Helix

Here are a couple of photos of my progress on the helix:

It's not fastened in place yet, just sitting there with some props to estimate the final height. This is just the bottom portion of the north helix, rising from Chattahoochee on the lower level to Cottondale on the mid level. There will be another ring on top connecting the mid-level to Tallahassee at the top. It's about a 2.25% grade, which from what I've been reading is pushing it a bit for regular trains (not simulating mountain railroading). I tried cutting the threaded metal rods today that will be used to support the helix, but with mixed results. I was able to cut the rods to length, but the ends are so jagged that I can't thread a nut onto the rod. I think I'm just going to punt and buy smaller rods that don't require cutting.

So progress is slow, but once the helix is in place I can concentrate on the subroadbed for the lower level. I'd like to think I can finish all the subroadbed by the end of November, but the way things have been going, that may be a bit optimistic!

Progress

After what seems like months I'm finally making some real progress on the layout again. This weekend I started building the roadbed pieces for the north helix. I hope to have some pictures later this week as I start to get it installed on the layout. I was starting to feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the track plan--the placement of any one thing seemed to depend on where everything else would be--so I wasn't sure it could all come together. But now that I have something actually built I feel much more encouraged.