Cumberland Station TTrak and Other Adventures

[Philip H]

I have no idea how big T-trak is, but if there is some sort of home base for the place you should send them a few photos.

http://ttrak.wikidot.com/

http://www.t-trak.org/

[peteski]

I have no idea how big T-trak is, but if there is some sort of home base for the place you should send them a few photos.

http://ttrak.org/

T-TRAK is like NTRAK - a modular standard - just smaller than NTRAK.
It operates just like NTRAK (it was actually conceived and popularized by NTRAK founder's wife).

[Ed Kapuscinski]

http://ttrak.org/

T-TRAK is like NTRAK - a modular standard - just smaller than NTRAK.
It operates just like NTRAK (it was actually conceived and popularized by NTRAK founder's wife).

Lee was more than just Jim's wife. She (and her first husband Bud) were NTRAKers for a LONG time before she met Jim!

[peteski]

Lee was more than just Jim's wife. She (and her first husband Bud) were NTRAKers for a LONG time before she met Jim!

I understand, but the T-TRAK standard was introduced to general audience while she was married to Jim.  She was the one who fell in love with smaller, more portable modules.  At least that is how I remember things.

[DKS]

OK, so now we're getting into some of the inconsequential minutiae of T-Trak's origins. I think it's enough to say when it was founded and by whom, and its relation to N-Trak as an aside, and leave it at that.

 

[peteski]

OK, so now we're getting into some of the inconsequential minutiae of T-Track's origins.
. . .

Isn't that supposed to be T-TRAK? 

[wm3798]

No, this is supposed to be my challenge thread.  Feel free to move the discussion of TTrak's origins to the N scale forum, Crew Lounge, or the Forum of your choice.  I believe @Chris333 's question was rhetorical...

Now I have to post more pictures...

[wm3798]

I guess the next thing to do will be to move this over to the Layout Engineering Reports section...  I'm going to use this as the basis for my next layout project.

Stay tuned.
Lee

[wm3798]

Started working on the next stage of the TTrak project, a "fat" 180 return module.  I added some 5" straights at the business end to give me a little more room for scenery, and to provide a short straight before some turnouts are added on th back stretch.
This is designed pretty much for home use, but it meets standards, so it can travel if the need arises.

[Point353]

Started working on the next stage of the TTrak project, a "fat" 180 return module.

Corriganville, Maryland?

[wm3798]

That would be geographically appropriate, but I'm thinking Sabillasville for the concrete overpass....

Lee

[wm3798]

Thanks for shuffling this over to the Engineering Reports, @Ed Kapuscinski . 
I'm now working on arranging these modules into a smallish home layout to replace the Retro rig I was toying with this spring.  It has to fit in my office, a corner that measures about 36-42" along the left wall, and about 84" down the back.  I could spill a little farther to the right, which puts the return loop in front of a window.
Obvi, the Station modules will be front and center, and I'm thinking about adding a wedge to put the proper bend in the track between the station and the beam bridge, probably a 15 degree turn to create a shallow chevron, which would return to a straight after the bridge module, then turn to the back corner.
Behind the skyboards will be the two main lines, along with some staging tracks and a crossover to allow some storage and some flexibility in the operation of the loopies.  The left loop and the staging areas don't have to conform to TTrak standards except at the ends.  Not much back there will be visible, but it will have to be functional and reliable... an argument for continuing with Unitrak, although I have an enormous number of Atlas c80 switches and Tortoise machines, which I believe will provide what I need in terms of functionality.

But what about all those Metroliners, I hear you ask?

As I'm sitting here typing this, I can't help but visualize a second deck above the WM themed modules that could carry a set of TTrack modules in a simple oval, or perhaps a double track HCD with cat poles and a maybe that crazy double track lift bridge I've been building in my mind...  I could do that iconic scene of the Meadowlands with the NEC passing over a swamp, and scatter the landscape with chunks of Penn Station's pink granite and statuary...

We'll see where we go from here...
Lee

[Point353]

But what about all those Metroliners, I hear you ask?

As I'm sitting here typing this, I can't help but visualize a second deck above the WM themed modules that could carry a set of TTrack modules in a simple oval, or perhaps a double track HCD with cat poles and a maybe that crazy double track lift bridge I've been building in my mind... 

For the end loops of that second deck oval you must use the Kato superelevated curve tracks:
https://www.katousa.com/N/Unitrack/concrete.html

[davefoxx]

But what about all those Metroliners, I hear you ask?

As I'm sitting here typing this, I can't help but visualize a second deck above the WM themed modules that could carry a set of TTrack modules in a simple oval, or perhaps a double track HCD with cat poles and a maybe that crazy double track lift bridge I've been building in my mind...  I could do that iconic scene of the Meadowlands with the NEC passing over a swamp, and scatter the landscape with chunks of Penn Station's pink granite and statuary...

Why not the Anacostia lift bridge, where you can park 'em in the river prototypically? 

[wm3798]

Looks like the set up is getting a case of the bends...



I'm going to build a wedge module to rotate the sections 30 degrees.  The scenery will be a continuation of what's on the main modules, so it can be displayed "with" or "without"

For the home set up, I have to work out whether I'll use a 30 degree return at one end to straighten it out, or use two 15's.  Probably the latter, because that would make the whole system compatible with a public set up.  I'll have to work out the transition lengths to make sure they stay in spec.

It will definitely make it more enjoyable to watch, and also a little closer to the prototype with the bend in the creek.

Lee