I see Proses are starting to advertise a vertical lift unit for pre-order.   Just a single deck to begin with but apparently a multi-deck version later.   Could be the answer for those wanting something like the Nelevator.

https://proses.com/shop/helix-systems/330-30-singledouble-helix-r28-to-r32.html

IMAO they're right to pitch it as an alt to helices - KISS.

I saw this last month, seems like a good idea and if my maths is right (dubious) it can be made long enough for full length HSTs in N.

I may have made a track design that makes use of this already 

Skyline2uk

Hey there,

this reminds me of
https://joeschwarz.ch/.
Seen his elevator-displays in Friedrichshafen in November 2024, and he will be in Dortmund for Intermodellbau next week. Looking forward to discuss a possible use with him.
No idea about a pricetag yet 

Cheers, Christian

Those appear to just be display cases? Which are nothing like the Proses/Nelevation solution... 

You're right, sorry. The webpage focusses on the standard displays. This might give a better idea:

Facebook1

Facebook2

The moving display absolutely impressed me on the fair.

Chris

Interesting at has three stop positions. I wonder how many people would use all three.

Quote from: F2Andy on April 03, 2025, 10:05:46 AMInteresting at has three stop positions. I wonder how many people would use all three.

Depends how many levels of fiddleyard you want to create?   Personally I would prefer the Nelevator approach of multiple decks as the storage and just the one level of entry/exit. Not so bothered about actually driving on/off other levels.

My DIY elevator (that can be seen at

https://youtu.be/m_bkciU72-8) has 10 levels. It's successor, now in the course of manufacture, will have 15 levels and be about 10cm longer to accommodate longer rakes. I store all my stock on the elevator and can introduce any consist to the layout as I please. there is no way that I could find the space for an equivalent fiddle yard..

As it stands the Proses item purely replaces a helix (i.e. changes levels). It is not a fiddle yard, unlike the Nelevator and Sharkeys excellent home build.
I'll be keeping an eye open for future products, though, as it would be great to replace my ladder fiddle yard with something 'off the shelf'

 

Has anybody further knowledge/experience regards this item please? It seems a good idea.

Having looked at several sets of specifications, there are various platform lengths given but nowhere can I see the platform width. 

It seems to only be available in kit form which may be a bit of a challenge for more elderly customers like me, and I wonder how easy it would be to maintain/repair once assembled. 

 

These are a good Idea. I've built 3D printer kits in the past and it looks like these use the same types of hardware; stepper motors, lead screws, linear bearings on guide rails etc. there's no reason why they couldn't be built long enough for full HST or Pendo sets - it's just a matter of cost.

Though the components these are made out of really aren't expensive so anyone with the knowledge could DIY one however by the time you get it all together into a kit and put it out there for sale there are a lot of costs to recoup - so pretty much the same as anything else in the hobby really!

DCC-EX has stepper motor control functionality so that's the way I would go, then it could be controlled as just another layout accessory, any completely automated if I wanted.

I'm planning to make a horizontal traverser in this way one day, which is much the same really.

Will.

Sharkey51
What a great layout you have even without your elevatotor the detail and the speed control is really good congratulations .
Bob

Thank you for the kind observations, Bob.

If anything, the speed control is even better now that I've got Zimo sound decoders and a modicum of stay-alive, in all the locos. I found the ESU's were fine, but the Zimo's seem to be next level. It's also a testament to the quality of original Poole-era Farish loco mechanisms that they all run so well, some of them nearly half a century after manufacture.

Even though my son and I have only just commissioned Elevator Mk2, he is now working on Mk3, which promises to be an even better construction/design. He also has it in mind to make it "assemble yourself", which will be a good thing as I'm in Sydney and he's about to spend 2 years in New York! For those on the forum who are still thirsting for a N-elevator, our Mk3 might be able to fill a spot. Watch this space!