Train Ideas Layout

This is my interpretation of the layout shown in the #7777 Train Ideas Book. The original is a 12V layout and I've had to modify two aspects of it to make it work with 9V trains. First, the point geometry is different and makes the parallel tracks further apart. Second, the original inclines rise at 1 brick per straight which doesn't work very well with 9V trains. So I have reduced the inclines to 2 plates per straight which stretches the whole thing out.

The support pillars are shown in red, the further they stick out the taller they are. Their height is indicated in the form x.y, where x is the number of bricks and y is the number of plates.

I've allowed a height of 13 bricks and 1 plate for the upper track, this is more than usual 12 bricks since it runs directly over another track for some distance and the standard pillars wont work here. These special pillars are shown in yellow and need to be gantry shaped (i.e. two legs and a crosspiece), the extra height allows a train to clear the crosspiece and would also allow you to build a bridge similar to the one shown in the #7777 Train Ideas Book.

I don't expect many people have enough straigts to build this layout, you could try shortening the inclines by making them rise 1 brick per straight but I'm not sure how well it would work. This would shorten the entire layout by 6 straights and reduce the number of straights required by 5 boxes.