Grades; staging; and, curves (N gauge)

[Rigby]

My plan continues to evolve. At this point its looking like a shelf layout built into my home office. I will post a plan later, but there will be a desk built into the wall and to the left side of the desk will be one terminus of the layout. It will continue to my left and curve behind me, become broader in the opposite corner of the room, then narrow to finish on the remaining wall. The desk itself will be used to work and for building railroad stuff.

I would like to run a hidden return track below the visible level of the layout. It would not be scenic'd and could be very shallow so that that space between the deck of the lower level and the bottom of the top level deck could be quite close. (If I kept the track within a few inches of the edge of the lower deck I think that 2" of head room should be plenty.

I am looking for ideas for a space efficient way to turn the track around 180 degrees and decrease its elevation enough to pass it under it self. What have you guys tried?

 

[SpaceMouse]

If it is hidden, make the tightest curves your biggest engines and rolling stock can handle.

The most efficient, space-wise way to get down is with a helix, but if you are going to do that, give yourself more room than 2" That's awfully tight, and if you did get your hand in there you would not see anything but the back of your hand.

I don't like grades more than 2%, but run stuff that has trouble with grades. Still, if you can't pull it up from staging, where you going to get a helper?

 

[jbaakko]

I'd stick to no more then 2%, as Chip says. Unless you're making a short spur, then steeper grades can work, but not on a mainline.

 

[Rigby]

Ok, thanks so far. I wasn't clear. This will be a full return loop track run below the scenic'd level. 2% it is. That means I need to find 100 inches of track to take it down.