06-20-2010, 03:37 AM
As posted in another thread I'm working on a bedroom sized layout. As part of my plan I wanted to utilize a closet to fit in a helix to provide access to lower level staging. I'm not 'in love' with the idea of the helix but I may have run into a snag. To fit in the closet (and not using the closet will waste to much layout space to justify the helix) I'd be able to use a 22" radius helix at most. From the searching/reading I've done this seems like it would be pretty tight; I'd need a 2.5% grade or greater to get the track separation I'd need. So before I have to rework my entire plan I'm wondering how much of a grade is too much for a helix? I'll be running 8 car trains plus the locomotive. How much of a separation between helix layers is need? It seems the standard is 4" but measuring the cars/locomotives I'll be using (and accounting for sub-roadbed/roadbed/track of course) it seems I could get away with 3.5-3.75". Is this just wishful thinking?
I won't be tackling the helix right away as stated in the other thread but its placement is key to the rest of the design. Need a bit of advice here, thanks.
I won't be tackling the helix right away as stated in the other thread but its placement is key to the rest of the design. Need a bit of advice here, thanks.