UPPER TRACK BORING! 027 LAYOUT

On the back side you could place some scenery in the front of the track that is high enough to hide the back portion of track. At each corner going into the curves on the back sides of the curves you could build hills higher then the track. Then when the train went around the back it would be hidden for a time by the scenery in front of it before it came around the other side...................Paul

It needs a reason to be elevated. Box in along the wall and some of the corners. Tunnel the lower track. Put a passenger station at the residential end with some stairs going up to it.

Paul and Carl,Both your ideas are great and they both use the hide the train-trains idea to make them much more interesting. That's great and something that I can handle. Thank you. Azgary

AZGARY,

   Consider some switches on both sides of the oval and sidings along the inside of the 2nd level, which re-enter your master 2nd level oval.  Keep them close and use them to park rolling stock on, insert a 2nd level train house, to make your 2nd level a little more complex, with a peanut design.  You have the space, use a little of it.

PCRR/Dave

For freight I agree more, but a full passenger el's reason for being is often to avoid congestion, and waits by trains, and traffic.

Platforms at least ties it to the ground.

Elevated scenery can even be as small as a corner hill.

A platform, and/or a crane, or crane car, provides for loading and unloading...(please go to the white zone.) 

A crane car negates needs for anything, with some imagination applied.

My MOW services mostly from the el lowering what ever the crew may need.

 I changed my loop.

I added a corner plateau/tunnel & "bent" the loop and offset the ends to cover the area under it better. It opened up the center view on one side, and it brings a broad curving, and a short snakeing motion into the picture up high.

My lower loops take care of my straight away views and has broader curves.

A man after my own heart. I love the slot car track integrated in the layout. I have a carrera 1/43 scale slot car set I plan to do the same. Well done sir!

Your layout is interesting to say the least, combination of H.O. race car track and 027 track and Plasticville buildings. I used H.O. race car track for my airport runway as well, it looks good with two race car tracks side by side and spray painted black on the top to hide the electric wires in the track.

I tried something similar to what you did for a second level a few years ago and wanted something more. I went and added a second level by using a smaller sheet of plywood then the first level and put 2 by 4's with 2 screws in each end on each 2 by 4, used four 2 by 4's. After a couple of months I added an elevated line to the second level with one by one wooden supports, you could substitute dowel rods.

To hide my wires I put the wires in a plastic tube and put some wires on the bottom of the second level's plywood.

I have some photos of my previous layout somewhere, one is Ogre Pass, I think there on www.photobucket.com username; kookooclock027

Lee Fritz

GG  This is an Autoworld Dragstrip with return road and a Tyco Hi-banked corkscrew built into it. The race track runs 3 ft. further than the train table.   It is a great close up hands on toy and then blends in nicely to the 027 train layout.  Azgary

This is the kind of responses I was hoping for. Everything from mild to wild. With a skill level of mild I'm sure that is where I will stay for now. Thank you to all who have given me there input.  Azgary