You may have seen an article about my layout called Khan in 009 News. I have also written a bit about this on rmweb. If you are intersted and want to see a few more photos (including during construction), please follow this link: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=28237 (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=28237)
It has been a lot of fun building it and my thanks are due to many people who have helped along the way. It was made with exhibiting in mind if anybody feels brave enough to invite a 'first timer'!
Julian
Congratulations. I beg to differ with you on one claim you make
I read the article in the 009 News with interest, and was intrigued to see what the track plan looked like. The photos and plan in your blog are excellent!
I have had idle thoughts of a double (up and down) spiral as you have and it is great to see that it can be done. What did the baseboard builders use as the "piers" for the sprials please? They look like they may be threaded rod in tubes from the photo. Is that so?
Paul, Graeme,
Thank you for your kind remarks. I'm glad you found the layout interesting.
Taking the questions in order.
I had to work to quite a tight loading gauge in order to get the vertical separation without creating gradients too big for the trains to manage. The maximum height of the rolling stock from rail to roof top is 42mm and the maximum width is 30mm. I did not have a loading gauge for the real railway when I was building, but a chap at an exhibition in Germany found one for me and I wasn't too far out. However, in some cases I have had to shave back the 'rock faces' when I got too close. I am currently building the Backwoods steam railcar and I fear more shaving will be required.
Very glad to hear that Eitomo has gone to a new home. I have spoken to Howard at a couple of exhibitions and he was very encouraging. Not too many African 009 models about so we must stick together! If you do exhibit Eitomo somewhere in the vicinity of Woking (Surrey) please let me know.
On the spirals, I am pretty sure they are made by having a threaded rod which runs through the separate passes, kept apart by hollow rods. I think this system is made by White Rose Modelworks who advertise in RM, but I am not completely certain.
Best wishes, Julian