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Okay, the first sketch illustrates what I was talking about by using a single "blob". [img]http://home.att.net/~bluecreekrr/1013-a.jpg[/img] You basically have a 24" helix inside of an 27" helix. These are VERY narrow radii for a helix, especially depending on how long and/or modern your modelled equipment is. But you can see how much room it will take up, and how much more a second blob (or even a reverse loop) will take up. Since the drawing isn't too clear, the outside helix goes from 4" to 30" in elevation. The inside helix goes from 0" to 34" in elevation. The entrance to the bottom of the inside helix goes under the outside helix, and the entrance to the top of the inside helix goes over the outside helix. The next sketch shows what I mean by taking Paul's idea, and making it a continuous run. [img]http://home.att.net/~bluecreekrr/1013-b.jpg[/img] Here, the upper and lower levels at the bottom of the drawing are "blended" into one, and the two tracks crossover. This could be done with a diamond crossing and interchange, or one bridge over another, or inside of a tunnel (but you don't want to do a diamond crossing in a tunnel). This method will allow for two level operation without a blob, but the grades will be steep, and the height difference between the two levels won't be as large as with a helix. There are ways to move things around and work with them to make up for some of that, like running a track behind the layout along the wall. When you consider door-ways, duckunders, and lift-outs, things will also need to be shifted. You can go directly to http://home.att.net/~bluecreekrr/1013-a.jpg and http://home.att.net/~bluecreekrr/1013-b.jpg to see these full size, if the forum software shrinks them too much. ---jps
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