LO#5 - Tunnel Portals and Underpass

Yesterday I promised some pics of scenery profiles and details.  To create an upper level on an HO 5'x10' layout with 23" curves the track gets pushed near the edge all around.  This creates a situation where the layout is literally cut out of the earth and placed on a table.

The lower level is visible only on one side (front) and one end.  The far (back) side will have profile boards mostly up at the upper level.  The other end will have the transition from lower to upper levels including the curved turnout leading to an extension for yard and industry.

My goal is to get enough scenery above the upper level track to justify a tunnel for the reverse loop yet sloping enough to display the lower track.

The following pictures show the mockups of tunnel portals and underpass.

This is the portal on the front side with mockup scenery above.

An underpass allows access to the mine area spur.

 

This is the tunnel portal visible from the end, looking over the three section truss bridge.

Marv will have three more turnouts and connecting track to install and wire before we can get into scenery.  Some of this had to be removed to accommodate the track crew, but I now have some documentation to remind me in the future.  Another two weeks and we should be able to run trains on all the main line, top and bottom.  The fun begins!

Armchair