Distance info

[sledgehammer]

Can any one tell me what the minimum distance I can leave between levels.


sledgehammer

[Anonymous]

Minimum is the distance required to stick your hand between to set a car on the tracks. Not helpful I know, but neither is the other answer, which is "it depends."

Some of the factors to consider:

- ht. of scenery elements that you intend to use

- desired ht. of backdrop.
- ht. of levels off floor vs. depth of upper level. (This determines how much you can see without having to crouch down to peer in.)

- space that might be required for lighting under the upper level.

One think I've learned it that the deeper the shelves, the farther apart vertically they should be for comfortable viewing. Narrow shelves can be closer together.

Wayne

[chateauricher]

It also depends on the scale you're using. HO will require more head-room than N.

[orsonroy]

MINIMUM distance is about three inches, or the height of most freight cars over the rails. Operationally though, I wouldn't go any lower than around seven inches or so, or the height required to lift a car OFF the rails and out of the deck. Visually, the height depends on how severe a shadowbox effect you can live with. Some modelers are comfortable with 12", while others have a minimum of 20" or more.

My three level layout, because of space restrictions in the train room, has an average clearance of about 12". Some areas have as much as 15", while one SHORT (less than a foot) area has clearance of 4". I feel that 10"-15" is more than enough for a shelf layout, especially when the tradeoff is one more scale mile of mainline.

[Sperandeo]

It all depends on scale, "Sledgehammer," and you didn't say what scale you're using. In HO, the NMRA standard clearance is 3" above the railhead, and that's measured to the bottom of the higher level, not the elevation of the higher track. And as others have pointed out, that's just clearance to get a train through, and doesn't allow for access or working room.

so long,

Andy

[sledgehammer]

I am starting a HO layout i just finished the room i going to build in and want to make it two levels. Im still in the planning stages at this time. So i wll be asking more questions in the future . thanks to all who replied.

[ereimer]

how about if the lower level is a non-visible staging area ?

my assumption is that trains can be staged out on the visible portion of the layout prior to an operating session , them parked in the staging area to be brought back out as needed . some space will be required in case of derailments but no active switching will take place in there .

[sledgehammer]

I thought of a staging area I seen on in model railroader magazine. It loded from the front of the layout and you pulled it out to the desired track that you wanted. after the cars left you juist push it back in.

[ndbprr]

More critical is the distance you have to get to three inches. The longer the better. 1% is 1" rise in 100" which is over eight feet per inch. 5% is 1" in 20" so you are going to need at least five feet and don't forget that it isn't the heiight from the railhead to the other railhead it is the distance from the bottom railhead to the bottom of the substrate supporting the upper level.

[Anonymous]

Hi Sledgehammer, the last comment is an important consideration. On my layout the separation is 17.5 inches and the required distance for a 2.5% grade was almost 78 feet. Of course I had to use a helix and so had to take a 6 foot by 6 foot area to build a mountain to hide the helix. This works for me because I'm trying to model the CP costal mountain area in BC. I allow the front of the second trun of 2.5 turns to be seen which allows a good separation from the line that passes just in front of the mountain.
Dave C.

[johncolley]

One overlooked consideration, eh? A lot depends on your height or the average height of your operators. Figuring approx. 6" for fascia which you want the bottom around the bottom of your chin. Especially good using a narrow top level so you can see the trains in good perspective at around eye level. Then drop 12 to 15" to your mid height level. That way your staging level can be high enough off the floor for a stool instead of sitting on the floor or being on your knees..