As many of you know I've recently started construction on my new layout. Occasionally in the middle of construction though, ideas come to you that you didn't have before, necessitating a pause to consider whether you want to continue as planned, or go with the possible new revision. I find myself at such a point and am looking for the opinions of my fellow MRH to help me decide which way to go.

Yesterday an idea popped into my head about the helices on my layout - how I could lay them out differently, and actually increase the length of the mainline continuous running loop by about 140'. Though 3/4s of this would be hidden, it does also increase the visible portion of the layout as well, and lets me rearrange some of the visible elements in a way that I think has some appeal to it.

To carry this new idea out I'd have to backtrack a little bit on my construction, and start the helices I've been working on over again. But if I want to go with the new idea, now's the time to do it. A little further down the road in construction a change of this magnitude, while still possible, probably wouldn't be very feasible.

So here are the plans for you to review and comment on. The first three pictures show the staging, main, and upper deck layout plan as I'm currently constructing it. 

Staging deck: 

Main Deck: 

Upper Deck: 

These last three pictures show the possible revisions. Instead of double stacked helices at both ends of the layout, I have all the helices now placed at one end. The inner helix goes from staging to the upper deck. The outside lower helix goes from staging to the main deck. The outside upper helix (stacked above the lower one) goes from the main deck to the upper deck. 

Revised Staging Deck: 

Revised Main Deck: 

Revised Upper Deck:

As always, thanks for taking the time to lend me your advice. It's always deeply appreciated!

Paul Krentz

Free-lancing a fictitious portion of the N&W Pocahontas "Pokey" District