Building My First Helix-Pictures

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planeshavings42

Member
Apr 13, 2002
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South West Michigan
heirloomfurnitureworks.0catch.com
Hello All, a few weeks back, I inquired for help in designing and building a Helix, and got some very good information from several members of the Gauge not too surprising. Anyway, I have been working on it in my spare time, and have finished the rough carpentry work, the curvature size is 70" diameter and a 2% grade, with two tracks wide, I then and laid the roadbed, "Contineous rolled form Foam type", usually I use cork, but the 24' length of the foam seemed to be a good way to go on the helix, since it had to be laid with the track "Atlas Flex Track" at each level before raising the hole thing up, my plan was not to go to an entire second level, but just to raise the back ground which will be approximately 14" wide by 28' long. The Upper track will be raised about 13-1/2" from the main level, I but built the upright supports 3-1/2" higher to support cross bracing for the mountain top that will be up there eventually. Today I finally hooked up power, and ran an Athearn F7 ABA DCC set with 7 passenger cars up and it went off without a hitch "WHEW" At first I tried running it very slowly, and had a little slippage, but cranked up a little more power, approx 1/3 speed, and she did the rest of the climb just fine. I then ran my Athearn Challenger and 28 loaded oar cars up, with the same results, anyway I want to thank all the members of the Gauge that responded with so much help and great advise. Here are a couple of pictures, and I will be posting more as I make headway in the future.

Duane Hampton :wave:
 

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Really nice job! I would say an excellent example of "how to build a helix."

I have one little nit to pick on your passenger train consist. The dome cars are Santa Fe domes. The end that has only 3 windows on the lower level contained the "Turquoise Room" which was a private dining room available for families or small groups traveling on the train to reserve. In order to facilitate service in the Turquoise Room, the dome car was always located next to the dining car. Also one end of the dining car contained the kitchen the other end was the dining room. The dining car was always situated so that the kitchen end of the dining car was next to the Turquoise Room end of the dome car. That put the kitchen next to both the dining room and the Turquoise Room.
 
Russ Bellinis said:
I have one little nit to pick on your passenger train consist. The dome cars are Santa Fe domes. The end that has only 3 windows on the lower level contained the "Turquoise Room" which was a private dining room available for families or small groups traveling on the train to reserve. In order to facilitate service in the Turquoise Room, the dome car was always located next to the dining car. Also one end of the dining car contained the kitchen the other end was the dining room. The dining car was always situated so that the kitchen end of the dining car was next to the Turquoise Room end of the dome car. That put the kitchen next to both the dining room and the Turquoise Room.
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Rivet Counter! :twisted: :p :mrgreen: sign1
 
How right you are

Russ Bellinis said:
Really nice job! I would say an excellent example of "how to build a helix."

I have one little nit to pick on your passenger train consist. The dome cars are Santa Fe domes. The end that has only 3 windows on the lower level contained the "Turquoise Room" which was a private dining room available for families or small groups traveling on the train to reserve. In order to facilitate service in the Turquoise Room, the dome car was always located next to the dining car. Also one end of the dining car contained the kitchen the other end was the dining room. The dining car was always situated so that the kitchen end of the dining car was next to the Turquoise Room end of the dome car. That put the kitchen next to both the dining room and the Turquoise Room.
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Yep, you hit it on the nose, I'll get em straightned out pronto.

Duane
 
Great lookin' helix. That thing is gonna be super-sturdy. :thumb: I've seen a few really precariously assembled ones before, scary stuff to operate on.
 
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