NTS & B The case of the misbehaving Santa and Snowman

As you might have guessed, this layout is a toy train layout, not a detailed sceniced one, and therefore will contain many operating accessories. The Santa and Snowman car presented many challenges when adding it to the layout. It was so tall, that Santa wouldn’t clear the bottom of the Helix. If I adjusted the trestle so Santa would clear the Helix, the trestle ramp was so low that my poor break man was almost beheaded (pictures 1 and 2). It was also so wide that it presented problems with the siding next to it. Since this is the first accessory I am adding, it was particuallary discouraging to think that I could not use it on the layout. I played with different ways to build a new trestle, but couldn't come up with a way unil I happened to be in Lowe's deck parts area. They had some heavy metal strapping about 2 foot long, by 1 inch wide. I ended up making a new taller trestle, and rerouting the passing track under the helix to exit later in the loop to get everything to clear. The last 2 pictures show the new trestle, which will be painted later. Check out my youtube movie at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgPzHFPyLNg to see it in action.

NTS & B Helix Loop Complete

The helix loop is complete for now, with lights and scenery installed. Maybe in a few years I will add more detail, but for now it is done. A couple pictures of the towns on the North Pole (ceiling) section of the loop.

Picture of overall Helix loop from bottom loop to North Pole

The stop at the Iceburg community. That boy shouldn't

be making a tunnel so close to the tracks

The bridge leaving the North Pole

The North Pole

The North Pole Yard.

Santa's Reindeer barn and training facility

Santa's taking a practice run