Hello,
As few people may know, I am building in N scale, but I am also planning waayy farther in the future to build a point to point HO railroad in the basement of my house. It does not seem like it is big enough to fit in, so I was wondering, how do I make a track plan bigger? I don’t want to exceed what I have planned too much, but my idea was a helix to an upper level. Any other ideas would be amazing.
Thanks!
Heix to a lower or upper level is the best way to double the size
Shane
it is a little hard to reply without some specifics Things like room size, minimum radius, short line, or main line, switching or through trains for starters as well as equipment length and givens and druthers
Hello All,
Add a parallel second mainline.
Hope this helps.
A helix will be more than double your track length as helix takes lots of track legnth. A reliable helix may need a larger radius so it may also take a lot more space…
Jerry
its a scale model of the Oregon Eastern Railroad, so it is a single trakc, and the biggest equipment will be 60’ hoppers and (if I can somehow fit the rest of the track in my basement somehow) some reefers
you could always move to a larger scale … no , that would give you at least four times the size, even eight if you include verticals … not the double that you wanted …
sorry
Well, there is nothing like taking a sheet of grid paper, drawing your space to scale, and drawing your mainline, with the appropriate curves (or circles, so to speak). At scale.
Simon
PS: If you say pretty please, the Bear might find the time to draw one out for you [:)].
Simon
I do agree with you on this. I have been meaning to grab some graphing paper and start writing out some track plans.
Also where might I find the bear?
Boy, a helix in N scale should not have too big of a foot print. Me thinks that getting trains up and down it will be the tough part. Not mechanical, but the run time for them. Heights between the levels will come into play. If you have 12" separation, will that be enough to view whatever is below the top layer? 15" would be better that that would add to the runtime. Remember to figure in your benchwork thickness for that top layer and consider reach-in, AND since you will be almost standing on your head to wire the top layer, think about that also.
Later
Train room of LION is 24’ x 27’ and runs on three levels.
This is ‘back stage’ on the layout. Toto I think there are more than three levels here!
And the main helix. (the other helix is part of that monster above.)
Most of the ‘scenery’ is painted black… after all you are supposed to be inside of a subway tunnel.
It is planned in ho, so that would be my problem. But thank you for the insight on a helix in N and for general helix work!
I would buy a bigger house, but the problem is, I can’t really move out of my current house untill i scrounge up enough money by 18 or later. These are some cool photos though!