For the past number of months I have been working on some peripheral aspects of my layout while waiting for some help that was offered by a semi-professional designer. With that in mind I sort of ignored the primary layout plans and went about building and planning the staging area tracks, the helix structure, and the basic benchwork design and structure that would all be needed for any dbl-track layout.
Just a few days ago I wrote him this letter to inquire about his design help. He had original told me it would be about 6 months before he could get to my project, but now that wait time has been extended quite a few months.
I believe I'm going to have to move forward on my own (with some help from the public). As I got to relooking at somethings, I've actually confused myself. So any thoughts will be entertained.
Here is the letter I sent to him informing him of my current status,...
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Track Plan Project of mine, Part3
Dear XXX
Are you still willing to help me with my new layout design??
I have been diligently working on peripheral aspects, but I still need considerable help with details of the trackplan idea.
Helix & Staging
I knew I was going to need a helix structure to move the trains between the 2 primary decks, and I knew I wanted it to be external to the main shed to save room inside for 'the layout'. Concurrently I was looking for how I was going to access that staging area.
I've chosen a route to the staging areas (3 of them) via sub-loops in my helix structure. I've documented the design and construction of that helix structure in its own subject thread on several forums,...one of them here:
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/32990?page=9
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/32990?page=10
I've enclosed the alum helix structure in its own housing to make it waterproof, and I am now ready to begin to install the helix track and roadbed (already built in semi-circular sections).
I've cut a few of the holes in the back wall of the shed to allow the trains to 'communicate' with the helix. The lower central one for the 3-way turnout leading to the 3 staging areas, and the main (and only) track leading down or up to staging,...on the far left hand side of the main deck (see drawing).
I imagine this staging feeder track will run right along that left side wall to where it will connect in with one (or 2) of the mainlines . For some portion of its run as it comes up from staging into the main shed it will be located under a scene of Baltimore built as a 'flatwall scene' in that complete left hand corner of the layout. That 'Balt scene' should be built of lightweight/liftout flat-type buildings and poster paper dwgs (hopefully I've described it somewhat?). I further imagine that perhaps 1/3 down that side of the layout will be some sort of 'flatware' or drawing of the Mt Royal train station of Balt. That's a pretty iconic station, and it might allow for a B&O passenger train to sit there waiting to enter the action at certain times. (I have 2 primary passenger trains I will run at times,...the B&O and the Santa Fe)
Helix spiral
For those having a little problem visualizing my multideck spiral within the helix structure, here is another view....
(that “B” is for 'balloon loop')
So now I've accounted for 2 of the holes I have already cut in my shed's rear wall, the one for the single track feeding down into the staging areas, and the one for the 3 tracks entering the back wall for staging.
Bottom Main Deck
Now look at the holes (plural) required for my bottom 'balloon loop'. One of them is right adjacent to staging feeder track on the left.
The other(s) are yet undetermined (no holes cut yet).
Originally I had 2 tracks from that balloon loop entering back into the main shed, 1)..one was the extension of the mainline making the loop, and 2) was a feeder track for the central peninsula.
This could be changed according to any new layout plan. Perhaps this would just be a single track entering back thru the wall that splits into 2 to continue the mainline and feed the peninsula? Interestingly this would create a wye out in front of the Balt corner.
Steel Mill Corner & Balt City Corner
I've pretty much decided that the helix end of the layout will look like this,....with the steel scene in the right hand corner, the turntable somewhat like depicted, a center track feeding the peninsula, then the left corner a scene of Baltimore depicted by thin/shallow city buildings, and paintings on a backdrop.
I have these steel mill buildings (in an already built and weathered fashion) that I would really like to utilize,....and Balt at one time was a BIG steel mill center.
Steel Mill in a Corner
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/33344?page=1
I even modified my mainline tracks to be able to put that scene in my layout. Those rising grade tracks feed into the double-track helix structure, and one of them has a branch-off to the left to allow for continuous running around the bottom deck without having to go up the helix each time.
So the steel scene, the Balt scene, and the approx position of the turntable is all I have somewhat positive plans for at this moment on that bottom deck. The desire for the turntable in that area is partially fueled by the original Tupper Lake plan, and my desire to display a good number of the great steam engines I have.
Turntable Location
This location of the turntable could be open for debate. As shown now it is on the right hand side of the layout near the steel mill. But my latest thoughts have it put back over on the left side, out in front of the Balt city backdrop. In either case the side on which the turntable is located will also be the side on which the freight yard and the wider wall shelf width of the 2 will be.
Diesel Fueling/Servicing
I have played with the idea of a diesel engine fueling and servicing area down at the right hand lower corner, inside the mainline curves. This would be connected to a freight yard scene that might exist along that side of the layout, between the turntable at its upper edge and the diesel facility at its lower edge
Refinery and/or Oil Stowage Tanks
I also have a lot of oil stowage tanks, refinery, and piping stuff that might be deployed in a 'condensed fashion' in one of those 2 bottom corners, perhaps that refinery scene could be put over on the bottom left hand corner of the layout where there will be a bit more space??