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Double Deck Layouts-- Upper deck Width Dream and design
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Regular poster 118 posts rwproctor Regular poster 118 posts
rwproctor

Since I have limited experience operating on a double deck railroad, and I am in the process of planning one (see  https://forum.mrhmag.com/journals-was-blogs-891775), what have you noticed about the upper decks width in relation to the lower deck.

I assume (and we all know what that does), the upper deck is generally narrower than the lower especially if there is a detailed area of the lower deck. But have you seen or operated on one where upper and lower are the same width?

One that comes to mind is Cliff Powers' Magnolia Route.

Now I realize a lot of this depends on the height of the two decks, because that determines how far back in the lower deck you can see. But generally speaking, what have you seen, and what would you say the pros/cons were?

Thanks for your input.

 

Rob Proctor

Western Maryland

Port Covington

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Jurgen Kleylein Prolific poster 1,119 posts
Jurgen Kleylein

It depends

The Sudbury Division usually has the upper and lower decks come out the same distance so that the fascias are even, one above the other, but this does not mean the decks are the same width.  We have or will have areas where the upper deck is much deeper than the lower, and in some cases the lower is deeper than the upper.  It depends on a lot of factors.  

No matter which deck is deeper, we keep the active area, where switching or such takes place, near the front, and any areas to the rear which may or may not be as visible are just running areas.  Generally, though we try to keep the decks fairly narrow, and most of them are about a foot deep or so.  Anything farther back gets tricky to access while operating, unless it's at a lower level without any upper level above it.

Jurgen

HO Deutsche Bundesbahn circa 1970

Visit the HO Sudbury Division at http://sudburydivision.ca/

The preceding message may not conform to NMRA recommended practices.
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Terry Roberts Regular poster 345 posts
Terry Roberts

I agree

I prefer a combination of a difference in elevation between the bottom of the upper level and the trackwork on the lower level and the width of the upper level where I can see the bottom level not counting the backdrop without difficulty.

The one layout I built had a 12 inch wide upper level and an 18 inch wide lower level except on the turnback loops.  Separation was about 14 inches.

Individual choice...

Terry
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Brian Clogg Regular poster 277 posts
Brian Clogg

deck widths

Where you can it is useful to make the upper deck narrower than the lower. In this photo of Robert's Bay I have aligned the valance with the edge of the lower deck and this allows the lights to illuminate the lower deck and also provides a cleared view.

pper0001.jpg 

It can get busy at Robert's Bay.

 Contrast that view with this one.Usually the deck are the same width at  loops or Blobs and it is a little claustrophobic.

img_2603.jpg 

Brian Clogg

British Columbia Railway

Squamish Subdivision

http://www.CWRailway.ca
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