After three months of construction this summer, the first piece of new benchwork has been built! Given the intricately interconnected nature of the design of our layout, a lot of structural construction like the new intermediate deck and the stairs this helix nestles under had to be built before we could start actually working on track.

These two sections of benchwork are the beginnings of the base and support of a new double track helix that ties together several different parts of the layout. The inside track on the helix connects Wanapitei and Stinson, on the lower and upper levels on the opposite side of the wall at left. Wrapping around and using the outer portion of the helix at times are long hidden ramps connecting the far end of Wanapitei to Coniston, Coniston to the Falconbridge plant at Happy Valley and Creighton Mine to Milate. That’s not to mention the actual visible trackage from Clarabelle on the lower level which squeeze between the helix and the stairs and turns under the stairs to emerge on the other side of the stairs on the lower level at Milate, and Flanagan on the upper level which cuts across the top of the helix.