Please help with new layout

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I am currently in the planning stage of my first layout and I would be greatful for any help. I have a 8x18 room that I am planning on building a three leveled point to point layout. My question is how to use all three levels continously (start on bottom level and go to mid to top)

My plan is to have a large yard on each end of the layout and some industry and towns between them on all levels. I am modeling UP from Livonia, La to Avondale, LA so nothing larger than a built up right of way will be the topography for my layout. I am modeling present era with plans for lots of long intermodals and manifest trains. I am planning on using a helix to get to the different levels but the only area I can see putting it would be in the corner just left of the door and I don’t know how that would allow me to do what I want. I plan to have myself and maybe 1 more person operating any given time. My minimum isle width would have to be 3’-4’.

Here is how the room is laid out.

8’w x 18’L x 7.5’h there is a 30" door on the 8’ wall on the left in the bottom corner opening to the outside of the room.

  • 30"

  • Door

  • Here

2

The only way I see to do it is to put a helix in the far corner and then run one lap to the helix, up to the next level, around the room another time to the helix, up to the 3rd level and then around the room a 3rd time.

Will all these long trains where are you going to put staging? That may mean 5 levels.

Dave H.

3

I plan on breaking the manifests down in the bowl tracks and the intermodals will be in the intermodal yard tracks in avondale and on the main in livonia. I will have 2 or 3 receiving yard tracks and the same for departure yard along with some bowl tracks to break down the trains.