and back down again. The grade is 2.9% and I can pull 20-22 car trains up and back down again with two engines no major issues. If I were you I'd go with the No-lix and connet both levels. You aren't going to be able to run super long trains in a room that size so a 3% grade shouldn't be a big deal.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Maybe post a drawing of your room and we can throw out some better ideas.
Steve
have you considered an elevator, or moveable cassette? Or a car float which can be docked at either level.
I feel that if you don't connect the levels in some way it woill feel like two smaller layouts instead of a larger layout with a long distance to cover. Trains with a place to go and work to do is more interesting than chasing caboose.
While not common, I've designed a few of layouts with multiple unconnected decks and clients are happy with them. Some of these layouts had the decks linked by operations and staging, so that a train rolled into staging on one deck and then a similar train appeared from staging on another deck to complete the journey (either immediately or at another time).
I wrote about such a layout in Model Railroad Planning 2008 (Oahu Railway) and described the concept in Layout Design Journal #28; Spring 2003
Actually, MR recently (2 or 3 issues ago) featured an HO layout that was 2-layered and neither route connected to one another.
Tom
[Edit: Okay, a little more than 2 or 3 issue...Sherman Hills layout: March '16 issue]
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I have not but a friend of mine in the UK has one themed railway (LMS?) on one level and Southern Railway (?) on the upper and as far as I can remember from seeing it 6 years ago, there was no interconnector as such. It enabled him to have a diverse operation as mood took him. Sounds like yourself really!!!
In any case, it is your railroad/railway!!! Enjoy it!
Regards from Oz
Trevor
Obviously I couldn't take an accurate guess but I would think 12 x 13 would give room to get a rail down to the lower level easy enough.
Lynn
Present Layout progress
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/290127/3372174.aspx#3372174