I’ve re-thunk my layout shape and have (hopefully) come up with a better general plan for my layout. So I’ve dismantled the major sections from my layout-in-progress that were out in the room into sections, and after a few room repairs am going to be rebuilding it to conform to the new concept. I’m hoping to save / reuse the old benchwork, if I can-- if not, meh, no biggie. My present benchwork is all open-grid with L-girder style construction on all of the outside edges. (In retrospect, I think it was probably overkill, but that’s how I did it
Anyway, my question is this-- in my new plan, I have a turnback peninsula that has a fairly large elevation shift between the one side and the other. The track will be smoothly climbing, about a 1-ish% grade, but the scenery will be somewhere between 6-8 inches up to maybe a foot or so different between the one side and the other.
I’ve been mulling over how to do the benchwork on this section-- should I take one of the existing benches and put low legs on it and then handle the backside (higher elevation) with longer risers? Or would it be better to mount the benchwork higher and then cut it down the front side? Or just to build a whole new section, perhaps pure L-girder style and then hang the low section on the one side, and the high section on the other?
John, I think you may have a hard time adapting your existing benchwork to what your planning. But I’m not there looking at the pieces.
That said, I think I would build a stud wall down the center of the peninsula and attach L girders off either side to match the desired grade, then track scenery etc. Note the “wall” doesn’t have to be full height, you can cut it off at the highest point of the grade or backdrop whatever. If you do that try to keep weight balanced from one side to the other and anchor it to the floor.
I have a similar peninsula on my layout, its main purpose to gain altitude to reach an as-yet-unbuilt partial second level. Here’s a rough drawing of the layout room (the areas in grey will be doubledecked):
The grade begins in South Cayuga, where the track elevation is about 43" above floor level. The benchwork (all open grid) is about 35" high, to accommodate lower scenery features and track over the Speed River, where one line drops and goes under the “mountain” to reach Elfrida, on what will eventually become the lower level.
Here’s South Cayuga, with the two lines in the distance, one dropping down to go to Elfrida, the other rising to begin its ascent up the peninsula:
Here’s a look, from about the same position, at the opposite side of the aisle. The track to the right is on the peninsula and rising. In the distance, you can see a riser and some of the roadbed as it continues the climb:
And a view from the opposite direction, with more of the risers visible:
All of the peninsula benchwork is also 35" high, with risers used to gain elevation. The ones at the top of the grade extend about 22" above the benchwork, where the track is 59" above floor level.
Here’s a look at the roadbed where it attains the summit, extending over the semi-finished town of Elfrida:
Pahdon me, but the one thing I would NEVER do is build a stud wall down the center! Been there, done that, have the (torn and dirty) T-shirt. The studs (steel) have since been re-cycled into joists, cassettes and risers - except for the ones that I’ve laid rain gutter fashion to carry tangents across joistless gaps in the Netherworld.
I have a ‘blob’ (sideways club end of a peninsula) with track on several levels, includiing (as yet unbuilt) a visible climb around the end from one intermediate station to the end-of-the-railroad colliery - on a 4% (compensated for curves) grade. The bottom layer of joists sit on L girders. The bottom layer of (hidden staging and thoroughfare) trackage is raised slightly on risers to allow under-roadbed clearance for switch mechanisms and wiring. There is a higher level of hidden thoroughfare track supported on risers from below, some goalpost-shaped to clear hidden yard throats. The next higher level, part of a loads-empties swap arrangement including train elevator, is partially supported from below (the risers get tall!) and partially by brackets from verticals meant to support the topmost level. The to-be-visible track will be supported by an auxiliary, lighter-weight L girder deck, with still more risers. The main support legs were extended to the 60 inch level to support that upper L-girder deck. Now yo
I think there are some things that should be defined first.
One is a backdrop if any. If yes to a backdrop, how thick is it going to be or how heavy in terms of construction. If light construction, look at coil metal as it will bend easily to form a smooth back ground. Also, if light construction, building a new peninsula may be better. It can hold the backdrop framing as well as the layout. In this case I would use risers to make the track rise. You can really have some dramatic scenery this way. (By the way, if considering coil metal, it is only 24 inches wide (high), so bottom placement will depend on starting where the scenery is the lowest. But coil metal can be mixed with other materials and the seam covered using dry-wall techniques if you want to use it for rounding the corners only.)
Second is the type of scenery you are planning for the area. If you are going to make each side a separate construction, the scenery will be more flat or low hills. So the scenery desired will also have some effect on how you should build the peninsula section.
Third is the width that the peninsula will be. If narrow, will it be in a mountainous area? Can you use a tall mountain as a center divider? Does the scenery you plan for the area require visual separation between the two sides of the peninsula?
I hope this gives you more to think about for your design. I think once you have decided on the type of scenery at the location, things should sort of fall in place as to how it should be built.
