Planning a large layout

I was thinking multi-deck and spirals before I reached the part where you mentioned them so perhaps you are on the right track already.

You could get over the clearance thing by making exit from the spiral 'optional' at each level using points. So say you had the fiddle yard storage at the bottom which is shared by all your interests then create decks above that - say US HO on the first level, German HO on the second and UK HO at the top. You just need a set of chairs with different heights to provide the ideal viewing angle for each level. All the bending up and down will keep you supple, much better than Tai Chi .

I would build the spirals from set track. Choose a radius that has matching curved points. I would start with Rocoline myself.

You might need to build a double helix to get this to work - one helix for going up and the other for going down. The separation does away with the need for crossovers. The only double helix I have ever experienced was a mini Eifel tower in Prague. It's weird going up the stairs never meeting the people coming down even though you can see and hear them.

David.

Thanks David!
I’m actually planning to build a helix of my maximum width, 2m diameter!
My calculations show that equals a circumference of about 6m, allowing for clearances so a simple 10cm rise to allow double stacks and electric locomotives with their pantographs pinned up - this of course, equals a gradient of 1 in 60.
I’ve had some correspondence with a friend and he tells me that a British 00 Pacific type loco will still not be able to handle a nine coach train up such a helix, the problem being the amount of train on curved track rather than the outright grade itself.
By the way, although I will keep my interest in British H0, for operating purposes (running trains!), this British section will in all likelihood, have to be 00.
As David says above, if the 00 section is on the highest level, the narrow gauge effect will be much less visible. My apologies to anyone who is perfectly happy with 00 but ever since I discovered the wider gauges in 1980, aged 15, I have always railed against it!
Anyway, there are numerous ways of enhancing traction on model steam locomotives and I will continue to explore these aspects presently.

I really like RocoLine track and was delighted when Roco reintroduced it but I will only use it on the German/European section, I have a large box of SMP plain bullhead track for the British section, to be supplimented by Peco bullhead and I have a fair quantity of Peco code 83 for the American section!
All these are of course, 16.5mm gauge but all have different geometry and spacing s through the points etc. This leads me to think that the multi standard parts of the layout, the helix and the storage roads, will need to be code 100, probably Peco due to its universal nature.
Despite all this, I doubt I have enough track yet, to lay more than a single plain line through each section! I know the helix alone will consume a lot of track, as will the storage roads.

This will be a pretty major project, expensive in terms of track, baseboard materials and other materials so it will be a necessarily slow project that I hope will occupy me for the rest of my life. I’m lucky that I have most of the American and European stuff that I “need” but am virtually starting over with British 00, only having a couple of items remaining from a massive clear out a few years ago. Oh well!
My interests wax and wain over time so I foresee that I may spend a few weeks or months on say, the American section only to change and then focus on the British or German section.
Cheers for now,
John E.

kristopher1805 said:

The track fan at the end of the Towcaster Station using Noch underlay. I do not use the point flat system as it is naff but cut and shape the regular line track to fit, bit of a knack but hope you think it looks OK. Might be useful for John to think about as choosing track is the biggest issue to face and he will have a lot of it

http://imgur.com/Oh6aOW5

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Thanks Kristopher!
I have used some of the Noch underlay on one of my old layouts and I liked it!
Unlike the Peco foam underlay, it seemed to not degrade over time.
I used to get a fair bit of gravel coming off whenever it got touched though so eventually I passed it on to a former friend.
Something to bear in mind of course, thanks.

Babz said:

Hi WoW That is one hell of a project . Mine still in process is no where near that size of yours and the amount of times i have changed my mind on different parts. The only thing that was Certain was my track look what happened to my choice. Profi Fleischmann track, they stopped making it bummer. Good job i had 99% of it by forward planning. I wish i had stuck to the 4 lane oblong flat roundy roundy and i would have been up and running by now As my partner says it will be constant work in progress. Good Luck looking forward to the pics.
Babs

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Hi Babs,
Thanks! Yes, it is a major project, I hope I live long enough to complete at least some of it!
I look forward to showing some pictures.

Cheers all,
John E.

Hi All,
Firstly, thanks for all the comments and suggestions, I do appreciate everything you all say!
Secondly, over the past few weeks or so, I’ve been helping my friend and neighbour, Takis who is a third generation (or more) boat builder, one of only seven left in Greece. There used to be hundreds of them, I’m sure.
Anyway, Takis has a substantial “shed” outside his workshop and I happened to ask how large it is, the answer surprised me at approximately 14 metres by 7! This is approximately 100 square meters, the same as my future house. I didn’t realise just how large such a structure actually is - in person as it were.
Therefore, I am now thinking this is a better size for both the house and the hobby room underneath so this is what I am working with now.

Allied to this is the knowledge that the long leg of my ’L’ shaped layout is around 45 feet long (!) and the short leg is around 22 feet - then maybe if each level has it’s own turnaround section where the proposed helix was to be, that could be developed as a set of storage tracks as well as a turnaround. Maybe most of the 22’ section could be given over to storage, after all, a forty five foot long layout is huge!
Removing the helix would save considerable costs as the point was for it to provide access to storage for all three levels but it would consume a lot of materials and track.
Each level could then have storage tracks most suitable for the rolling stock on that level.

I realise that I have to do some drawing to illustrate what I’m on about!
Cheers,
John E.