My layout room is not very big. 11x11 feet, and the door is in the middle of the room. I’m planning a point to point around the walls layout. On terminal on each side of the door. On the wall opposite the door will be a small penensula that juts out and will have a mountain on it that will visually divide the room. But in order to facilitate continuous running I want to use the terrain to make it seem like the railroad is climbing. Has anyone else done this?
Thanks
Jason
If the grade is terminal, that is ends at a mine or a logging camp, no problem…probably. Just use switchbacks or a gentle grade and stay close to contours to the extent possible to mimick the real thing. However, if your intent is to circumnavigate this peninsula and come out at the other end of the layout even higher, you will probably have to helix, or make a tunnel partway along the peninsula and begin to turn back to the main bench at that point because your little peninsular mountain won’t be able to afford you a curve near its end (I don’t think) to allow for a steady climb.
It would be best if you posted a room diagram, including your intended benchwork, so that we can see what you have to play with. We need more information.
My layout is somewhat similar. The room is 14 X 9, with the door in one corner and a closet to avoid, so your room is spaceous!
My layout is around-the-room with two continuous running tracks, one that makes two laps climbing up into the mountains and back down. The second track is a “local” that makes one lap and is level. Against the walls it’s mountains with the long-haul trackage, with at-grade trackage for the local on the inside.
You could have the mountainous track climb around the face of the mountian, while the “local” flat track punches through the mountain with a long tunnel.
Mark in Utah