3-Shelf/4-Level Around-the-Walls with Peninsula and Helix: Atlas-O, O72min.

Sketching-in a mountain branch line, max grade 2%, WHITE, apex height is 24" above the main base layout.  O54.

Entrance to the room is an interesting challenge.  A number of places and ways to do it.  Perhaps three lift-out bridges span a doorway, a double-track bridge for the 0" BROWN line, and then bridges for the LIGHT BLUE at 12", and WHITE at 24" lines.

Ken, another amazing layout design. Thank you for all your inspiration.

Tom

Thanks Tom, very much appreciated!

Here expanded by 1' in each dimension to 16'x24':

I widened the base level mainlines at 0" to O81/O90 minimum:

Past experience reported on the forum with the Atlas-O double-slip switch is not good, some OK.  Just to see what it can do:

Perhaps 4 yard tracks and two mainlines on the right is the "right" number:

Maybe two double-slips on one side to create a yard lead, so switching doesn't foul the inside main.  Increases troubles if the slip switches still have problems.

On the other end of the yard, connect one yard track for an arrival/departure track, and the remaining yard tracks are stubs.

"Eyeballing" all four levels.  Around the perimeter, each higher shelf is stepped-back toward the wall.

Ken, each one is amazing. 

Tom

Very nice!  I know that I've seen other write-ups that place the helix on a peninsula.  It might have been in this DVD, which I heartily recommend, BTW.

Personally the idea of having switches on the helix makes me uncomfortable.  I guess I would omit the third loop around the peninsula in the interest of reliability.  Also, I would try to lengthen the run-up to keep the grade below 3% in both directions. 

Of course doing this with wide radius (O72 or greater) takes a large room.  But the general configuration and benchwork make excellent use of the space.  More rectangular plans should probably be designed with a peninsula extending from the short wall.

Ken, your anyrail skills are top notch.  I really like the multi level approach, this is very inspiring.  I am not sure I like the idea of a multi level track walk through. Seems heavy and complex.  The overall idea is very inspiring.   If there was room I would consider starting the helix out at a larger diameter and shrinking/spiraling to 072 at the top.  That way you have the trains running up and down cliffs instead of a cylindrical structure.   

@jhz563 posted:

Ken, your anyrail skills are top notch.  I really like the multi level approach, this is very inspiring.  I am not sure I like the idea of a multi level track walk through. Seems heavy and complex.  The overall idea is very inspiring.   If there was room I would consider starting the helix out at a larger diameter and shrinking/spiraling to 072 at the top.  That way you have the trains running up and down cliffs instead of a cylindrical structure.   

Thanks!  I agree on the spiral, the outside of the Helix is O81, and the inside circle is O72, as you suggest.

Trying some structures for scale and to see what is possible:

@Ted S posted:

Very nice!  I know that I've seen other write-ups that place the helix on a peninsula.  It might have been in this DVD, which I heartily recommend, BTW.

Personally the idea of having switches on the helix makes me uncomfortable.  I guess I would omit the third loop around the peninsula in the interest of reliability.  Also, I would try to lengthen the run-up to keep the grade below 3% in both directions. 

Of course doing this with wide radius (O72 or greater) takes a large room.  But the general configuration and benchwork make excellent use of the space.  More rectangular plans should probably be designed with a peninsula extending from the short wall.

Ted, you may be right, there will be a lot of drag force pulling a train up the helix, which will threaten to string-line the cars across the O72 turnout in the middle of the helix.  Unfortunately, there is nothing in Atlas-O between and O72 and #5 turnout.  I could look for a Ross that might fit.

I suppose the prudent thing to do would be to delete the middle level, turnout on the helix, and reduce the upper route to 8", reducing the grade up the helix.  That would make for a more reliable layout.  But... then the middle level shelf would only be 8" above the layout base, making it hard to see and appreciate the layout under the middle shelf.  Tradeoff.  Maybe 10" would be about 3%.

@Ken-Oscale posted:

Thanks!  I agree on the spiral, the outside of the Helix is O81, and the inside circle is O72, as you suggest.

O - now I see it.  I was only looking at this on my phone at the kitchen table this morning.  More coffee and a bigger screen makes a big difference.  Is this something you are planning on building or is this an exercise simply for the enjoyment of design?

@jhz563 posted:

  Is this something you are planning on building or is this an exercise simply for the enjoyment of design?

This started as a design exercise inspired by another thread that includes a helix.  But, maybe.... too soon to tell.  I have the OK from my wife&partner to build a studio for train layouts and computer and other stuff.  We recently changed the location to a "dead" spot not usable for anything else, behind our pool at the back of the side yard in which the pool resides.  Coincidently, looking at a 16x26 structure.   Glad we did not start construction earlier (year and a half ago), as this is a better location.  I am looking at structure building plans, whenever I am ready to find a contractor, I have the OK, assuming the cost can come in at a reasonable budget.   

I did an earlier design for a Montana Rail Link layout, which is still good, nothing wrong with it.  But this could replace that idea.

Meanwhile, I am playing with a S gauge layout.  And wondering if instead of a grand layout, I might do 3-4 smaller layouts in that space.  Retirement is coming soon, could happen next calendar year (but I have been saying that for two years now, so who knows?).

I re-oriented the top-level mountain grade, so it does not cross the doorway.  One double-track and one single-track lift-out bridge over the span.

Ken, amazing how you are able to tweak your designs so quickly. Think it is really neat that you will build a studio for train layouts and your computers. I hope you update us on that project. Sounds like you have a lot of land around your house.

tom

I elevated the two turnouts at the helix as shown, reducing the max grade in the helix to 2.8%.  You can see that the approaches to the top helix turnout are now at grade, about 2%.

@Tom Q Fan posted:

Ken, amazing how you are able to tweak your designs so quickly. Think it is really neat that you will build a studio for train layouts and your computers. I hope you update us on that project. Sounds like you have a lot of land around your house.

tom

Tom, I will keep updating my threads as things progress.  My next work this weekend should be back on my S gauge layout.

Not a lot of land, just a nice city lot configured nicely that works out.  The house is two stories above a drive-in garage, that has my "man-cave" and a bathroom/changing room on that level.  So with essentially THREE levels, leaves a good bit of the lot free. The pool is one one side, and behind that a space for my studio.  The back yard itself has a deck and room for the kids to run around, we had swingsets and a big trampoline, and trees.  Driveway on the other side of the house.  Nice front yard.  It all works, and is being utilized.

I use AnyRail for that reason, the user interface is easy and efficient to pick up track and sections and move them around, so things go fast.  Lots of experience with AnyRail now.   My gripe about AnyRail is the 3D - it works and is getting better.  But I don't see why it won't pick up the different levels or planes that I define.  Sure, that would be more calculation, but not bad it would seem.  

--Ken

Ken, thanks for the info. Looking forward to your updates. I have been amazed at all your layout designs and the fact that you really understand the different types of track and how they really go together. Your track plans are really instructional.

Tom