Pulling back the tunnels below Wolf Creek to reveal the 3rd inside main. Better?
I am also experimenting with an idea: I like the concept of elevating the double-track mainline, as the prototype does, with more roadbed and ballast. Track running in the yard and through towns is at a lower level, closer to the layout surface. So I thought about elevating the 3rd/inside main a bit above the table surface by 1/8". That sounds like a small amount, but will be discernable to the eye when viewing the layout within about 3' or so. The effect in the illustration that I have posted is small, but you can see it when you click on the illustration to zoom it (on my large monitor) on the 3rd/inside main on the right side and through Three Forks.
So I will have three levels of tracks (not counting the grade up to Wolf Creek and Cascade), starting at 0" in towns and the yard, where the tall Altas track is laid directly on top of the vinyl grassmat and ballasted. Then an additional 1/8" of elevation for the inside/3rd main, then ballasted. Then 1/2" of elevation beneath the Atlas track for the double-track mains. There will be small grades to reach these levels, at 1%. And three different colors of ballast - pretty light gray for the double-mains, down to the yard and towns at a darker gray. I did the left side 3rd/inside main and around Deer Lodge as well. All three mains will be at 0" elevation through Helena Yard due to the cross-over connections to the yard.
I often see real mainline roadbed/ballast in a staggered elevation of two levels, roadbed and subroadbed, with perhaps different slopes to the ballast for the two levels and different colors (lighter for the newer ballast at the top). Whether by design/intent or a result of reconditioning the ballast periodically as part of maintenance.
