Things are going slow

The ceiling in the second section is progressing, slowing. I got most of it installed around the helix area and then I ran into another bottleneck. There is a transition that is causing me fits. I trying to build covers for some of the duct work to minimize the elevation change of the ceiling. The transitions are all different and must come together some way. I'm working out the details. I'm just slow.

Connection between the two levels

I put in the benchwork for the lower level and decided to start to put up the upper level to see how the transition was going to work. I was making all of these measurements and settled on where the upper level needed to go. It is a little too high for a yard that may go in this locations. I started looking around and realized I was getting ahead of myself.

I looked up toward the ceiling and I remembered the ceiling needed to go in first. If I put the benchwork in before the ceiling, it would be very hard to get to the ceiling. So the benchwork will have to wait and the ceiling is at the top of the list.

This will allow me time to think about where to connect to the rest of the benchwork.

Don't you hate it when.....

you start a project and then all of these alternative ideas start floating around. I now have 3 different track plans going for the helix area. Some of these ideas will change the benchwork locations. There are sections of benchwork that won't change, so I'm still working at getting those parts put in.
The biggest idea change is trying to locate a second yard. I was having trouble trying to fit the second yard in with the existing benchwork. This called for me to look at extending some of the benchwork to accommodate the other yard. One good thing could be that with the extended area for the rise to the upper level there may not be a helix. I'm still looking at the possibilities.
The important thing is that I'm building what I can while deciding on the few pieces that will change the way the railroad will operate.

Stud work for the Helix area

The stud walls I put up for the rise feom the lower to the upper level. There is about 25" on the inside in case cleaning or repairs are needed from the inside of the helix.

Staging

The staging area I was talking about the other day.

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Upper Level Plans

This is the plan for the upper level. As before the double lined benchwork is actually in place.
Traveling Clockwise from staging in the lower left, you will make a right turn and then a left where you will run into a town on the left side of the second room. This might be a small yard. I'm still playing with ideas. You would travel on around the room to the opposite side of the room for another town. You continue on around the wall and back into the first room where you will find the helix area. Depending on how this area works out there should be two or three towns all together the details aren't complete.
Below staging you will find a reverse loop for ease in staging trains. There will probably be a helix from the lower to the upper level for continuous running,

Lower Level Plans

I figured out how to upload plans from auto cad, so I decided to share them.

This is the lower level. Benchwork that is already in place is indicated by the double lines. Single lines are approximate.

Staging starts in the lower left. You travel clockwise up the left and turn the corner where you will find the first town. Continuing on you will end up in Rigby yard and industrial area. You will leave the yard and come across a large industry that juts into the middle of the room. Continuing you will find the next town. You then travel around back into the first room and come around to the donut in the middle that will serve as a kind helix to the upper level. I do believe that there will be two towns in this area as yet to be determined.

The area coming out across from staging may or may not happen. It could be a large industry, part of an extended helix or maybe a second yard (for the upper level. We'll see how it goes.

Below staging you will find a reverse loop for ease in staging trains. There will probably be a helix from the lower to the upper level for continuous running,

Staging Benchwork

Over the last two days I put in the staging benchwork for both levels and attached them to the rest of the layout. This brings me up to approximately 115 feet continuous on the both the upper and lower level. I still have to put in the reversing loop area for staging. The only other area left is where the helix area will be that will connect the upper and lower levels.
I was working on the stud work for the helix until I ran out of 2 x 4's. Another trip to Lowe's is in order. Now to make a list.
I have been trying to keep up with the benchwork in Auto Cad also so as my plan develops I'll know if everything will fit and whether or not I'll have turnout issues where the cross members are located.

Benchwork connected

I didn't get much benchwork done today, however I did get the phase 1 & 2 sections connected. I now have approximately 100 feet of continuous benchwork on both the upper and lower levels. The upper and lower levels are not connected yet. That is coming later.
I did remove the temporary staging yard so that I could get the benchwork connected. I will need a little more bracing to stabilize the benchwork.
A couple of choices I have for the next job will be the studs and the benchwork for the staging yard. The other choice would be to put a little road work in to see if the benchwork height will be right. That will help to ensure that the staging height will be right when I get there.

40 More Feet of Benchwork

This is technically phase II. The first part of that is the L shaped area along two walls. I put studs up along the walls so I could attach the benchwork to it. I was able to put up about 40 feet of benchwork. 20 on top and 20 on the bottom. This benchwork leads to the staging areas. The top picture shows the phase 1 to the right .

Working our way to the left, this picture shows the middle of the area that was built today. The center top and both levels to the left are 12" deep. They are areas that the trains will travel in between towns. There will be a town on the lower shelf in the center of the picture. This area is 20" deep.

The bottom picture shows the narrow shelf leading to staging, which will be to the left of this picture. All of the open area in the front will be filled with benchwork. I will have to have everything done around the walls before I build this section, or I may not get everything into the far corners.

Going Going Gone

The wood rack (above) is in its final stages of life. It was a floor to ceiling rack with many storage shelves. The right hand uprights will stay temporarily, since it is still holding up the benchwork. Below I have added some uprights for the benchwork that will be along the wall. I placed test pieces for the benchwork to see if the width of the shelves and the 30" aisles will be a good fit.

Now I'll clean up the mess I made and see what can be salvaged and what needs to be thrown away.

It has been decided...

..the wood rack comes out.
I have modified my track plan and moved the benchwork away from the wall. This will create a different traffic flow. I still need to decide between 2 "nod under's", a reversal of the orientation of east and west between the upper and lower level.
I have asked friends and people in the Layout Design SIG. It is pretty much a mixed bag of what people like. Right now I'm leaning to ease of construction and no "nod under's". Either way the new benchwork that I'm working on should be basically the same. So, I can be working on the benchwork while I'm deciding.