Many thanks to
Greg@mnrr, jim81147, trailrider, and
MHinLA
The original reason for asking was my RxR is a 2 tiered TOMA layout. HOWEVER, both levels are on top of each other. Facing in the same direction. That takes up a lot of wall space, as railers need to climb over each other for OPs. Also when my son and I upgraded to the second version he was only 9 YOA and 4'9". He is still tall at 45 & 6'8". My two youngest guys (a 3 YOA & a 4 YOA grandson) are both about 2' to 3' tall. With three other grandsons 10 - 18 YOA are from 5'8" up to 6'9". And a Son-in-Law at 6'5". Me I'm 5'9" on a good day. So the sight line has a great variance.
The current benchwork is made up of rehabbed Lower Kitchen Cabinets. Which are 36" cubed. The upper level is cantilevered off the wall at 57". With a trackbed at 60". Great for the tall guys or us OLD guys. But my arms are starting to ache carrying the wee ones.
Thanks to you guys, and SCARM, I think I have my 2020 upgrade plan.
Yank everything off the walls. New drywall. Build a ramp around the outer edges of the room. From floor height up to 4' elevation along the wall.
I'll go the Thrift Shops, Habitat for Humanity ReStores, ReClaimed Building Warehouses, Uncle Sal's, & Goodwill. I'll buy a couple truckloads of Upper Kitchen Cabinets. They SEEM to run from 12"H - 40"H x 20"D x 36"W. Glue and Screw them to the wall as our stock yard and surround "helix"ish track climber. Dismantle the current upper layout. Saving what I can. Turn the Lower Layout Cabinets inside (backside) out. (There's a job.) Putting the lower level as a walk through "X" layout.
Then come the supports for the upper section????? SCARM knows I want the top deck to be above the bottom. But facing out towards the ramp side. This way Railers can be at about a 6-7' height level. See the entire trackage. And not have to climb over the lower level guys trying to run consists. I'll most likely need to build a track side-to-ramp inner curve decking to move around?
The layout already has a Helix from the lower deck to the top. I'm going to attempt to salvage it somehow. Or maybe a turn around loop at the end of the line????? The lower deck is already a 2 track main. Maybe SCARM could come up with something for the upper?
Well thanks Guys. I have got a great start. Now let's find out if I can pull it off.
"It's not where you start, it's where you finish. And I'm gonna' finish on top." ~ from SEESAW, lyric and music by Cy Coleman
SEE YA' DOWN THE LINE,
Jim