Model Railroading > Continuing Upper Level progress on the Cal. Southern

Continuing from the April 5th thread...
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,3371859

3/4" plywood has now been cut out for ~4,500 scale feet of upper level track profile. For the moment, scrap wood blocks have been stacked on the framework below the deck and secured with clamps to hold the subroadbed up in rough positions for more easy 1.75-2.0% grade visualization. Next step is to cut out and affix 40+ vertical 1x4" risers to refine the grade profile and permanently set the grade for the trackage. As noted from earlier progress posts, the wider section (seen in pic 1 below) is for a continuing pair of long passing sidings with the main running down the center. Then single track through the 180° turn and on up to the summit (yellow A-frame in pic 3 below). The track climbs some 9.75" throughout this new section, or a total of 12.75" above the sky blue framework below. Mountain scenery will tentatively be constructed on either side of the track with hot wire cut sheets of 2" insulation foam stacked on a lightweight 1x2" wood framework. Current upper level planning includes options for up to 4 short <200' tunnels and one bridge up to 200' in length throughout this new area. Time to go searching for a big-ol' BLMA bridge!!!

Same images have been posted on the train club's website Progress page...
[b]www.CaliforniaSouthern.org[/b]

Thanks for looking!

Mr. MRL

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Plywood must be cheap there. You've cut curves from a sheet - a lot of waste if you ask me. A minor thing like that aside, the important thing is it is looking good. Do I see an elevated walkway around the outside? That is a mushroom thing then isn't it?

Rick

rschonfelder Wrote:
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> Plywood must be cheap there. You've cut curves
> from a sheet - a lot of waste if you ask me. A
> minor thing like that aside, the important thing
> is it is looking good. Do I see an elevated
> walkway around the outside? That is a mushroom
> thing then isn't it?
>
> Rick

Plywood isn't cheap, $40+ per 4x8' sheet. A majority of the scraps will be recycled for facia and other layout framework material.

Yes, the upper level is viewed and designed to be operated from a series of 18-24" raised platforms. We are indeed modeling the patented Mushroom layout design. With 12 foot ceilings in our 110+ year old layout room we have tons of airspace to build vertically.

Mr. MRL

Here, I drew up a rough cross section through the middle of the layout showing the mushroom effect for those not understanding the concept. When you stand on the raised walkways and look into the upper level layout space, you are operating directly over the lower level. The thick black lines represent the layout's framework. The raised walkway is set at different heights based on the upper level track height for each area. There is 24" clearance between the lower and upper levels.

The name 'mushroom' is derived from the shape the lower and upper backdrops make as they transfer from the inside to the outside of the framework. It looks more like a letter T in 2D, but going around a 180° curve gives the appearance of at least 1/2 of a mushroom. Lighting for the lower level is hidden within and below the scenery for the upper level. While upper level lighting is provided from fixtures along the ceiling.

Mr. MRL

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Thanks for posting pictures of the great progress. Glad to hear you are taking advantage of the vertical space, using the mushroom concept. Sorry if I missed this in previous threats: How are you planning to get from one level to the other? Will you be using a helix or constant visible grade?

Keep up the great work!

John Parker
Longmont, CO
BNSF Fall River Division

bnsfbuff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for posting pictures of the great progress.
> Glad to hear you are taking advantage of the
> vertical space, using the mushroom concept. Sorry
> if I missed this in previous threats: How are you
> planning to get from one level to the other? Will
> you be using a helix or constant visible grade?
>
> Keep up the great work!


The mainline climbs a visible grade starting at the end of the lower level yard visible in these pics. The grade is 1.25% on most of the lower level when under the deck of the upper level. The big white plaster mountains in the background of pics 1 & 3 are the transition between levels. The grade goes to 1.75% as the mainline goes to single track and crosses a large bridge and then a large curved trestle. After the tunnel through the smaller plaster mountain (visible in pic 3), the grade does to 2%.

More details and pics are on our website:

www,CaliforniaSouthern.org



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/14 08:47 by atsf5704.

Thanks for the update. Having the visible grade will be a great advantage. Looks like a great layout and club/crew....

John Parker
Longmont, CO
BNSF Fall River Division

And just when I thought you guys couldn't stuff any more track into that place! ;-)

Looks good love the fact that you guys are maximizing space with the mushroom.

Any idea on how long one complete run of the layout will be?

Kris

A lower level trip takes ~10-15 min. with a majority of double track. The addition of the second level and it's single track with passing sidings should add an additional 10-15 minutes to complete the run.

Mr. MRL