Thanks Stony- Sincerely! I needed that!!

OK- I really DON"T want to go to great lenghts explaining this but....I built this Z-Bend module- 3'x 3' to go to the National Train Show in Cincinatti. I wanted to have several trains running on the one module- independant of the Z-Bend double tracks on main level. So I built UP for the old time freight train- a figure 8-- and down for the other trains ( ovals). By building the drop down- it allowed me to have Mesa Verde built into and under a cliff. A road tunnel INSIDE the mountain- see arched openings, a bunch of white water rafters going over a very steep water fall- Crazy Horse and other "hidden" things such as a cave with a camp fire. Much of this side was inspired by or trip West-Mount Zion National Park and others-etc. <br /> When joined to other modules- Which was done at Timonium-Md, it could take up to 5 minutes for a train to make the circuit and traverse this module. NOT good for viewing public- so these other trains would pop out in much shorter intervals.- Plus the lower trains were easier for the kids to see- but MUCH harder to monitor!<br />The 3'x3' is the accepted standard for modules- I guess that is the easiest for transport- but they come in all shapes and sizes now.<br />Somewhere in my youth- I read John Allen's book and was impressed how he often built his layouts up and sometimes down to floor level.This was my truncated attempt-. The module is also divided by high mountains- running down the middle- shielding the East Coast from viewing from this western side.<br />The drop down bolts to the legs and the side facia, and is easily removed for transportation. It allows much more scenery in a 3' linear space. I posted some crude diagrams on - Just For Fun - to try to explain this idea. I'm sure I'm not the first- but I have rarely seen it used and think it is great for Z-- 18" drop down is extreeme-- 4"-6" would enhance any layout- taking away the FLATNESS of all the show modules, making the trains run in and through the landscape instead of running around it.<br />Plus I'm in the process of building two end modules for the home layout that will incoperate the drop down on this side. And Wings on the other side for the New England coast.<br />The fotos are actually the SAME- I cut and pasted- not by computer- the lower facia board to show what the layout would look like if there were no drop down. I could only run one independant train above main line. The black on the bottom is the skirt.

Interesting but why?