Hey Iain. Great work on your very challenging layout. In regards to your concern about the time trains will spend in your Cascade Tunnel helix, I am building portable N scale layout on a 6 x 9 foot board that has a helix hidden under a mountain on one corner. It's only a two-turn helix but I wanted to see the trains moving on it. I designed a cutout into the mountain side on the top level of the helix for about 12 running inches with a tunnel portal at each end. If you are interested, I can send photos of the layout to your email address. BTW I also am planning a Leavenworth style Bavarian town on my layout which features GN, NP and SP&S trains. Dave in Oregon.
Sounds like an interesting layout! The concern about time in the helix is more that it's then less time actually running on the layout :) I have Digitrax BD4N units installed on both helixes, with each ring on the helix its own block detection zone. This approach lets me keep track of where the train is as it moves through the helix. The Cascade Tunnel helix will end up largely covered in scenery completely, but the helix for the middle and upper deck would be open to side if the operator wanted to peek in and see what's happening. Iain
Hah, thanks! I'm originally from the north east of England, but have lived in the US for almost 20 years. I've moved around a lot, so have a lot of different influences on my accent! Iain
It's the Broadway Limited 2-8-2 Heavy Mikado from last year - broadway-limited.com/products/7839-usra-heavy-mikado-sps-509-glacier-green-paragon4-sound-dc-dcc-n-np
Looking great, I like your car collection 👍
Thanks! It's a pretty decent mix of cars. Iain
Nice work mate
Cheers! Especially with the helix now in place, it's coming together nicely. Iain
Beautiful layout. Gutsy to run a train with light weight flat cars in the middle. Everytime I try that, they get dragged of on curve
Hey Iain. Great work on your very challenging layout. In regards to your concern about the time trains will spend in your Cascade Tunnel helix, I am building portable N scale layout on a 6 x 9 foot board that has a helix hidden under a mountain on one corner. It's only a two-turn helix but I wanted to see the trains moving on it. I designed a cutout into the mountain side on the top level of the helix for about 12 running inches with a tunnel portal at each end. If you are interested, I can send photos of the layout to your email address. BTW I also am planning a Leavenworth style Bavarian town on my layout which features GN, NP and SP&S trains. Dave in Oregon.
Sounds like an interesting layout! The concern about time in the helix is more that it's then less time actually running on the layout :) I have Digitrax BD4N units installed on both helixes, with each ring on the helix its own block detection zone. This approach lets me keep track of where the train is as it moves through the helix. The Cascade Tunnel helix will end up largely covered in scenery completely, but the helix for the middle and upper deck would be open to side if the operator wanted to peek in and see what's happening. Iain
Where are you from originally? Your accent just gets me every time. It sounds like you got English + Canadian going hella wild! Love the layout!
Hah, thanks! I'm originally from the north east of England, but have lived in the US for almost 20 years. I've moved around a lot, so have a lot of different influences on my accent! Iain
What brand is your SP&S loco?
It's the Broadway Limited 2-8-2 Heavy Mikado from last year - broadway-limited.com/products/7839-usra-heavy-mikado-sps-509-glacier-green-paragon4-sound-dc-dcc-n-np
Thanks!