I’m fairly new to trains after a 25 year lay off…and would like to build a multiple level set…not sure how this is done…main level is 42"…and wondering how high you would stagger the heights…and pics and info would be greatly appreciated…
Cary
You need to figure out what you want to do in terms of layout theme. Multi-level layouts happen because the theme of the layout requires more than one level and/or because of room size.
Why do you want multi-levels?
How big will the layout be?
What is on each level? Why ?
How tall are you? Starting at 42" for one level does not leave much height to be able to reach things on an upper level. Going lower will also work; however, if the levels are above one another, you may have some obstructions to you view.
You get multi-levels by climbing grades. How much room for track work do you have. A “typical” maximum grade (in HO) is about 2.5%. This represents a 2 1/2" change in 100" of track. Your space and track layout will determine just how high/low you can go.
In order to comment further; I would need considerably more information on what you plan on doing. The following thread shows what I have done and how I got 24" elevation changes.
http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/897748/ShowPost.aspx
The following link shows a multi-level layout and gives some good information to help plan a multi-level layout.
Check out both links and report back please. Good luck.
http://siskiyou-railfan.net/e107_plugins/content/content.php?cat.8
Our club built a multilevel layout in the HO section. Here, it became more of a matter of how high the ceiling was in this room (the garage section of an old fire house). We went with a mushroom type design for the two levels, you can’t see both levels from either aisle. The levels are about 3 feet difference in elevation. For the upper section, we were able to build an elevated walkway and had a whole other “world” to see on the layout. We connected the two levels with a 5-1/2 turn helix.
Not sure what other information you’re looking for here.
I set the height of the two mainline levels at 40 and 60 inches. It seems to work really well, no problems during ops sessions with operators of various heights. A couple of pictures in the album on my signature line.
check out the thread, B.A.H.railroad. picture intense.
By all means, check out video’s 1 and 2 of Joe Fugate’s Siskiyou Lines video series, which give several great views of the layout and concept, and a computer generated sequence of how to build the mushroom layout. Getting there is half the fun! Oh! somebody already used that line, eh? jc5729
Thanks for all the info, it’s Great that everyone is so helpful in this Hobby. I noticed in some pics, it seems most are 20"-24" spacing and looks very good.
The room I am building in is 20’ x 12’, on the main level where I start my rise (1.5-3%). Along the 12 ft section is a cattle yard with other attractions, comes around to the 20 ft section and have a staging area that will be partially covered by the rise to 2nd level, (not sure if I will need a Helix as I was going to use the whole outer wall for this), also along this section-going the other way is a small planned oil refinery. From staging area to around the furnace to the 12 ft wall, a couple elevators, than to a a city area with some Amtrak staging and other various scenes that eventually creates another dogbones and back the other direction thus completing two dogbones on main level. (width of city area is approx 6’ and do have some cut-outs planned just in case) (Most sections are built 4’x2’ so I can move them if I have to)
On 2nd level, a planned Airport, Grain Terminal & small staging area. (widths maximum of 2’, except for Grain Terminal) Also have a planned duck under that will be roughly 60". Have about a foot to duck under but should be no problem yet…
All plans that I drafted were paper, did not work for me with computer images as I kept changing my mind and had a better picture in my head of what I was doing…I think…[:)]
The Height of starting was 42" with Foam on top, lowered it a little so Rise would increase faster…was thinking of an 18"-20" rise but not sure how this would look…could show some pictures, but this Forum would not let me and I do not have any links at this time…
Thanks for everything…and I’ll see if I can get some pics going…
Cary
A good way to check for proper height before construction - get a couple of large pieces of cardboard (like refridgerator boxes). Suspend them from the ceiling with string at the heights you are thinking of using. If careful that the cardboard is pretty steady, place a couple pieces of equipment on it and stand beside it like you’re operating. Easy to adjust heights to get the best fit doing it this way, difficult after construction has started.
Good luck, let us know how it comes out.