I'm planning to build a new layout in N Scale, depicting the Milwaukee Road's crossing of St Paul Pass. It will replace my current layout and have 4 levels all around the room and a middle isle. If you follow the link to my blog you'll find descriptions of the line and I'll also post my progress here and on my blog. Here are the plans: Level -1 (Staging only) Level 0: Feel free to ask or make suggestions - I will listen to every idea! enjoy Michael
St Paul Pass II continued The plans are drawn with 3dPlanIt - whcih is a great tool! Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 The images on the blog are bigger, so if you are interested, please visit it. enjoy Michael
Yeah, I for one hope this turns into one of those four-year threads where we're all discussing the most accurate paint color for a signal box on page 57 in 2016.
Michael: This is, indeed, an ambitious project! I looked through your blog quickly this morning, but couldn't find track elevations for the different levels, except Level -1 starts at about 70 cm and rises to about 90 cm at the entrance to Level 0. Are elevations throughout the other levels posted somewhere I might have missed? You mentioned a raised floor area for reaching the top level staging. My upper level is at 65 inches (about 165 cm). I step onto 12 inch high benches to view the upper level. Check out my albums linked below. The benches put the functional height of the upper shelf at my chest level...about 53 inches. The lower level is between 48 and 53 inches and the upper deck is generally shallower than the lower deck so I can see into the back of the lower shelf without bending. It looks like each of your levels are about the same depth...does that interfere with seeing to the back of the lower decks? Will you be using stacked helixes or bowl-shaped helixes? Check out my Helix album and my blog on constructing bowl-shaped helixes...you have enough space to take advantage of the conveniences offered by a bowl-shaped helix.
Dave: thanks for your interest and for your tips! This is much appreciated! And you are right, I forgot to mention the planned heights anywhere.... The staging level will be at 70cm, level 0 at 90 cm (35"). Level 1 at 125 cm (49"), level 2 at 160 cm (63") and level 3 at 195 cm (77"). While 77" looks high, it is actually lower than the upper level of my current layout, but since depth will be the same on all levels I think it will be manageable if steps are provided and tracks are routed along the edge of the 77" level and there really isn't that much switching to do on this level. I planned the steps to be approx. 15" high. As to the helix - I really don't have that much space to construct it like you did, although I must admit I'm tempted to, as your design eliminates the old problem of minimum clearence between helix turns. I opted for a larger radius instead and I think I will stick to it. My experience from my old layout is that you don't need to reach in between levels if the grade and radius are right so that there is no stalling and no stringling. I found your double deck design parameters especially interesting as they will help me make the reality check. I'll be doing the reality check before construction starts. I gather from your photos that you are using homasote as your roadbed, I'll use 3 mm cork instead as this gives me more clearence between levels and the Milwaukee didn't have a high roadbed either. And I see that you are using Atlas(?) Code 80 tracks, I'll be using Atlas Code 55, ME bridge flextrack and re-use as much of my Peco track and switches as possible for the hidden areas. (as there is nothing wrong with Peco, it just isn't prototypical.) I'm looking forward to learning more from you! Michael
Michael, Dave's expertise in building spiral helices was invaluable when I built my last large layout. The space it uses isn't really that bad, and the operational, maintenance and tracklaying flexibility it offers can't be beat. The new plan looks fantastic! One comment--The only tunnel between SPP and Haugan is Dominion Creek Tunnel 19. Cyr Tunnel 18 is many miles east, just out of Alberton. It seems there's two tunnels between Haugan and East Portal. Am I reading that correctly on the plan?
Thanks for the correction, I'll eliminate the tunnel between Bryson and East Portal, as it's not necessary anyway. I'm going to redo level 3 as the track is too straight anyway.... thanks Michael
Very impressive - definitely looking forward to your future progress. I really enjoyed your blog as well. Based on your description of your current (old) St Paul Pass I layout, it looks like the new St Paul Pass II layout will be roughly 40 X 15 feet. Is this correct? How long will your mainline run be through all four levels on the new plan? It looks like you have about 10-11 scale miles (17-18 kilometers) now. Very impressive.
Thanks for your kind words! The cellar is roughly 40x15 ft, which is relatively large for European layout rooms. The current run is 115 metres (that's about 383ft). I don't know the length of the mainline yet as 3dPlanIt won't give me the figures.I would estimate that the length will be doubled with StPP II. Michael
Michael: I like the plan you have posted, and I’m looking forward to following your construction progress after you settle on your final design, but I’m concerned that the current configuration of the shelves will make it very difficult to see the tracks toward the back of Level 0 and Level -1 without bending, stooping, or sitting. You indicated your levels were at 70, 90, 125, 160, and 195cm. Is that elevation maintained around the entire room until the track enters the helix to rise to the next level (i.e., is the Level -1 shelf at 70cm in corner by the stairs, at the end of the peninsula, in the lower corner by the raised floor area, and in the upper left corner where the yard transitions to Level 0? ....Or, does each shelf start at the indicated elevation, but, as the track gains elevation as it goes around the room, each section of shelf also gains a little more elevation (i.e., Level -1 by the stairs is lower than Level -1 shelving at the end of the peninsula, which is lower than the Level -1 shelf by the raised floor area, which is lower than the Level -1 shelf under the yard in the upper left corner?
Dave, thank you for your interest! The elevation is maintained around the entire room, just the track entering the helix will be slightly (more or less) elevated against the othe track on the same level. For example when coning out of Avery eastbound towards Stetson the track will rise with about 1.5% so that I'll be able to model a few of the trestles that are on the east side of the pass. Other than that, most track will be more or less level. And yes, 90 cm is low. The concept is to route the track towards the edge of the layout to make it possible to see the train when standing. For switching tasks chairs will be provided. We'll start with the dispatchers cabin in August. Michael
