g scale helix...anyone built one into their layouts?
- Thread starter djrobot
- Start date
yeah I'm going to incorporate the helix ( 630 degree...1 and 3/4 circles of 10' diameter ) into a rockery with sections exposed and sections in tunnels...gonna use black limestone and dwarf conifers to give an alpine feel. my inspiration is marias pass .
i will post a progress thread in the appropriate place...its just in design and measuring phase but thats almost done as of today .
i need to have a 1' difference in height and the helix will be where it happens ;-]
i will post a progress thread in the appropriate place...its just in design and measuring phase but thats almost done as of today .
i need to have a 1' difference in height and the helix will be where it happens ;-]
korm kormsen
Registered
i started to build one on my indoors layout.
when it became clear, that it would eat up too much of the available space, i built some long ramps alongside the wall instead.
when it became clear, that it would eat up too much of the available space, i built some long ramps alongside the wall instead.
beavercreek
Travel, Art, Theatre, Music, Photography, Trains
All the time that I have been running trains on my layout, I have been battling the 10% (1:10) gradient that tis my garden topography. It was impractical to raise the line were it runs near the house to balance that at the back of the garden as it would have caused a real problem with access etc etc
So...I have had to use other methods to overcome the challenges that single locos have when trying to climb the slope with a train in tow:
[size=14pt]Geared locos like Shays and Climaxes did not have a real problem but were doubled up for a heavy log consists[/size]
[size=14pt]Other locos were double, triple and even quad headed to be able to pull long strings of cars, especially heavy aluminium streamliner cars.[/size]
[size=14pt]Another solution was to make freight and passenger cars with hidden motorised bogies.
Here, three `motorised` stock cars are ready to `blend in` with other non motorised ones.[/size]
[size=14pt]The most recent method was to construct a helix (max 6ft wide) when I had a cleared space from the removal of a few large bushes.[/size]
So...I have had to use other methods to overcome the challenges that single locos have when trying to climb the slope with a train in tow:
[size=14pt]Geared locos like Shays and Climaxes did not have a real problem but were doubled up for a heavy log consists[/size]
[size=14pt]Other locos were double, triple and even quad headed to be able to pull long strings of cars, especially heavy aluminium streamliner cars.[/size]
[size=14pt]Another solution was to make freight and passenger cars with hidden motorised bogies.
Here, three `motorised` stock cars are ready to `blend in` with other non motorised ones.[/size]
[size=14pt]The most recent method was to construct a helix (max 6ft wide) when I had a cleared space from the removal of a few large bushes.[/size]
ntpntpntp said:
thanks Keiths pics are indeed inspirational...but i think his diameter is more than i can manage...10' or 11' max i think. i will be using the USA stock and locos and the layout is going to be digital so double heading will be a regular thing ;-]
thanks for the info guys and keep it coming ;-] cheers Rob
playmofire
Registered
This might be of interest:
http://www.lloydslayouts.com/g-scale-layouts/
http://www.lloydslayouts.com/g-scale-layouts/
Lovely plan, but not sure it classes as a Helix. More of a Doubled Dog bone. My line has a plan similar to this but at both sides of the Garden with a Branch leading up beside the House on one side. I certainly do not class mine as being a or having a Helix.
JonD
JonD
3Valve
Railways; Air cooled VW's; Soul Music
[quote author=3Valve link=topic=300116.msg334548#msg334548 date=1417553112]
Ah OK, what is a helix then? I`ve obviously misunderstood.
[/quote]
Hang on I think I may have sussed it.
Spiral
Helix
Is that about right? I honestly don`t know. Someone please put me out of my misery 
Ah OK, what is a helix then? I`ve obviously misunderstood.
[/quote]
Hang on I think I may have sussed it.
Spiral
Helix
Is that about right? I honestly don`t know. Someone please put me out of my misery
A Helix is:
an object having a three-dimensional shape like that of a wire wound uniformly in a single layer around a cylinder or cone, as in a corkscrew or spiral staircase
A Spiral is:
winding in a continuous and gradually widening (or tightening) curve, either around a central point on a flat plane or about an axis so as to form a cone
The main differences is the radius of the curve, the radius of a helix is constant, the radius of a spiral increases or decreases.
an object having a three-dimensional shape like that of a wire wound uniformly in a single layer around a cylinder or cone, as in a corkscrew or spiral staircase
A Spiral is:
winding in a continuous and gradually widening (or tightening) curve, either around a central point on a flat plane or about an axis so as to form a cone
The main differences is the radius of the curve, the radius of a helix is constant, the radius of a spiral increases or decreases.