OK, Since Lionel Trains have such a HUGE Nostalgia component, I'll add another "desire" based on my past teenage experience.
Back then (late 70's to '81) I built a "2 level" 4x8 on the same support legs above each other (with about 16-18" between them), the 4 ft. depth had an "offset" of about 8-10" such that the bottom board was forward of the top. This allowed a custom set of "L" steel supports I built to "hang" the track (from the upper wooden support beams) on a grade to connect the levels together. A switch at back of lower board allowed approximately 18 feet of track to climb the 16-18" vertical distance (7 down the back, 4 on side, 7 up the front). The offset hung the back track in mid-air over the space (I'll have a shelf covered in carpet below grade), allowing the full 48" to still be used from the back. By the front, it was high enough to use the board space under the track. I know it's "unique", but can you picture that?
I know what some of you are thinking, "trains/towns don't go above each other like that". Well, since I grew up on Long Island, and took the LIRR train into "The City" (NYC) regularly, you should be told that the Penn Station LIRR tracks ARE underground, they had dark platforms side-by-side for the rows of trains to load from. Also, the NYC subways at major locations (think Grand Central Station) have entire "shopping areas" underground too. I think of my "concept" as nothing more than 2 "towns" that the train travels between. Perhaps like a "through-the-wall" might be. A real advantage of this is having 2 destinations "stacked" in a 4'8" x 8' space.
This "concept" would give a 3rd town "underground" with it's own lighting (like Penn Station). Granted, the items towards the back are less visible, but I put the "industries" near the front of that lower board along the 8 ft. x ~2 ft back. It was quite usable (as I recall).
The "Wrinkle" this now introduces is the upper level now blocks the crawl-space door from opening! So, my idea is to make a 19" x 35"(?) corner of this upper table on a hinge (no track on this section?? or a "U" joint that the track pins would rest in when lowered) so it can be flipped-up out of the way so the 35" crawlspace door could open completely.
Those of you who followed that explanation get my salute on your minds-eye-vision abilities!
-Lewis
