Another idea, which would work fine in HO. A single deck layout with a single or double track mainline running around the perimeter of the room with switching centers (intermodal/industry/visable stageing/yard/etc.) located on the inside of the main. Could have four switching centers (one on each side of the room) or fewer but larger centers.
The idea is that the mainline is shared, and represents the track from each center to the next. This way you have room to run long trains on broad radius curves, with starting and destination points to suit your taste.
Simple concept - no helix, no elevator, no steep grades. Putting a few mild bends in the main (i.e. avoiding arrow-straight track) will make the main appear longer than it is.
I'd like to claim this as my own idea, but I remember it from a way-back MR article/track plan where the author likened it to a Scottish Links golf course - many holes accessed off of one fairway.
Originality is simply the art of covering your sources!
Jim
hardcoalcasewith switching centers (intermodal/industry/visable stageing/yard/etc.) located on the inside of the main.
Did you miss the part where he said "switching doesn't really do it for me" and said he wanted to model helper operations on the heavily trafficed B&O Sand Patch Grade?
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
baltimoreandohiofanscale from Cumberland to summit on a 3 deck shelf layout circa 1990-1994. The shelves would be connected by a helix in the corner of the room. I've been told by many that HO is a daring choice to go with for the room size and the length of cars I'll be operating (89' autoracks and TOFC), and N scale is the way to go. I'd be okay with N, but I prefer HO as the detail is much better and overall it just looks better. What is your opinion? Should I do N? Let me hear your opinion!
Here's another thought if you like HO better. If you wish to model 1990-1994 era and rethink your space and loose the helixes.
Food for thought.I would go with a around the walls with Sandpatch as the focal point. Some times less is your best friend for such a layout.
If you're more interested in watching Sand Patch operation then add a large staging yard on the opposite wall and watch the action.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE I would go with a around the walls with Sandpatch as the focal point. Some times less is your best friend for such a layout.
I would go with a around the walls with Sandpatch as the focal point. Some times less is your best friend for such a layout.
I also like the around the walls approach, and the OP stated that swing-out bridges or duckunders at the doors would be acceptable.
OP also stated that he wanted three decks. There is a solution (kinda) that doesn't involve helixes or nolix ramps or elevators . . . but it does involve some sleight-of-hand deception.
I'd go ahead with three decks and compose and build different stand-alone vignette Sandpatch themes for each. One feature of the prototype involves impressive mountains and long tunnels, so each deck would have a turnout branching from the mainline trackage and leading to a tunnel. Then, you could operate on a single deck for a while, and when ready to move on the train can disappear into the tunnel (which is actually just a length of hidden staging track). A short, discrete amount of time passes . . . and voila! the train emerges from the other end of the tunnel on the next deck. It isn't the same train, of course, but rather an exact clone consisted to look like the other. Yeah, it means twice as much rolling stock, and yeah, it's a crazy idea, but it might be something. Or maybe not.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
ROBERT PETRICK Yeah, it means twice as much rolling stock, and yeah, it's a crazy idea, but it might be something. Or maybe not. Robert
I dunno but,its very interesting and has possibilities.
Some folks posting encouragement for HO for this concept in this space haven't taken a moment to sketch it to-scale. At anything like a reasonable minimum HO radius for the type of railroading the Original Poster has described, basically only a simple oval fits. And that's even before allowing for the door swing into the room, which the Original Poster hasn't yet fully described.
Here's the visual.
For those who think this approach suggests the Sandpatch grade, you may not understand the prototype.
For what the Original Poster desires in the space he has, N scale is the better choice. There are a couple of N scale approaches that would work.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
carl425Folks have mentioned the space a helix takes up, but you have to remember that only the space on the lower level is lost. The space above the helix is still usable.
That is true to a degree, with one important caution. In a room this size, likely the best location to place the helix will be in a corner. With that, the only access for maintenance and emergencies is up through the center of the helix.
This will be a bit of a wriggle for many of us, and being able to fully stand up inside the helix is a big help for most tasks. So anything that covers the top of the helix should probably be easily removable.
So the helix radius must be considered relative to access from inside, not only the minimum radius required by the trains.
Edit: It's probably obvious, but I'm talking about access to the "back" of the helix against the wall. Depending on the arrangment of the rest of the layout, the "front" of the helix might be reached easily from an aisle.
[quote user="carl425"]
hardcoalcase with switching centers (intermodal/industry/visable stageing/yard/etc.) located on the inside of the main.
Yes. My standard philosophy is go with what we got.
It might also be helpful to place a scale human figure inside the layout with lines that represent the normal field of vision. It is a fairly confined space, and vignettes is about all I could come up with. I apologize for my shortcomings.
cuyamaFor those who think this approach suggests the Sandpatch grade, you may not understand the prototype.
Unless one has railfan the 'Patch and was thinking more on a mini Patch and not having build a barn for the layout and still have a close but,no cigar Sand Patch.
Looking at that 9x7 footer N Scale would be the choice or a CSX branch in HO.
I would start my grade about 6-8" from the curve on the bottom right and end it 6-8" from the left bottom curve.