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Trackplan and Design.

The double-deck track plan for the KMR/VW&RY was developed in collaboration with Don Mitchell, whose experience with the ergonomic problems associated with two decks proved invaluable. It is based on the supposition that the KMR (on the upper deck) hung on until 1939 serving the dredging operations, and then profited from the war-time demand for gold. At the same time, the VW&YR (modeled mostly in a helix, but with some trackage on both decks) is assumed to have fulfilled its charter, and formed an end-to-end connection with the KMR at Sulphur Springs, and an interchange with the Canadian Pacific Railway at Sicamous, BC (on the lower deck). The route map on the previous page shows a possible route by which the VW&YR might have approached Sulphur Springs, up the Dominion Creek valley. Similarly, there is a credible route by which the VW&YR could have accessed Sicamous at its southern end. Upper level track plan
The layout design and is faithful to the Yukon and British Columbia geography (with places along the railways in the correct order) within the limits imposed by selective compression. On the track plan, the numbers refer to the viewpoints of the corresponding photos found in the Layout Tour section.

There is a higher-resolution, larger version of each part of the track plan available. To go there, click on which ever part of the low-resolution trackplans at right you are interested in. A click on the high resolution version will toggle you back here.

 Lower level track plan

A double-deck layout poses some interesting ergonomic challenges. As is seen from the trackplans, the upper-deck rail level varies in height above the floor from 62 to 67 inches, and that of the lower deck from 47 to 49 inches. This provides an average height difference of roughly 16 inches, in which the upper deck benchwork, the upper fascia, and the lower deck railway scene are to be accommodated.

The heights of the decks, the depth of the decks from front to back, and the eye-level of the viewer all interact. Thus a view into the back of the bottom deck may be impeded for a standing viewer with an eye-level above 60 inches, for larger deck depths (as illustrated at right). To counteract this, deck depths have been kept to 9 inches or less for much of the layout. Where scenes required more front-to-back space on the lower deck, the depth of the upper deck was kept to a minimum at those points (see below).

 Layout cross-section
Narrow decks at Soda and Clanwilliam Wide deck at Sicamous
Narrow benchwork at Soda (top) and Clanwilliam (bottom). Lori Neumann and Brian Pate watch a freight leaving Soda during Vanrail2007. Photo by Dave Adams. Wider benchwork on the bottom deck accomodates the dual gauge interchange yard at Sicamous, worked by Seth Neumann at Vanrail2007. Photo by Dave Adams.

As the layout benchwork was constructed, access problems were discovered, particularly to the back of the top deck in places. These were corrected by reducing the depth of the lower deck at these points. Access problems to the underside of the top deck (needed for the adjustment of switch mechanisms and the working -and lit - switchstands) were also encountered. These were corrected by installing access panels in the upper deck fascia.