Questions, Answers & Tips - 2
Unfortunately, that combination produces a 5.3% grade.
To achieve a 4% (1:25) grade, the track radius will need
to be greater, the roadbed and access space thinner, or the
helix will need to be stretched into an oval to put more run-
ning track into each level. Calculations say 96" divided by 25 =
3-3/4" of separation. That’s linear run divided by grade equals
rise-per-lap.
Jeff Shultz noted that with all that track in a helix (1), double
or triple track could make the helix an extension of the staging
yard, and maybe allow stealing room from the staging yard to
make the helix a bit larger.
A solution to extend the run in the helix is "herniating" one or
more of the mid-helix loops into a little shadowbox scene, as a
check if the train is still moving. "Crawling worm" indicator sys-
tems can trace trains as they navigate the helix, and if a "worm"
of LED indicators suddenly splits in two, you know there’s a
breakaway! Cheap security cameras are another way to monitor
action within the helix.
D.K. Austin suggests searching eBay for a commercial helix kit to
get a good idea of what is involved. Even an N scale helix with a
15” inch total rise is going to take up a table area of about 36” x
36”. That is deeper than a modern house closet.
CoolRidge69Vette is planning a new N scale layout with a helix at
the end of his mainline run, to spiral down to a lower level stag-
ing and storage yard. “I was formerly considering a 36" diameter
unit,” he said. “The discussion fits my arrangement as well, so
now I'll be designing it around the idea of a 40" helix. I appreci-
ate the discussion ... I love the information on this site.”
Helixes –
– MRH
What’s in the hopper?
Q.
I’m going to model the Johns-Manville company in
Richmond, IN as it was in the mid-1970s. They received
a lot of covered hoppers, but I don’t know what was in
them. The company’s current website says products include
Formaldehyde-free™ fiberglass building insulation, commer-
cial roofing membranes and roof insulations, filtration media,
and mats and reinforcements. And, did they ship finished
products in boxcars?
– NS Engineer
A.
“If it's a roofing and insulation manufacturer, I would say one
possibility for the covered hoppers is roofing granules. I know
the WC used to move a lot of it,” said Mike (wcrails). “The gran-
ules are used in making shingles.”
Jason Cook found a recent aerial view of the factory at
“In looking at the imagery, there is a white-roofed shed type
structure and I assume an under-track unloading pit where the
covered hopper is parked next to it. The coloration of the mate-
rial in and around the shed reminds me of cullet, broken glass,”
Jason said.
“I know there is a customer on the Indiana Northeastern
Railroad in Ashley, Indiana, that loads out cullet in covered hop-
pers, I assume from the Guardian Industries windshield plant
in Ashley. If you look at the tracks on the east-west axis along
the plant, I see seven covered hoppers on two tracks … there
appears to be a light-colored material on the track in places. I
will guess that is soda ash or silica. The longer cars are probably
the soda ash, the shorter ones the silica.
“Any chance you have some pictures of this plant from the
1970s? I'd be interested in seeing the mix of cars back then. Be
MRH-Mar 2014
