Shelf Layouts

[railroader9731]

I think im going to start the incline on the back side of shelf and run it up to next level. But first thing is to get bottom drawn and track laid

[Russ Bellinis]

Well Russ thats the problem im facing is transfering from 1 level to the 2nd.I can try and do a helix in one corner of the layout but at 22 deg radius wellllll you know lol. As for locos i own 4-8-2s a 2-10-2, 3 FT A&B 1 F3 A unit and a 44 tonner. All rolling stock will be 98% 40ft cars perhaps a stray 50ft car or 2. Also trains will be no more than 6 cars max along wich caboose.

I haven't been here much recently. Seeing that you are running short trains, you might use a train elevator at the end to get the train up and down from one level to another. Turning the steam power might be a problem when you change levels, but you probably have that problem with your incline as well.

You don't have to spend a fortune for the commercial version. You could get 4 ball bearing drawer slides from the local home improvement store, four 2x4 of suitable length mounted in a square vertically with a board of suitable length suspended between the uprights. Rig up a cable and pulley system to lift and lower the elevator with locks at the upper and lower decks to line everything up. In fact you could put a floor at the lower deck to keep the elevator from going below the lower deck and you would just need the latching system for the upper deck alignment.