Non-helix, Multi-level Layout

[santafewillie]

Beiland - Excellent idea. As Toot has suggested, a drop-down door on the bottom will keep out varmints that could eventually go through the track portals into the main shed. I would also make sure that I put a guardrail to keep all rolling stock contained. It could be made of masonite or plexiglass, or even aluminum screening. Ceiling insulation is a must, I know from experience...even if it is just a sheet of plastic that is sloped to direct condensation to the side. Regardless of the trackbed material, you would still want room for a human hand to re-rail stuff. No matter how perfect you trackwork is, if you have a derailment anywhere on a layout, it will be in a helix or tunnel...Murphy rules.
I am building a two-level layout that I am currently operating as separate layouts, with an eye for the enclosed helix being outside the room on the 7' front porch, as you envision yours. But that is 2-3 years down the road.

Willie

 

[tootnkumin]

One could even say you're truly thinking "outside the box"

 

[Snowman]

I was just going to suggest the same thing otiscnj did in post #16, but I couldn't come up with a descriptive name for it--his "train elevator" is perfect. You can operate them too, if you are dispatching or some such as intermediate, sections, but "off layout" even though they aren't. These would be my first choice for myself, but if a helix is the way you want to go, consider a spiraling helix rather than a stacked helix. Mike Danneman used one of these on his last layout, wherein the single track spirals tighter inward as it goes up...think of a wedding cake...the advantage being that you can go "hands on" with each successive spiral without having to reach under the previous spiral. The latter can be particularly difficult if you have a derailment on the inside track, but are standing outside...and with a train in between your hands and the derailment.

 

[bnsf971]

Pretty sure after a decade, he’s gotten the issue sorted out.

 

[troyphoto]

Pretty sure after a decade, he’s gotten the issue sorted out.

I've been working on my layout for 5 years... look how far I've gotten.