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….......--- New Track Plans for UP's Canyon Division ---
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NOTE: If you are looking for the page that use to be here with my intended layout 2 years back you can find it ( HERE ). I finally realized that it was too large for the age I'm at and didn't like the part of the shop that it was in as it was difficult to heat. So moving on to a simpler layout that still probably won't ever be finished but hopefully to the point of running trains on it.
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Above is my N scale track plan with the layout being 6 ft. X 24.5 feet. As of July 2025 I have the track down in the hidden storage and into it and out of it a ways. Also the track is down in the coal mine scene. Most all the roadbed is down on the upper level and quite a bit is down on the south side (bottom of the picture). No roadbed is down where the roundhouse will go or the large yard to the right of it yet.
There is a lower level that will consist of a large yard and engine facility along with a passenger station and a few industries. A train leaving that area in one direction ( East )would enter a hidden staging area (right side). Leaving in the other direction ( West ) the train would enter a tunnel and proceed via a track elevator that will take the train the upper level tracks. There are also run-around tracks to around the track elevator on both levels.
It would then proceed around the upper level tracks. There are long scenic sections and a large sawmill scene on the east end over the hidden staging. The train can lap the upper level or reverse direction there if need. Eventually it would end up back at the track elevator. The elevator would take the train back down to the lower level where it could continue on or reverse direction coming off the elevator.
If it continues on it passes the edge of a small town on the south side with a few industries. Past the town it could continue on to the hidden staging area on the right or if it is an empty coal train proceed to the coal mine.
At the coal mine the empty train would appear to go into the coal mine loading area and disappear to the hidden staging area. At the same time a duplicate train with loaded coal cars would emerge from the coal mine and head back eastward on the main line. Hopefully the illusion would be a train being loaded with coal at the mine. More about that concept ( HERE ).
The track elevator in the lower left above can move a N scale train up to 12 feet long between the lower level tracks and the upper level tracks which are a little over 10 inches above the lower level. The upper level is shown in blue above. There is a back drop separating the north and south sides of the layout. Also another that separates the sawmill scene above the hidden staging from the coal mine scene.
It will be possible to have continuous running on either the lower level or the upper level or maybe even between them depending on if I can automate the track elevator.
The layout is located where the 'build table' and Bonneville Lakester race car shown above and next was.
Next is some info on the track elevator that has been built.
At first I'd considered a helix to accomplish moving a train between the lower and upper level but then decide to try going this route. I saves about 50 feet of track and the time it would take the train to move from the lower level to the upper level on the 50 feet of track. One negative I've read from those who use a helix is the long wait for a train to travel the helix between levels.
The train enters the elevator section from either direction. If the elevator isn't going to be raised or lowered on either level the train wouldn't enter the oval on the elevator but would continue on around the bottom side of the elevator and stay or either the lower or upper level as if there was no elevator.
When the train uses the elevator one of the turnouts is thrown and the train enters the oval on the elevator. Before it reached the opposing turnout it stops. Then the elevator would rise or descend to the other level. The elevator could hold a train up to 10 feet in length.
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Track Elevator Info:
The following was how I envisioned construction and pretty much on how it went. Constructions starts (HERE) and a video of it in operation (HERE).
There will be an outer box, shown above, with particle board sides. The particle board will give me a box with a smooth inner surface that small castor wheels can roll on. This box will be secured to the main layout structure in the corner of it and won't move.
The center section of the elevator that will have the track base and the track attached to the top will move up and down inside the outer box section. There will be 4 small castors one each side of the center section as shown above.
The castors are quite small at under ¾ of and inch in height (1.8 cm). I have these on order as I write this so this might change if I don't like them.
I believe that the following pictures should explain what I have in mind but ask questions or make comments.
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The elevator will be pinned at the end of its travel on the upper or lower level to hopefully line it up with the tracks on each of those levels.
I'll post pictures as I build this and we will see how it turns out. Might be a failure.
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