Life would have been simpler if I would have been comfortable with a hill no taller than the tunnel portal. But, those who follow this blog know I am not that simple. Today a railroad would simply make a huge, wide, cut or fill, but that removes those tight, scenic views we modelers desire.
Over the last few weeks I have been making a mountain out of a molehill. There was always a tunnel for the lower reverse loop that is just 5" below a proposed industrial area. My goal is to construct scenic view sites that highlight only one elevation at a time unless a somewhat realistic profile can be devised.
This earlier photo shows the basic sub-roadbed for the entire HO layout.
As you can see we struggled to gain elevation to clear the lower level while keeping our 1.8% maximum grade. This would simulate the early days of tinplate, almost everything visible from everywhere. Today's modelers use view blocks to separate scenes and increase the perceived size of the layout. This end section of the layout will receive the most attention with bridges, tunnel, mountain, overpass, mine, creek and road.
A few weeks ago I mocked in the tunnel portal visible from the long left side in the above photo.
The curved white piece above the portal simulates the mountain that requires the tunnel and also blocks the view of the upper level track just 5" above.
Just a couple of feet along the main we will use an underpass or bridge to allow the mine entrance track to logically pass just below the upper main.
As both tracks reach the end of the layout they curve to the left with the lower passing under the upper and running through a deep cut before plunging into the tunnel, obscured by the cardboard wall of the cut.
The upper track will be supported by a three section truss bridge before it runs through its own cut as it skirts around the edge of the mountain.
This next photo shows most of the scenic action in this corner, the lower level tunnel, the 3 section truss bridge, the creek with floating blocks of wood.
The last pic is of my prototype outside truss member. It will be about 55' HO scale and the inside truss will be about 46'.
I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Come back often and maybe you might just leave a little comment , if you really want to. Or not. As the old country song says " Oh Lord it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way"
Armchair
