This plan was submitted back on the 23rd March 2001. Several updates later have produece some feedback. So this page is devoted to that plan. The information has originated in several updates. (so yes you may have read it before).
This plan is simpler in terms of trackwork when compared to some of my initial plans. But I still get more then just one route on the layout, and allow for expansion to the garage. There are still two main levels, a helix, a branch, and about 7 stations. The layout in the rear room will actually be 5 levels ( bottom staging yards, lower level, mid level, high level, upper staging) - I am using it's height to my advantage.
I am also planning it to be built in stages. From the lowest to hightest level the railway will gradually grow. Passing loops will form the basis for the stations. Tempory reverse loops will mark the railhead.
Now to some detail on the plan.
- A - small branch terminus.
- B - small silo loop on the branch
- C - Main station , this is the biggest station on the layout.
- D - minor station- small 3 track station.
- E - passing loop
- F - Junction station half way up the spiral. The branch heads to the garage.
- G - 5 track Station
- H - This is the second biggest station on the layout.
- I - a small station on a S curve.
- J - passing loop
- K - passing loop
"F" is interesting. It is halfway up the helix. The lower helix is sort of double track that begins at the low entrance. The station is on one leg of the Wye. The line goes to single then to the entrance of the upper helix. The upper helix is double track - but each line is a single line, one goes to "G", the other "I".
Contruction:
- It will start with the lower staging as far as "C".
- The branch to "A" would be built.
- The track to "D", then the loop at "E" would be built
a tempory reverse loop would be built here - The spiral would be started up to "F"
If needed another tempory reverse loop could be built here. - The Upper spiral would be started up to "G".
- The line from "G" to "H" built.
- The line from the upper spiral to "I" built
- The branch to the garage near "I" added
- The line from "I" to "H" built
- The line to "K" built. This is the final sceniced section.
- From "K" the upper staging will be built
| These plans are "artist's impressions" of the actual plan. They are not scale. I still use paper, pen and a weird colour legend for my plans, so these plans were shot with a digital camera, ported into Paint Shop Pro 3 & 5 and drawn on etc. So they are not scale ! |
Plan description.
The layout starts in the sunroom (left hand room on plan). The lower staging yards are a reverse loop with two single sidings - one for a railmotor, the other for the XPT. There are 5 tracks on the reverse loop. This section is built at the lowest point on the railway. It has to pass through a hole in the brick wall to the main room.
The neck of the reverse loop then passes under the helix and enters the scenic lower deck via a tunnel. The track gradually rises 1 train height before entering the main station "C".This main staion is level throughout.
If we now retrace our path back towards the branch we rise from station "C". The line crosses the mainline by a bridge and heads along the outer side of the helix round to the doorway. This actually undercuts the helix, still sceniced.There is a grain loop "B" here, the silo built to hide the concrete stump.At this point the track is 2 loco heights and easily crosses the lower staging yards below as it enters the sunroom, and curves to it's terminius at "A"
Back to station "C" we then round the room and slowly rise upto station "D". This would be a
gradually rise, so station "D" is about 1.4 train heights. This station has been cut into the wall (to gain space)
- and is level.
The mainline again nows rises gradually, and passes behind the stairs, through a hole in the brick wall and pass besides the sliding door. This section is removeable. And being plain scenery with no points it will be easy enough to put in and remove. The track enters a long bridge that will be real metal. This is because being at a choke point the train may be rubbed off as people move pass that point !.
The line then, still at the same gentle grade come through , and past the Brachline terminus "A". It crosses it on a high embankment and the passing loop "E" then passes over the brach again. The track is over the lower staging yards. I'd say we are now at 4 loco heights. The will leave ample room under for access. The track may be classed as hidden but access is easy, and in normal conditions no access would be required when running trains.
After passing loop "E" the line stays level as it passes over the branch via a high level bridge through the doorway. here it splits into double track as it heads straight into the Lower helix.
The lower helix, being double track heads up in a clockwise manner rising about 1.2 loco heights per 360 degrees. There are no hidden points in the helix as it eventually emerges through a hole in the wall into station "F".
Station "F" is a 4 way junction, with a triangle junction that comes off the double track from the lower helix. The track heads straight for the brick wall and will be for future expansion to the garage (in 20 years time. at the moment the garage is being used to buld, rebuild and setup exhibition layouts). This line also has siding off it so will keep an operator very busy !.
Back to the mainline it has the platform and then heads out into the peninsular and back towards the doorway, now rising again. It passes though the door, and a simple point marks the junction of the two single lines that both head into the upper helix. The upper helix is not connected to the lower helix at all. And the upper helix sits on the lower helix, withthe track already rising up another train height.
The upper helix exits trough yet another hole the wall and round back throug the door and into the scenic upperdeck. We will follow the "mainline" as it comes out and into station "G". Remember a new deck means the 0 level is now at the entrance of the helix. This staion is at 1 train height from that entrance. Again the staion is level and then rounds the main peninuslar with simple plain track aboove the main staion on the lower level. The track gain only a little height, up to 2 train heights as it enteres the othermain staion "H".
Station "H" has another triangle on the other end. On leg heads in the scenic side over the Station "D" below. The other leg heads into the backscene in a cloed trough under the house, emergine on the rear wall, still over station "E".
Let's go back to the upper helix entrance and follow our other route. It crosses under the other mainline and heads through the door, and station "i". Jest before it reaches "i" we have another line come in on the right. This is the garage line returning - however this junction may come in another place as determined at the time , or not at all ! Station "i" is small and continues into the sunroom.
Fans of Narrow gauge note how I have not included the NG into this plan. This was done to ensure I do not get the bug badly. But it is fair to mention station "i" may be a narrow gauge interchange well into the future. No idea as to it's form but it may leave "i"and circle back and over "I" - across the aisle via a duckunder and into staging in the closet.
The mainline starts to climb through passing loop "J" and once again along the narrow shelf along the sunroom wall, past the sliding door. Here we see the upper track heading up to the upper staging, more later. the line then heads through a hole in the wall into the main room and rises up to the junction station "H".
With the line leaving "H" and passing though the underneath of the house it rises with the final passing loop "K". then the mainline heads int a hole. This passing loop and the hole signify the end of te modelled area. On the other side the line rises and heads above the other line over the sliding door.
The upper staging is above the passing loop "J" and again consists of the reverse loops and two sidings. This level, being the highest may be suspended off the ceiling, off the top of the false wall I will be putting in there. Another alternitive may be to place this stagin in the garage. This does require spanning between buildings in a secure manner even though in that corner where I have shown track going into the garge - the distance is only 3 feet.
Spome readers may think the garage expansion is unneccesary - I agree it is now, but I may want to build again in 20 years..... And should I consider a quick lap around the garden as well ?.
The sunroom is a very important part of the plan, as you an see. Height is CRITICAL. Well I have investigated it and will be doing yet another height check. Note how passing loop levels "E" and "J" are not really big. As they are just 'scenery' areas with a passing loop, height was not so important as it is for "F" - the main operating level in this room. Branch "A" is a quiet station, normally little used.
You will also notice how, in this room there are both staging for each end, and on the same side. Not that I'd do it during an operating session, but I will be able to "fiddle" some locos and trains easily if needed ( A railmotor would be easily moved from one staging yard to the next.
This section has the operator operating station "G" with "i" just starting behind. The helix is also hidden behind - shown here as the approach to "B" undercuts it. As it is only plain countryside it does not worry me.