Construction under the roof Scale: N scale code55 Levels: two level with helix Hight upper level: 0,80m Hight lower level: 0,35m Total lenght: round about 130m Control: DCC, perhabs DIGITRAX and software (Traincontroller....I don't no....???? Subject: British Columbia from "sea to sky"...Fraser, Thompson River Timeline: timeless, 60' to present Railroads: PGE, BC RAIL/BCOL, CN,CP My wife's enthusiasm: great
I'm guessing this layout will be in the attic ("under the roof"), and the ceiling slopes downwards from the ridge at "midpoint," toward top and bottom edges of diagram at ~0.8m (upper level track height)? Your aisle widths on either side of the helix are very narrow. Scenery, if not rolling stock, will suffer... And with that low of an upper level, the back track of the lower level will be extremely hard to access that far back from the edge of the upper level. I really think you would be happier with a C or a G shaped layout in that space, rather than your E shape, that would be narrower (top to bottom on the diagrams,) and therefore could be higher, allowing a better viewing angle of the upper level, and a much more easily accessed lower level. There are times when "less is more"... Otherwise, your track plan, broad curves, grades, etc. are really good, if for a different space that would not force as many compromises.
The problem with my track planning is obviously the shitty helix. Above the upper level, the sloping roof beams disturb. One possibility is that I cut the helix in half? That results in a height of 22.5cm and I would have optimal free space in the lower level. I'm still in the process of changing the entire track geometry.
I was wondering if you could use a sloped ramp along the back of the layout. Under the sloped ceiling, such a ramp would also gradually come out over the main level, as it hugged the sloping ceiling on the way up. In the middle, where the ceiling is above your ramp level, you could hug the vertical wall to maximize the usable space on the main level below it. You'd need a balloon turn-around at one end of the layout, and back again to the middle, if I figured right (I'd double check that though...), and depending on how much higher you want your upper level to be over the main level. The upper level would be only across the peaked vertical wall. Depending on the slope of the ceiling, maybe it could continue as a narrow staging track on the sloped ceiling(s)? Such a ramp would not take up as much apparent room on layouts main level as a helix would. Once it gets above scenery height, the ramp would no longer be built up from the top of the main level, but fastened to the wall or sloped ceiling. A lot depends on how steep the sloped ceilings are... The steeper the better. I bet it could be mocked up pretty easily though, to get a feel for it how it would look and work. Mock-ups are always a good idea in a complex space. I'd mount a board or strip of plywood to one side of a level such that the top edge of the board has the ramp slope you want (say, 2%), so you can see how the slope intersects the sloped ceilings. I'd probably start the ramp on the side of the attic at the top of the stairs, so you won't need a turn-around there, but on the other end.
@ BigJake Well, that's very good ideas. The roof has an angle of inclination of 42 °. I need a yard and a staging yard. I have to be able to separate eras. The proposal with the ramp is quite practical.
@ BigJake Well, that's very good ideas. The roof has an angle of inclination of 42 °. I need a yard and a staging yard. I have to be able to separate eras. The proposal with the ramp is quite practical.
I've revised the plan again. That cost me quite a few hours of sleep. Refinements and slight corrections are possible at any time. Bridges and landscape aspects are not taken into account. That comes in the execution planning. What do you think of that?
Much improved! I like the helix location, and the upper level yard and roundhouse. That will be much easier to access than underneath the main level. But I'm a little worried about the workbench blocking access to the main level track behind it. That's a reach of more than a meter to the rear track, across the workbench with who-knows-what on it. More than 0.5m deep for a workbench for model railroading is rarely needed, so reducing the depth of the bench could be an option to reduce the reach across it. Can you raise the main level up enough to slide the workbench underneath the main level? That would give you better access to all the track, and put the track at a more favorable level (closer to eye level). Of course the runs along the sloped ceilings would have to come in some too. Or are the bottoms of the windows pretty much setting the height of the main level?
It's been a long time since I've had a program to model my layouts. Which one are you using? I hope to get a newer computer soon so it will have to work with Windows 10, which I'm still learning to use. I like the new design better. Thanks for sharing.
I'm with Andy; the workbench is very wide and will invite reach issues; if possible, lengthen and narrow it to 40-50cm. Same at your dog bone ends, unless you have internal access. Access is key--if you have any place access is hampered or difficult, you can be sure that's where you'll have the most derailments! The curves are generous, anything 18" radius and up in N are generous, and if you needed to save space, you could cut them back somewhat. Running a train up the helix to a stub-ended yard will require a runaround track for the engines. Do you intend to use the turntable for that, or add a set of switches to cut the power and run around the swap ends? Or maybe just use the old 0-5-0 (hand)? On a side note, I'd love to see this become the Tumble Ridge division behind GF6C electrics... Such an underrated rail line I wish I could have seen beyond just photos.
Oh yeah..Tumbler Ridge BC with GF6C BC RAIL heavy haul coal trains in my train room...... . Does the GF6C actually exist as an N scale kit ???? That would be such a dream too. The helix can be reached from the inside. The entire layout is also planned in this way. The workbench is too big ... right. It's still just a construction plan.
