Easiest way to make a gradient loop helix without cliffs

[rwk]

What I want to do is make a helix loop because of two routes I joined together having different heights. But, when I use the smooth tool to raise land under the track on the helix, then it just creates a narrow curved strip of land under the track with vertical cliffs, how do I do something similar to Tehachapi Loop where it has sloping embankments and not this track in the sky effect? I could try raising ground inside of the loop to start. How do I get rid of the vertical cliffs where the two routes joined?

 

[grazlash]

You could use a combination of smoothing tool and an embankment spline under the track. Embankment splines are very handy when you need tracks of different heights adjacent to each other.
I use J_embankment set, usually <kuid:211147:37094> j_embankment GG_GS 1/1 0-5m 1t
cheers
Graeme

 

[rwk]

I guess I will try experimenting with the land tools, but I wish there was an easy way to make graded embankments and raise land to meet with vertical cliffs. There is a tool to make slopes but no tool to make land conform to irregular land edges. What I could do is try making sloped land with splines, like road or track then deleting the road or track or by using the make mountain tool and pulling at the vertical cliffs under the track helix. Maybe I should download a Tehachapi route if there is a free one to see how it's done. I tried searching Loops on the DLS and just the gfisher Loops route comes up which is the former Southern now NS in western NC near Asheville. There is a Loops route on Switchback Trainz as well which looks very good maybe better and more accurate to the real thing than gfisher's.

 

[stagecoach]

You can use freeway roads set from the track to a lower level and then smooth ground, or use a wide brush and use the level ground selection, and start going down from the track, little bits at a time. At the end, just do the smooth ground under the track again.