The new layout been & planned baseboard built

And I'm ready to go the new layout is a N gauge logging and mining layout measuring. 3m x 75cm broken down into 3 parts main baseboard 1m.50cm x 75cm and two other modular baseboard 75cm square for. two helix overall size 627mm raising up 250mm with 4.5 turns per helix Double Kato super elevated 315/282 curved track each helix require 36 curves The layout will be Dcc powered on main board work in progress a 1m.50cm 15cm. trestle. bridge

 

Nice plan!

I would mock up one of the helices to make sure you can pull a typical train up it without string-lining on the super-elevated curves. That's a 2.8% grade on 315mm (12.375") radius on the outer track (3.1% on the inner track). The inner track may be usable only for descents. Note that curves increase the difficulty in pulling a train up a given grade, due to friction from wheels slipping on one rail or the other, due to unequal distance travelled per axle revolution.

I would see if using the longer-radius 414mm/381mm super-elevated transition tracks would fit within your space, so they act like easements entering and exiting the helices. They would add minimal length and width to the overall layout, but improve operation by lessening the abrupt changes in curvature between helix and straight trackage.

I assume the trackage above the yard is a switching puzzle, given the contortions needed most of the stubs. This adds to the operating interest of the layout, but you might add some curves on the corner tracks so they could support some industrial scenery (e.g. realistic destinations, even if small.) The nature of the puzzle is such that you are not going to exchange long cuts of cars on any of those tracks, so small rail customers would be appropriate anyway.

Since any long train pulling out of the yard's AD track will have to ascend the steeper, inner helix track, I might put single crossovers between the yard entrance/exits and the helix (in lieu of the double crossover in the middle), so you can climb the outer track of the helix, with its broader radius and lesser grade.

I would add a stub siding or two on the upper level track, to add operating interest there. At elevations such as these, logging and/or mining operations would be appropriate.

Having these local industries around the layout gives you the option of operating a small, local freight train to serve them, while a longer through-freight orbits the layout, and you try to keep them from "intimate meets."

 

Hi thank you for your time given to help the helix curves are dictated to the space I have as I'm Dyslexic working diagram is better than trying struggle with written word also. need to understand layout needs to be broken down in 3 parts IE helix both separate. as for storage the main board is 1m.50 cm x 75cm so its my governor. lol hope this help track made up using Scram

 

In looking at the switching puzzle part of the lower module, the puzzle contains no run-arounds to serve both left and right hand stubs. In fact the only run-around capability is via the A/D (black) track in the yard (unless you count the single-crossovers I suggested adding to the helices' entrances.) That suggests assembling one train in the yard to serve all the left ends of the puzzle, and another train to serve all the right ends of the puzzle. I guess you could assemble a train with the engine(s) in the middle...

You may have already thought all this out, and if so, that's fine. By their nature, puzzles are a personal preference.

However, it appears you have used the wrong version of the 15 degree crossing track. The correct version should keep the adjacent parallel tracks vertically aligned, like the back-back switches on tracks 1 and 2 (from bottom of puzzle) do. Notice how both thru and diverging routes of a horizontal #6 switch are vertically aligned? The proper L/R version of the crossing should do the same. You can't just rotate a left crossing by 15 degrees and expect it to line up like the right crossing would. The two through paths are not the same length; the diagonal one (when the through route is vertical or horizontal) is longer, just like with the corresponding (L/R) switch.

 

Hi Jake would be to much to ask for if you could mark on my track what would be needed to change then hopefully. amend it in Scram thank you for you help very much appreciated.

 

Using the longer (414mm/381mm) radius superelevated easement curves, with the remainder of the helix unchanged at 315mm/282mm radius, will only very slightly increase the overall dimensions of the helices, and they still fit well within your 75cm square space, with a healthy margin to boot. I just laid it out in XtrackCAD to verify.

These increased radius easement pieces would improve operability by reducing the abruptness of the change in radius at the entrances to the overall helix.

Incorporating single crossovers into the helix modules' entrances/exits also eliminates the need for the double crossover in the lower center module, while giving you another, larger run-around space besides the yard's arrival/departure track, and allowing the ability to climb on the larger radius, outside track of the helix, from/to either mainline track in the center modules.

 

Hi change the easement to 414/315 making overall size 693mm still using 315/282 in main part helix

 

It would probably be easiest for me to redraw in XTrackCAD with my changes and post a pic of that. XTCAD is what I use. I'll get to work on it, but it may take me some time; but I'm retired, so I have plenty of that!

I can highlight the changes for easier identification.

 

Hi Jack that would be such help to me please. thank you

 

Yep, that's what I was suggesting.

 

BigJake is just my username, after my favorite hero in the western cowboy film of the same name, played by John Wayne.

Friends call me Andy, but I'll answer to most any (polite) name. "Call me anything but late for supper!"

 

Hi Andy I'm a Michael lol

 

Michael,

I started redrawing your layout in XTrackCAD (what I have and use), but I ran into a problem:

Where are your module break points in your track plan?

I assumed from your 2nd pic (showing just the upper level tracks) they are between the two pink/blue 62mm dbl track sections in the overall pic. But the dimension between those two track joints is 1,624mm, or an extra 124 mm (i.e. one of those 62mm double track sections too long on each end.)

However, on the upper level, that puts the module joint on the outer ends of the 28R curves, where those are two independent track pieces, rather than a single doubletrack piece, and harder to all join together unless everything is perfect (rarely the case). I would suggest sliding those two broad S-curves in toward the middle, to preserve the module boundary between two 62mm doubletrack pieces.

Also, if you bring that center module back in to the 1.5m length you wanted by deleting the two outermost 62mm double track sections, the ends of your bumper tracks in the middle hang over the center module ends.

This brings up a separate question: How will your modules be constructed? Unless they are extremely rigidly and accurately built and fastened, I would plan on a single. loose piece of doubletrack spanning the gap, rather than two track ends joining directly over the gap. In other words, (if they fit) instead of the two 62mm doubletrack sections, I would use a loose 124mm doubletrack section to span the boundary between the modules. Note this may mean you have to slide the S-curves in further, so that the exposed track ends maintain their correct doubletrack separation.

Finally, you have 5 places where you use a combination of 29mm and 45.5mm straight pieces to make up a 74.5 mm straight length. (It turns out that length is surprisingly common in many situations on other layouts too!) Laying out your track plan with those separate pieces is fine, but I would replace them with a trimmed-to-length single or doubletrack 124mm pieces. The best way to trim Unitrack pieces to custom lengths is to cut a parallel section of the roadbed out of the middle, slide the two ends to together on their rails, glue the roadbed halves together (optional), and then trim the rail ends to length. This works for both single and double track custom length sections, so you could replace the 4 single track pieces with a single, cut-down doubletrack piece. Fifer Hobby has a good video of the procedure online, IIRC.

Let me know how you want to proceed...

 

Hi Andy once the new track done. I be able to understand more visual than written apologies if im not helping

 

Michael,

Here is what I came up with:

ForMichael by BigJake posted Apr 4, 2022 at 1:53 PM

1. Incorporated larger radius transitions to helices
2. Inserted single crossovers at entrances/exits for helices (to access larger radius outer track from either track in the midsection, at both top and bottom)
3. Removed double crossover (not needed with added single crossovers)
4. Revised puzzle section slightly to increase room at smallest chokepoints. (you may or may not like this, depending on your 'druthers)
5. Replaced multiple shorter track pieces with longer ones (fewer track joints are better)
6. Added vertical lines indicating the .75m helix end section boundaries with the 1.5m center section (indicates issues with fit)
7. Did NOT replace double 62mm pieces at would-be module boundaries with 124mm lift-out pieces (recommended, but pending what to do about the boundaries and length of center section, etc.)

Most importantly, these are things I would do if it were my layout. But it's your layout, and your choice which, if any, changes to keep.

 

Wow Andy thats amazing thank you love changes will try and copy this into Scram and see how it looks but greatly Appreciated time given and help give few day to recreate this please Kind regards Michael

 

Michael,

You are welcome!

Your first order of business should be to figure out where the module boundaries will be, and ensure you have track section joint(s) on/near it. For this design (same size as your plan), it is too long for a 1.5m long center section. You need to shorten the tracks across the center section by 124mm total.

 

First Draft of whats going in-between my two helix hope might give you a idea of my layout plans

 

The twin (err... mirrored) helix modules provide lots of interesting opportunities for main modules in between....

More operation-oriented choices could include a mining or logging operation in the mountains, paired with an ore processing plant or lumber mill down below.

Or simply a rural passenger station below (valley station), and a high mountain pass above.

Depending on the length of the central module, two or more of these ideas could be combined.

The helices provide not only a dramatic change in elevation between scenes, but also a meaningful time delay between the two scenes. While access needs to be maintained to the helices (problems are more likely to occur while trains are negotiating long, sharp curves at significant grades) hiding the helices with removable scenic blocks would also add to the distance and (perceived) time delay in the helices. Something like removable curved panels, etc. would help. Or maybe the center module is built more like a diorama, and provides view block panels on its ends that match the scenery of the module.

You could even consider making a set of shelves that would hold standard T-Track modules in between the helices. Something like this could be a brilliant idea for a modular club with a set of two-level supports for however many modules in between they want. This would allow twice as many modules to be run from a single aisle (e.g. along the wall around a room.)

Lots of ideas for this concept!

 

Productive day to myself
Hi Crew pluck up courage and added one of my helix module to the main baseboard to be honest it was not that hard of job but not having a licking for wood I feel its achievement now have imagine another on other end making up total length of layout 3m x75 cm both helix I intend to cover with flexi ply and access holes for any derailments on helix 1 would like to place my logging camp buildings and using some sort of zip wire to carry the logs to helix 2 to the sawmill something different