linwood32

i am going to build a two tier shelf layout the top shelf will be at 55" to 60"  inches  my question how do i connect the two shelves? i really don't want to use a helix any help would be great thanks.

                                                                                                                               bill 

 

 

 

 

Reply 0
Selector

You have two practical

You have two practical choices...a no-lix or a lifted cassette on an elevator mechanism, or one that is simply lifted by you and set into place on a bracket.  Both take space and both materials and time to erect, of course, so designing them to be less onerous than the regular helix must be to you will be a challenge.  After all, it must provide you with the same, or almost the same, utility in the end.

The no-lix is an 'around the layout' or an 'around the room' ramp of usually low gradient, say in the 1-2% range, that achieves your height differential.

Reply 0
Bernd

Easy

Track elevator.

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/ro-ro-elevator-track-alignment-any-interesting-approaches-12187633

http://www.citrusmodelrrclub.org/Train%20leaving%20elevator%20on%20upper%20level%20Nikon%205515.jpg

http://www.citrusmodelrrclub.org/index1.htm click and watch the video.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC

Reply 0
linwood32

track elevator

can  i just make a loop or grade that will connect the two i have room for my layout it is a finished attic but i have never seen anybody do what i have in mind. wish i could see a layout picture of a layout that has that.

Reply 0
ctxmf74

"can i just make a loop or grade that will connect the two"

Yeah you can if you have enough length to work with. You would have to pick the heights of the lower and upper shelves then calculate how much length of run it would take to connect them. The maximum grade would depend on the length of trains you want to run and the type of locos.  Say you decide that you your equipment can handle 3% grade and the shelves are say 14 inches difference in height it would take 467 inches of run or about 39 feet of run. double the grade to 6% and you'd need 19.5 feet of run, 4.5% grade would need 311 inches, etc.....DaveB

Reply 0
Pelsea

At a 4% grade

At a 4% grade (pretty steep) you need 25 inches in length to gain one inch in height. You haven't mentioned how much separation you will have between levels, but 8" seems to be a practical minimum. Do you have room for 16 ft of track?

pqe

Temporarily inactive due to annoying but non life threatening medical issues.
Reply 0
dark2star

What terrain are you going to model on the lower level?

Hi,

Depending on the terrain you're doing on the lower level, there might be another option, if it is mountaineous:

You could run a ramp all along the rear of your lower level, going in tunnels, along the hillside and across the occasional bridge, from the turnback loop at one end of the lower level to the turnback loop at the other end of your upper level.

You might get away with hiding the ramp behind your backdrop if there are no mountains to work with, but I'm not sure I'd like this any better than the helix

Have fun.

Reply 0
jcitron

This might be easier

This might be a bit easier with derailments. You do know that derailments always occur where the track is least accessible? A helix then is considered the latter and there will definitely be trains stuck somewhere inside which would be annoying to remove.

John

Virtual railroader, model railroader, rail fan, and moderator at http://www.auran.com

Reply 0
linwood32

re: might be easier

yeah john, that's what i was thinking helix seems to be a real pain just my thought don't want to offend anybody who has a helix.

Reply 0
robteed

Helix

Our club has a two track helix and I havent seen any trains  derail on it.

Good Trackwork= no derailments.

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