When originally built, the layout had no helix:
This worked well enough with dual locomotives pulling six to nine passenger cars up the hill, but once I bought my first subway car set I found that the hill was far too steep. I simply cut off the lower end of the ramp, built an open circle out of Celotex, and made this first helix The geometry remained the same:
But as the focus of my railroad shifted into a 100% subway layout, I wanted to rebuild the lower level including the helix to make it a four track main line:
I am using OSB board for the helix since that is what we have in our storeroom that I could take without having to spend any money. The former NYP level (lower in these photos) and the Prospect Park level (the upper level on the ping pong table) are with a Celotex deck directly on the open frame. I knew that the ping-pong table upon which this helix would sit is five feet across, and so the helix has a five foot outer diameter. The four tracks are laid inside of this as is seen in the photo above, but no real attempt to create a particular radius was used.
The lower level in this photo is actually a 5" tall table setting on top of the ping pong table. Thus the first riser under the helix is 5" tall. Each riser is made from a 2 x 6 board, each one 1/4 inch taller than the previous one. Thus the grade of this first turn of the helix is controlled by how far apart these risers are. On top of each riser is a builder's shim which provides a 1/4 inch super elevation to the helix deck. For the next level the risers will sit on the level below and will all be of a uniform height of 2.5'. The helix will have one and a half turns to it and will end up 10" above the surface of the ping pong table, where the Prospect Park station is built on a little table with legs, and setting on the ping pong table.
What was used was Model Power code 100 track, the cheapest I could buy: $235.00 for 100 strips (300' - nominal) Actually the sticks were closer to 35", furthermore, they are badly cut at the ends and I had trouble applying the rail joiners. I found that I had to cut off an 1/8" of each end of each rail to allow the joiners to slip on easily. But you get what you pay for, and this is a small price to pay to get the rail that I need cheaply enough so as to get permission from the Abbot to spend the money.
On the curve, I place the slip rail on the inside of the curve, so that when I bend it the extra rail, about an inch is left at the distal end, where it is cut flush. I attach the next stick of rail and solder it in place so that when I curve it, the rail joints will not open up. Unlike Atlas Flex-Track, the Model Power product will retain its shape while I work with it rather than trying to spring back to a tangent geometry.
As you can see I am mounting the tracks directly on the sub road bed. This is supposed to be the inside of a subway tunnel where the tracks are laid in a concrete roadbed. And in any event, I need all of the space I can get inside of the helix, and as we all know: LIONS ARE CHEAP!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
The LION *has* been working on this part of the railroad. Here are some of today's pics.
You might, if you feel the need for more helix feeders rout out a wire grove. I router mine as I too wanted to keep level as tight as possable and still be accessable, I routed 1/8 or 3/16 ths deep by 3/4 wide slots for the wires, this leaves out of the way for the overhead clearence and neetly stack togather. ( bringing them to the side you want accessable. Just a thought but its neat and easu to get at.
jwar41I routed 1/8 or 3/16 ths deep by 3/4 wide slots for the wires, this leaves out of the way
Duh Moment! Nice & simple -- Perhaps too easy to otherwise think of doing!
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956