Hi all,
Since I've moved into my new place, I've had a bit more space for my layout. As such, I've been giving a bit of thought to expanding it. After considering several options, I realised that I may actually be able to add a second deck to the left side of the layout - the 'base camp' side. Currently, it's got quite a tall backdrop, most of which would be filled with the tops of trees:
I'm thinking that I could put a second deck halfway up this backdrop, with a train elevator at the end (where the single staging track is sticking out) to move the trains between the two levels. Currently, there is a ~2'4" (70cm) gap between the subroadbed on what would be the lower level, and the lighting roof at the top.
For the second deck benchwork, I was thinking of using 0.7" (18mm) plywood, ripped into strips 2.4" (6cm) wide. It would be mounted on the same supports that are already holding up the backdrop and lighting valence. At the rear, these are plywood supports of the dimensions I've just described, screwed directly to the benchwork:
At the front, there are two different supports. The ends of the layout have pine strip supporting the lighting valence:
For the supports which go through the layout scenery, I used 0.62" (16mm) diameter pine dowels. This is so they can be disguised as trees later.
If needed, I can extend the backdrop up by 1', and lower the layout by 4-6". Given that this is the first time I've tried something like this, I'd like to get the thoughts of those more experienced in multi-deck layouts.
The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, OregonThe Year: 1948The Scale: On30The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com
tbdanny,
The biggest problem to overcome with adding a second deck is getting from here to there. An elevator can do the job. It has a couple of big drawbacks. First, there's the complication, even if you can DIY and save much of the expense. An elevator is not a simple thing and will require maintenance, too.
The second is that's it's not a very railroady way to get where you're going, which you'll be reminded of whenever a maintenance issue raises its ugly head.
Could a switchback do the trick? You've got the right sort of line, if the rise and the tail track length are there for you. A helix is another possibility, where it's not real railroady, either, but you can at least count on it working once you've got it built and can just drive on through it with no fuss or muss.
There's probably not room for a turnback loop and a way to cross over that, which can gain all the altitude you need? That can also be a nice scenic transtion between levels.
Another factor here is what depth are you planning? The back of the lower part will seem very far back there and hard to view if the second deck is that deep unless it's rather far above the first. Keep in mind your own viewing height and the sightlines this will give you, as well as any other guests who might. This will also figure into the construction of it, especially of you don't have access to the back side to do it.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
you could consider John Armstrong's dehydrated canal mechanism to lift a train between levels.
I'm build vertical staging which may also work for you
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
I was thinking of using the cassette method, as I need to both lift and turn the train at the same time. I could just build protrusions from the end of the layout, then develop a cassette that allows run-on and run-off from both ends.
My main worries with what I have planned is the separation between decks - I'd have 12" or slightly less for each, and if my benchwork would be able to support it.
As a builder of a small double deck RR, I can offer a few suggestions. First do not split the height difference evenly, that is make the lower deck to upper deck seperation more than the upper deck height. Something along the lines of 14-15 inches would be better if I under stand your limits. This gives you better access and visual effect. Keep the upper deck benchwork depth shallow (maybe only 12 inches or so) as reach will be a problem. Also keep the overall thickness of the upper deck benchwork as thin as practical - that is, don't overbuild.
Rick G.
You could make a temporary shelf from cardboard. With this installed it would give you a better idea of how it would work. It would also allow you to move things around to get a better idea of what fits and what doesn't fit or look right.
At my height (6'7"... and shrinking [with age]) I find double deck layouts a physical challenge to enjoy both as visitor and operator, even where the lower deck has a nearly normal layout height. Unless the upper level is really narrow, the lower deck in particular is largely invisible to me except for the outer edge. But I do understand the attractions of the longer main line run and other features. I strongly second the idea of a dummied-up cardboard mock up of the second level before getting too far with this idea.
Tony Koester floated the idea (in Model Railroad Planning of a few years back) of a two deck layout that basically takes a feature such as the right angle crossing of two railroads, and duplicating that crossing -- east/west on one level; north/south on the other. Actually, Koester had this notion that the crossing (and depot/depots) could be on one interchangeable module that would fit into both levels, but forgetting that complication for the moment, the idea of two separate "layouts" sharing one common prototype area, with presumably interchange of cars done by hand between sessions but no other physical connection between the two levels, either helix or train elevator or anything else, is intriguing to me from a planning perspective. Not only is the idea itself interesting (and one could operate it so that trains on both levels would have to hold for the signal at the interchange on the other level), but it eliminates the transitions between levels that eat up so much space.
Dave Nelson
Thank-you for all the feedback. I've done some mock-ups with leftover cardboard and plywood, and I don't think double-decking would suit after all. My turnouts are operated by Caboose Industries ground throws, and putting a deck in would limit access to some of them.
Looks like I'll have to go to plan B. There's a small alcove, behind the camera in the first photo. I can get a bit of an extension in there, however there's a sliding door in the middle of it, so I'll need to keep that clear. I just want to get a standard-gauge/narrow-gauge interchange and small fuel depot in.