CSX Hanover Subdivision

[Cajonpassfan]

My head is spinning
Otto K.

[MK]

My head is spinning
Otto K.

Just rotate your monitor! 

[SAH]

Model building draws one in to model railroading.  Since our models move we can operate like the real thing, which sustain the interest, which leads to better model building and in turn, better ops.  Modelers who go into N scale without considering operations move to other scales in time.  Seen it happen time and again.

You are correct to give the Hanover sub a critical look from an operations standpoint.  If you're unsure what needs to change have an ops session or two.  It will become clear quickly.  How to remedy the issues will be a fun exercise in itself.  Two decks may well be the answer.

I recall your room having a high ceiling, no?  Consider Jim Hediger's picnic table leg solution to support the second deck.  He discusses it in the 85th anniv. MR and there is an online discussion in the "History According to Hediger" videos.  I always thought that was an ingenious way of stabilizing a second level without going to the ceiling for support.

Your modeling and layout at present are well done.  N scale holds many advantages for an ops oriented layout in the space you have available.  Take advantage of them.

Steve

[mu26aeh]

Model building draws one in to model railroading.  Since our models move we can operate like the real thing, which sustain the interest, which leads to better model building and in turn, better ops.  Modelers who go into N scale without considering operations move to other scales in time.  Seen it happen time and again.

You are correct to give the Hanover sub a critical look from an operations standpoint.  If you're unsure what needs to change have an ops session or two.  It will become clear quickly.  How to remedy the issues will be a fun exercise in itself.  Two decks may well be the answer.

I recall your room having a high ceiling, no?  Consider Jim Hediger's picnic table leg solution to support the second deck.  He discusses it in the 85th anniv. MR and there is an online discussion in the "History According to Hediger" videos.  I always thought that was an ingenious way of stabilizing a second level without going to the ceiling for support.

Yes, I'm in an unfinished basement, so the ceiling is high.  My friend and I already hatched out if this was feasible in the fall.  I collected some of the photos into an album on flickr. 

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmwc2uSx

Construction was held off due to upcoming open house events and a possible complete relocation to the garage if a certain home renovation project happened.  Well that plan never materialized and likely won't for at least another year or never, so now I'm back to the double decking plan. 

[wm3798]

Adam,
Don't get hung up in what you have invested in the current layout.  If there's certain elements that don't work for you, you either have to buck up and live with the work-around, or figure out how to design a correction.  If you can't do either of those things, you always have this option:



Although, I recommend stripping the track, electronics, and structures before you strike the match...

Lee

[mu26aeh]

Got some plywood at Lowes this evening.  That much closer to helix construction...

[Specter3]

I have a helix or two in my future. I have read some experiences in the past building these and a couple that struck me as very happy with the outcome used Kato unitrack on theirs. Have you considered this as a possibility?

[mu26aeh]

I have a helix or two in my future. I have read some experiences in the past building these and a couple that struck me as very happy with the outcome used Kato unitrack on theirs. Have you considered this as a possibility?

I have for it's bulletproof nature and I too have heard good experiences from using it.  I also have a friend of friend that used the double track version that has the superelevation in it.  That's a big no-no, at least in his case with diameter and train length.  He was having constant problems with derailments and string lining his trains so he ended up tearing it down and redid the entire thing again using flex track. 

I'm still undecided in my path forward but do have plenty of flex to it's the probable path I'm going to take.  Other issue is single or double track it.  This will be decided after further engineering work is done. 

[mu26aeh]

The N Scale CSX Hanover Subdivision is indefinitely out of service as of 8pm this evening. Deconstruction began with removal of all vegetation and structures on this corner of the layout, as this is where the cornerstone of new construction will sit. The dreaded HELIX. It takes up a lot of space but is required to extend the run of the layout and plans I have for it since I won't be taking over the current garage space for any foreseeable time in the future.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Awesome! It's amazing how freeing demolition can be.

[mu26aeh]

And just like that, half the layout is gone

[davefoxx]

And just like that, half the layout is gone

Ha!  Layouts (or portions thereof) come down a lot easier and quicker than they went in.    Looking good!  I'm eagerly following along.

DFF

[mu26aeh]

One thing I am questioning on how to do is make sure that the center portion of the section level is stable.  Of course areas along the wall will be attached/bolted and the other end will be secured to the helix structure.  What about the area in between ?  I'm thinking total width won't be much more than 30" if that.  I will have the center divide/backdrop coming up from the lower section.  I am planning on running 1x4 from floor to ceiling in this section as anchor points, securing them to 2x4 screwed in between the floor joists above.  thoughts/ideas from the crowd ?

[eric220]

Ha!  Layouts (or portions thereof) come down a lot easier and quicker than they went in. 

Amen to that. For me, 7 years to put up, 7 hours to tear down.

[davefoxx]

One thing I am questioning on how to do is make sure that the center portion of the section level is stable.  Of course areas along the wall will be attached/bolted and the other end will be secured to the helix structure.  What about the area in between ?  I'm thinking total width won't be much more than 30" if that.  I will have the center divide/backdrop coming up from the lower section.  I am planning on running 1x4 from floor to ceiling in this section as anchor points, securing them to 2x4 screwed in between the floor joists above.  thoughts/ideas from the crowd ?

If it were me, I would probably build a wall out of 2"x4"s running from floor to ceiling to support both decks and their respective backdrops.  I'd use 2"x4"s solely because it would be easier to hit the 1-1/2" width of a 2"x4" with screws than it would to hit the 3/4" thickness of a 1"x4" when screwing into the supports, not to mention that if you use shelf brackets to support either deck, you'll need more thickness than a 1"x4".  I doubt you need anything more than the strength of a 1"x4", depending on how far apart the "studs" are, but you can't go wrong with a little more ease of construction.  Besides, depending on how you planned to use the 1"x4"s, you might want to think about that upper deck flexing or shaking if someone were to lean on it or bump it.

Hope this helps,
DFF