Looking for ideas for a Helix

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

Jeff,
a helix "swallows" your train for an extended period of time.  It also destroys any notion of the train actually moving from point A to a point B (which is supposed to be far away from point A.)  I guess the wait is ok if you want to grab a cup of coffee or hit the bathroom.    But when you are waiting for your train to re-appear from that wormhole, it is not much fun.

I'm currently involved in building sessions on my friend's layout. His original design included a 3-track helix!   But he was talked out of doing that and instead he decided to straighten the helix out into a visible grade running around the layout. Now the operators will be able to actually see and follow their trains as now the distance from point A to point B has suddenly become real and visible.  If you want a multilevel layout, you might want to consider not using a helix.

For more info about my friend's helix-less 2-level layout see http://albanysusquehanna.blogspot.com/2008/04/plan.html

Is there a plan with the track heights on it. I cant see how it moves from one level to the other

[John]

Mine is a combination Nolix / Helix .. the nolix part climbs 6-10 inches in elevation .. then the last foot is done under the stairs in the basement ..

[peteski]

Is there a plan with the track heights on it. I cant see how it moves from one level to the other

Rand's track plan is back from 2008.  I don't know if he has a diagram which shows track elevation (I think I do recall seeing it). I'll be working on Rand's layout this Thursday so I'll ask him then.

[hpwrick]

Looks like two readers have checked in to see my helixii.    Most likely both times I was the one visiting.... myself.   It is what it is.      Hey, I tried to throw in a different option.   I got a kick out of visiting myYouTube.   Gosh...sigh!

So, we like talking fellow model railroaders out of there original idea.   I see.     So, it's true.   I wouldn't talk anyone out of doing what it is they want to do.   Suggest, other alternatives perhaps but never step into someone else's dream.   

Now, if I may suggest as others have here... there is more then one way to build a helix.  John,  I like the idea of "Nolix".  Jeff, what a contribution to the hobby.   Some nice work there.  Pete, I do like the idea of a grade that runs up the backside of a scene but I find it hard to justify why it's climbing up through the sky and into the clouds.    Funny?   Well,  it could be.   That is if the back drop is sky and not mountain scenes.   I'ma sure that was the case...right?    Anyway sounds good to me and now it's up to Jeff to decide.

Jeff, keep us informed as to what you finally decide and how we best we can help you.     

[nkalanaga]

The idea of putting the helix in the corner and boxing it in with plexiglass or similar plastic sound interesting.  If the scenery ended before the helix, as with the train dosappearing into a tunnel with a view block above it, the helix would seem to stand alone, rather than intrude into the scene, and would make an unusual "railfanning" location.

And, yes, definitely leave access to the interior.  Even a 19 inch radius curve is plenty large enough to stand in, and trains WILL derail where least accessible.

[peteski]

  Pete, I do like the idea of a grade that runs up the backside of a scene but I find it hard to justify why it's climbing up through the sky and into the clouds.    Funny?   Well,  it could be.   That is if the back drop is sky and not mountain scenes.   I'ma sure that was the case...right?    Anyway sounds good to me and now it's up to Jeff to decide.
 

Rick,
as you suspect, the climbing track does not hang against the sky board of the lower level. It looks like any other track on the layout.  Here is an example:


The rearmost track is what would have been the helix.  The inclined track between lower and upper levels is not 100% exposed through its entire run (it dissappears into tunnels at certain locations), but it is mostly visible to the operator. This gives the operator a visual feedback that they are actually traveling some "real" distance on the layout (instead of twiddling their thumbs while waiting for the train to reappear from the helix, 20 inches above the point they entered the helix few minutes earlier).

I'm not saying that unwinding the helix on multilevel layouts is ideal for every situation, but I just wanted to present an alternative view to Jeff.

[hpwrick]

Looks to be I've had seven vistiors total, in to see my nolix-helixii.    Sorry, just not sure what to call it.    Any old way, it's a combination of a number of ideas and gets away from the traditional canned roundy round.      Just another option...of many.   Thanks for visiting.

Rick,
as you suspect, the climbing track does not hang against the sky board of the lower level. It looks like any other track on the layout.  Here is an example:

I'm not saying that unwinding the helix on multilevel layouts is ideal for every situation, but I just wanted to present an alternative view to Jeff.

I like the idea and actually use something similar to get my mainline out of the helix and up to the top level.    It's a cool idea and appreciated by this antagonist.    What?   What?   What did he say?    I mean flatulator.    Naw, that ain't it.   Time to get out the Thesauruas.    Yessiree Pete,  that idea works nicely.       

[BCRail_FSJ]

I had good experiences with an Ashlin Designs helix kit on my old Fort St John layout.   It went together easily and performed well (during the short life span of that layout). 

I put together an 8 part helix build thread on my old website that may be of use

http://nscalefortstjohnsub.wordpress.com/category/layout-design-and-construction-blog/helix-build-thread/

 That kit was a 14 inch outer radius version but they make one with a 16" outer radius.   The kits can accommodate double track but I just laid a single track on mine.    The 14" one is fine if you are running 2 to 3 diesels and no more than 20 cars.    If your train lengths are more substantial go with the broadest radius you can fit.

As for the 'helix makes the train disappear for a long time' sentiment.. that is kind of the point.  If you are modelling two stations or division points on each deck then the helix represents the 5, 10, 50 or 200 miles between them.    It seems far more realistic that the train would vanish in the helix for a substantial length of time  rather than remain visible and take 2 minutes to cover a distance supposedly representing dozens or hundreds of miles.

For disclosure I should note that my current Fort Nelson layout is planned as a single deck shelf switcher but I would never rule out using a helix to drop down to a lower deck in a future expansion.    If that lower deck was (hypothetically) Fort St John some 200 miles to the south, then the helix would be used to hold trains mid-run for the fast clock equivalent of the 12 hours it takes the prototype to travel the dodgy track between the two locations.   

Just my thoughts...

[kelticsylk]

The idea of putting the helix in the corner and boxing it in with plexiglass or similar plastic sound interesting.  If the scenery ended before the helix, as with the train dosappearing into a tunnel with a view block above it, the helix would seem to stand alone, rather than intrude into the scene, and would make an unusual "railfanning" location.

And, yes, definitely leave access to the interior.  Even a 19 inch radius curve is plenty large enough to stand in, and trains WILL derail where least accessible.

I'm planning on leaving my helix exposed to the outside (away from the scenery). I find that "civilians" are fascinated by helixi. Havinng it exposed also allows the operator to see when to apply the brakes on the downhill tracks.

The helix is at the end of a peninsula and will have scenery hiding it on the layout side but open for view on the aisle side...


A removable plexiglas cover is a given as all of my grandchildren are under 5.

Frank Musick

[Rossford Yard]

My grandkids are fascinated.  My 4 year old grandaugher thinks there are two trains in there, or one that has split!

I have seen helixes behind fascia, and the layout owner is always peeking in any little hole to track their trains.  Probably the best solution is to just let it be visible for practical reasons.  I do have two mini cameras left from hidden staging on my old layout, and I might put those in there with a monitor just to keep track of it, if it gets hidden behind a fascia.

If you have been an mrr for a while, practicality always trumps aesthetics!  Thus, I may just keep it open.