helix

[hintonrailways]

hi has anyone ever constructed a helix half a foot high?
i look at pictures of them and think eeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr.................. then give up
:(

[jmilward]

are you talking about 1 or 2 full turns to change levels
jerry

[alfaz-di-pi]

Hi Hinton, I think you would need more than "half a foot" if you consider you need a height of 8 cm ust to clear your loco as it goes round. I suppose it also depends on the radius of your helix as well. If you had a 2 foot radius, to move 90 degrees you would move approx 1metre, over that distance you would rise between 2-3 cm. depending on your slope. So from point A on the base with a 2ft radius, going round 360 degrees back to point A, you would rise 8 - 12 cm. You would want to shoot of at the higher level somewhere, so you would still have to continue round and keep rising untill you reached the point you want. If it was at 90 degrees to A, you would rise another 2-3 cm. So at point B you have : 2-3cm + 8cm minimum + thickness of track base. ( say 1cm) = 11 - 12 cm. Each quarter turn around the helix takes you 2-3 cm higher.
Does that sound about right. Hope you can understand what I mean.
Regards
Albert.

[hintonrailways]

i kind of get what you mean now for building it!!

[hintonrailways]

si it would be easyer to do a slope instead?

[jmilward]

you can use a slope if you have the room but the advantage with the helix is you can change levels in a smaller area and hide the helix in a mountain or something - dont forget to make sure you have access to it.
jerry

[alfaz-di-pi]

I have a slope on my layout, an up and a down slope, the up one is about 10 ft long as I am rising up to 11 cm. My trains can pull a 4 coach load up there no bother. So for a slpe you need the length. As jmilward says you can do the same with a helix, either a single or 2 track for up and down, but you will need a fairly large mountain to cover it.
Regards
Albert

[hintonrailways]

i think i will go fo a slope because i deffo have the space!