Ed, I agree. Nice work.
I understand that a helix is the traditional American Standard for moving a train from one layout elevation to another. I also see that your space is limited, and that the helix itself eats up a whole lot of that space. I myself have given serious thought to a more unconventional approach: a whole-train elevator. It would be a hidden staging track that a whole train fits on, that would operate as an elevator to move the train to the next elevation. The only real space requirement is that for the staging board. It would be behind the backdrop, so nobody can see the elevator. Train disappears into a tunnel, then a while later reappears out of a tunnel on the next level. Just like a helix. Of course if you are using a double track main line, that adds more complications, but I don't think you would be doing that in your limited space. I know I won't be. Another added option to this "elevator" is to include additional tracks that can store more trains. Think of it as a vertical staging yard. Just my offbeat mind working here..... Darrell S. --- In [email protected], Ed Kozlowsky <soldado7264@...> wrote: > > Bill, > First of all, I need a helix because my layout is in a 25' travel trailer > with inside measurements of 7.5' x 22'. Not enough room to do what I want, > but double decked I can live with it (after I raised the roof 8"). I started > with a 24" R helix tucked nice and neat in the corner. It left enough room > beside it for a nice little scene. Then I started talking with Ed Loiseaux, > who convinced me to broaden my curves as much as was reasonable to allow for > others to run some equipment I'm not interested in. I agreed that he was > correct, and out came the 24" helix. I then designed a 30" helix. I could > have gone a little bigger, but at 7.5' width, it wouldn't leave much room for > creativity if my minimum radius were 36". When I layed in the helix on my > cad drawing, it became very clear that there would be no room beside it for > anything meaningfull, so the space would be wasted. Well, I figured if I > couldn't build next to the helix, I might as > well turn it into an oval and fill the whole dang thing. It was a very good > move, because not only did I reduce the grade, but also have lots of room > inside it to store all those kits I haven't gotten around to building yet. > Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. > > I'm trying to get a little more work done and then I have to clean the whole > mess up to show relatives at Christmas. Most have never seen my hobby, but > I'm trying to break out of my self imposed exile for the good of the scale. > You know me Bill, I've done easier things. More pictures following clean-up. > > Hey Chris, you might just get some pictures from me yet. > > Ed Kozlowsky > Sanford, Maine > > > >________________________________ > >From: Bill Lane <bill@...> > >To: [email protected] > >Sent: Monday, December 12, 2011 5:34 PM > >Subject: {S-Scale List} Re: Helix Pictures > > > > > > > >Hey Ed, > > > >Thanks for the photos. Excellent carpentry! Why do you need such an > >extensive helix? I would like to see more photos of other areas of your > >layout as well. > > > >Thank You, > >Bill Lane > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
