Desgining a layout in a 14x9 space-part2

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Evening Folks,

I have figured out a few things. My HO scale layout is as follows for plan wise

-Modern Equipment

-Wise to do three levels - 1) being a staging Yard (2) main part of the layout (3) 2nd level

-plan to use a 2 or 2.5% grade with pusher operation

-approx distance of levels is about 40-50" off the ground for the 1st

-then 60-70" for the second level

-no big cars, just woodchip hoppers and box cars

Question:

  1. what are the sections i need to do create continous running from the main part of the layout to the 2nd level?

  2. this will be DCC with digitrax, so will another basic system work or should I upgrade (there will be districts

2

I personally think you are biting off more RR than your space can chew but you should look getting one of these

http://www.kalmbachstore.com/12434.html

ratled

3

no planner here ,but if your talking a square or rectangle room you mite think of a point to point around the wall cork screw type a layout ,@ 14 X 9 a room would net 46’ run per levell @ 2% + mite give 10-12" seperation in decks (or levells ), upper levells should stay @ 12" deep with that seperation, lower (Yard ) could be 24"…Just a thought, oh and youl have to levell your sidings and such or cars well rool to bottem…Jerry

4

I agree with the other posters. Your entire railroad will be on a grade. Too many grades make it difficult to properly operate your railroad. I only have 2 small bridges 3" clearance on a 2% grade in a 16’ x 20’ space, and when cars become uncoupled, away they go.

5

You might want to think about switching to N scale??? It’s hard to do but sometimes you just got to dream a little smaller.

6

ONRfan –

As I said in my reply to your other thread, I really think you’re in way over your head. If this is your first layout, try something smaller and get your feet wet first.

You also still seem hung up on using grades to get from one level to the next, although you’ve moderated your grade to 2.5% from 4.0%. The only thing you’ve done here is to either halve your vertical separation or to make that your incline will have to go more than one complete lap around your layout space. You’re dead set against a helix, but what you’ve done is to essentially convert your entire layout area into a giant helix, with you in the center!

If you absolutely, positively must have a multi-level layout, you should consider an elevator or other alternatives to a helix.

7

Yep, 14 X 9 sure seems like a lot of spaces. Till you start really planning. Helix by it self to reach 3 levels with no pusher is going to eat up lot of room. I would guess a 40 inch radius would do the ticket. That would be around a 1.45 grade not factoring the turn it self. (harder to pull around a turn).

Here is what a 40 inches helix did to my room. My room is 26 X 19. Each square is 1 foot.

It ate up 7 plus feet not counting scenery that would be needed to cover it.

If I had a do over, I would go N scale.You have 126 square feet, I have 494 square feet and I cannot fit everything in I want.

Cuda Ken