La Grange & The Helix on the GS&M
Using a section of oak to test bend the plywood that will lead out of the main Helix and into La Grange. You can see Gila Grains from this angle.
Photo of the Helix exit. You can see I have not fully finished the front face of the bench work yet at the end of the 1x6. Gila Springs in on the back wall to the right.
Photo is looking out the exit of the Helix and into La Grange. Tortilla Flats sit to the left and will sit about 2" higher than La Grange. Tortilla Flats will be added at a later date.
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Look up from Basin into the bench work under La Grange. All verticals are Oak. You can see The Spine in the left of the photo.
Under La Grange and looking again over Basin. You can see the 1x6 Spine and just beyond it the Helix.
Looking up from under the north side of the split Helix. You can see the table that the Helix and the south end of the split Helix sit on. You can see a few feeders for the tracks in Basin too.
Look Up fro, the north end of the split helix. You can see the box frame and legs that hold up the La Grange bench work. The oak legs also do double duty holding up the lower bench work for Basin.
Some metal bracing under La Grange.
Setting up the Oak Vertical at the end of La Grange.
One of the Oak legs under Basin and the main Helix Table.
Some feeders going in under basin.
More feeders and the corner of the main Helix table.
Looking along the front of Basin. You can see the temp pine leg is no longer needed as it is floating in space now.
La Grange deck is ready for track.
Still need to tie both the Helix and La Grange bench work together. Green Valley can be seen on the lower deck. Chicken Head and Gila Springs are to the right. Once the bench work for Tortilla Flats is built you will no longer be able to see Green Valley from this angle.
A good view of were La Grange sits in the room.
La Grange now has a Name sign so it is official.
Look over the far end of La Grange at the main Helix
Other Blogs for the GS&M aka Gila Springs & Mesquite
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/8452 - The Split Helix is going in and the start of the Main Helix (Basin & Green Valley)
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/8478 - Gila Springs & Mesquite Track plans
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/8585 - The Helix
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/8636 - The Upper Spine
- AzBaja's blog
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Comments
I got a feeling...
I got a feeling that your bench work is built better than the house is!! Wow! I take it you didn't build this one to be easily disassembled for a move?
Den
Dennis Austin located in NW Louisiana
Jumping from N-scale Modeling to On30 to have more fun!!!
Large helix
Nice work on building that large helix.
What does this helix connect to? Does it connect to staging, or is it in the middle of a run?
How much track is in that helix? How long is the rest of the mainline?
Joe Fugate
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine
The track plan looks like a
The track plan looks like a fun layout to operate.
Peter Pfotenhauer
Moving my armchair back into the trainroom where it belongs
Bench work is built better than the house, Nope...
House is a cinder block type home that is end filled. So it is more like a prison cell or Army bunker than a house. Could say it is bullet proof.
As for the bench work it is modular. Most section are 1' x 8' and then the few odd shape sections. Every thing unbolts and I'm sure that I could have every thing removed from the room in a Day maybe two with a little help. People seem to like to use glue for bench work, I do not like to use glue. If I have a problem or need to replace a face or section etc. I just unbolt it then unscrew the bad part and reinstall it again.
The bad for this entire plan is that I would need to cut track or bust or scenery etc to remove a section. :(
As for a move, I own my home and My work is building a new multi billion dollar chip fab here.
Lookin Gooooood!
Don't see much oak being used in layout construction. Heck, I have trouble convincing myself to use good dimensional lumber over the cheaper stuff!
One question: there seem to be a few large, unsupported spans over your open-deck design. Are you concerned at all about sagging or vertical shifting between butted decks (think tectonic plates)?
Other than that, looks like you've used your space efficiently and, as Peter said, looks like it will be a blast to operate! I bet it takes a train a good 15 min to get through that massive helix!
-Johnny
Freelancing the Plainville, Pequabuck and New London Railroad
Joe...
The Helix is for staging only. It is not part of the main line run.
Height = 27.25"
Full Loops = 12
Grade (Aprox) = 2%
Rise per Loop = 2.25"
Distance between decks = 2"
Outer track radius 16.37"
Inner track radius 14.87"
Deck Outer Circle = 35"
Deck Inner Circle = 28.5"
Track for inner loops = 93.38' or about 2.82 scale miles of track
Track for outer loops = 102.80' or about 3.11 scale miles of track
Total Track = 196.18' or about 5.94 scale miles of track
It take about 7 minutes at a scale 30 mph to climb from the bottom to the top of the Helix.
As for how long the main is, I'm not sure. I'm thinking it is close to 200' when it is done. or about 6 scale miles. I'm only counting the main in this number. Not including the Helix or the lower section of the split helix or any track that has to do with staging. Only track were an operator will run his or her train.
At the start of an ops sessions there will be 2 or 3 full trains staged in the helix. After that you will have to bring trains up the helix from staging. The outer loops is up and the inner loops is down. Both oneway.
The Helix is also my test point for cars etc. if a car can not make it up or down the helix it is a now go. All other main line curves are 19" radius or large. I think I have 1 or 2 curves smaller than 19" in a few switching locations.
unsupported spans over your open-deck design
I run a cross beam about every 3 to 4 feet. and if I do see any sag I will just add another cross beam as needed. You might also be looking at the areas that are undone and need or have other stuff added to them at a later date.
I will also add more supports under the larger areas once the switch machines are in place. Kind of sucks to have a suport under a place you need a switch machine.
Helix climb is 7 to to minuets .