I recall posting an image about 'daylighted' helices so that the operators can enjoy at least part of the descent/ascent. I think I responded to Randy who was wondering if he could improve a substantial helix by having some of it 'open'.
This is what I did last time around, before we moved into town five years ago. I published almost no imagery of Layout #3, but this is how it went for me:
Inside the mountain, I erected a framework with two parallel and level rails, (L-girder remnants that I wasn't using, inverted), and built a lift-off/slide-off top-of-the-mountain. You can bearly make out the seam running more-or-less horizontally partway up the slope above the tunnels.
There is currently a helix thread on page 2 of this forum. It didn't disappear, just got old and slipped off page 1.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.