tohandle trains going inandout of staging is apossible
solution. Another solution is automatingup-the-helix
operation so anup train stops short of Toh Jct. (TopOf
Helix). A crew launches their train, leisurely saunters
around the layout, thenpicks it up againonce it reaches
the topof thehelix. This is theAchilles heel of theBC&SJ
track plan.
Lackof helix visibilitymaybeaproblemonce thepeninsula
backdropand sceneryare installed. Crewsmayfind it
difficult to follow their trains’ progresson thehelix. I’m
hoping LEDoccupancydisplayswill help.
I’mnot certain afive-milemain line is sufficient for TT&TO
operation. Some say 10miles of track and10 towns is
needed! Gulp… So far, TT&TO seems tobeworkingwith
a three-milemain line and three sidings. Hopefully opswill
improvewhen thefinal twomiles ofmain line and two
additional sidings are added.
11: Thebeginningsof thehelix inOctober, 2011.
Thepeninsulabackdrop is abiguncertaintyuntil I get it
installed. Installationaccess isnone toogood, but it
wouldn’t havebeen feasible to install it first and thenbuild
the railroad. Perhaps I shouldhave supported itwitha2x4
spinewall down thepeninsula insteadof thedual TJI joist L-
girders andhelix table support I’musing.
Backdropheight is another concern; all theway to the
ceilingappeals tomebecause itmaximizes the feelingof
isolation for crews andworksbetter as aphotobackdrop.
But I’ll needmore fast clocks (theexistingoneswill no
longer bevisible), and theairmayget stuffy.
The future
Getting the railroad ready for the2015national convention is
onmymind. Iwant benchwork, backdrops, and trackworkfin-
ishedandhope toget a lot of TerraForming™done.
After the convention, thereare lotsof structures tobuild,
bridges tofinish, creeks and rivers to liquefy, abaleof twoof
static grass to shake, andabout 10,001 trees toplant.
10: ShootingAlcoMania inOakhill inApril, 2010.
10
11
Bear Creek&South Jackson- 10
MRH-Apr2014
