AviatorRuss, I'm curious where you went with this as I'd like to plan/build a tree layout this year as practice for building a spare bedroom layout for the first time. Your baseline design is too complex for me so here are my requirements:
- approximately 6' x 6' (can go a bit bigger in one direction as necessary)
- modular plywood construction (2-3 modules) for garage storage
- MTH Realtrax (i already have a fair amount of this)
- simultaneous two train ops (LionChief; loco, tender + 3-4 cars each)
- interconnected at ground level so trains can trade loops (two switches)
- outer loop stays at ground level
- inner loop climbs about 12" and then descends (mini nested helix?)
I welcome anyone's thoughts!