T-Trak PRR Northeast Corridor Interlocking

[apudelek]

Good Morning Folks,

I've been a lurker here on TRW for a couple of years now (I think?) and I'm a PRR modeler, albeit a novice.

I have collected a large number of PRR and NH passenger equipment in the hope of creating a layout representing the Northeast Corridor.  Now that I have some time on my hands this winter (but not the space to start building a full layout), I figured T-Trak would be a good way to start off.  I have two main ideas for my first module.  I know I want to model a full 4-track interlocking on the Corridor (I'm thinking about NJ) and I have two different ideas in my head for them:

The first is NASSAU, near Princeton Junction.  What I like about NASSAU is the catenary style is close to what I've already had some success in 3D printing, and I like the standard interlocking tower design there.  Unfortunately, the substation and tower are on the opposite side of the tracks from the Princeton Branch, which I do not care for because then I would not have a working branch and still be able to show the tower and substation.  It also seems to be cluttered with the switches inside the platform limits.  Here are screenshots of my plans for NASSAU from SCARM, along with a photo of the tower and substation:

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My second idea is COUNTY, near South Brunswick, site of the Millstone Branch, County Yard (apparently named after a PRR executive at the turn of the century), and a few spurs off the side as well.  I have the Millstone Branch curving off between the tower and substation and a small spur, which I really think adds some depth to this idea.  My idea is to allow the Millstone Branch to be a DCC programming track (isolated with a toggle on the panel for programming) and to stage a couple MOW cars on the other spur that's Railroad East of the Tower.  There is a lot to COUNTY operationally at face value, but there are some drawbacks.  I hate the "tower" if you want to call it that:  it's a junky-looking brick building with no architectural flare.  The catenary is also the high New Brunswick-style catenary and dissimilar to the designs I have made and likely difficult to replicate due to the height of the crossbeams.  Here are some screenshots of my designs as well as one of COUNTY's interlocking "tower:"

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In case you are wondering, MIDWAY also made the short list, but I didn't like the idea of the New Road overpass cluttering the module.  There was some interest however, with the long-gone Monmouth Junction Station, and the Jamestown and Rocky Hill Branches, all just Railroad East of the bridge.  But again, clutter...

My plan is to 3D print my catenary poles to fit the Kato pole size (to be easy to set up on the floor and fit their bases as well as ensure curve clearances) but I would design a second set with hollow bases to cement a magnet to sit on the module, as the gentleman that built the Old Line Corridor did.  I am planning on using Steven Smith's substation designs from Shapeways; I love his catenary but it's not wide enough for T-Trak and it is very expensive now with Shapeways, so I made my own using Windows 3D design and some plans I found online.  My turnouts will all be local control with switches and indicator lights on the fascia, but also wired for DCC with a Digitrax stationary decoder to run them remotely, either from my throttle or a computer screen.  Luckily, my father is an electronics wizard and has already given me a hand with the wiring plans. I would like to have the ability to flip the wiring using joiners to go from home DCC use to the T-Trak standard BWWB as I've seen done on this forum.

I am planning on a Masterpiece modules quad 14+ for this first module so I can fit 4 tracks and catenary poles, with #2 and #3 track (the center 2) being the "regular" T-Trak standard tracks.  I may buy a second quad as well to get a bit more length to stage a consist on for some photos.

Let me know what you all think about this plan.  I'm excited to get rolling here, but I would appreciate your input on the decisions I have to make, especially with the prototype planning.

Very Respectfully,

Andrew

PRR & NH Passenger Operations in Electrified Territory

[Ed Kapuscinski]

YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!

BUILD IT!!!!!!

You might also be interested in Holmesburg Junction in Philly.
https://goo.gl/maps/rNVQt7Li3LZPfW3CA

The magnet trick for cat poles is genius, and all credit belongs to @Lemosteam who first did it on my poles here:

[apudelek]

@Ed Kapuscinski I remember seeing your cat poles now in the PRR FB group and I was pretty impressed by the efforts of @Lemosteam and yourself.  Either way, then I can remove them for cleaning or if I'm dumb enough to knock them down.  For now though, I'll have to suffice with my big-a$$ loop on the living room floor and make up some consists.  I'll post some of my floor Pennsy action soon.  I'd love to do a passenger terminal someday and I have some long-term plans for that.  But this is definitely a good starting point I believe.

Looking for more MG Tower module updates as well, I hear you're involved in that project???  I went with the double crossover in the center for some ease at relatively higher speeds (those are the express mains anyway!!!) and I was able to give more of a straightaway (124 mm vs 62mm) between my #4 singles crossovers and the #6 double to minimize the s-curve effect.

I did file notches in my #4s for the point to rest in the rails better, and this great improved their operation with the passenger cars.  I have plenty of MTL Heavyweights, CCS P85s, and Rapido 8600s and OBLW's and they did not do well with the 4s.  It helps that I'm converting to 1016 body mounts.  That really did help with the 381mm radius on the inside of the 4-Track Super-Elevated curves.  It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for the sake of performance...  Overall I'm pretty psyched with how it's going.

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[Ed Kapuscinski]

Looking for more MG Tower module updates as well, I hear you're involved in that project???  I went with the double crossover in the center for some ease at relatively higher speeds (those are the express mains anyway!!!) and I was able to give more of a straightaway (124 mm vs 62mm) between my #4 singles crossovers and the #6 double to minimize the s-curve effect.

Only in as much as telling @chicken45 to get off his a$$ and get to work. He's got something great in the works if he'll JFRTM.

[apudelek]

@Ed Kapuscinski I did look at Holmesburg btw, but I strayed away from anything significantly above grade for this first module so I can ensure my wiring will work out as planned and still fit underneath.  Then I'll start messing with underpasses and such.  Which is kinda a shame because HOLMES would make an awesome module.

So I'm thinking I'll have to decide between COUNTY or NASSAU for this first one.  I thought about doing a generic one, but I'd just be mad at myself later on and end up changing it...

[davefoxx]

I have lived and worked not far from the Northeast Corridor for most of my life, so I am watching this thread with much interest.  The only piece of constructive criticism that I have at this point in time is that I'm not crazy about that double crossover in the middle of your interlocking.  But, I understand why you did that.

DFF

[packers#1]

This looks very cool, and great idea to get started! I do have two questions: Is space much of a factor, and are you looking to this as more of a start for a bigger layout or something for now that will be set to the side when it’s time for the “big one”? Because if space isn’t much of a factor, why not build Nassau on two modules to stretch out the turnouts so it’s not so cramped? That way, if you’re going to incorporate it into a larger layout you don’t have those compromises holding it back. Plus if you really like the tower there you’re going to have more fun building that than the county shack er tower

[apudelek]

I was thinking about making NASSAU two modules but I was wondering how I would fill the entire space, but maybe doing a full substation would be the answer to that...  I will keep that in mind down the road, however, so thanks for the suggestion, Sawyer.

Well, I'm leaning towards COUNTY as of right now.  I have been aware for some time that there is not really a generic brick PRR Tower available in N (to my knowledge).  I was doing some thinking and I realized that the Walthers Yard Office Kit x2 might suffice for the COUNTY "tower" if I do a bit of kitbashing. I won't be able to fit in the yard trackage, and I will have standard PRR catenary versus the high crossbeams found around New Brunswick and this locale, but I think that's a decent tradeoff.  Here is my new track plan with some updated dimensions and ideas, plus some poles/bridges to get an idea of how my G's and P5's (IF THEY EVER SHOW UP OFF THE BOAT) are going to haul a$$ down the line to DC and NY:

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If I cut off a bit of the base and splice two kits together, along with trimming the roof a bit, I may end up with an approximate result of the tower.

[John]

Since you printed your cat -- just print the building .. it will be quick

[chicken45]

'Tis I, that lazy oaf who never models anything anymore but hangs out in the crew lounge and contributes only dick jokes.

Andrew! I am excited to see this!
My only question to you is...and I'm only asking this because Dr. Hotballz yelled at me for this like a decade ago now, is about that double crossover. Was that there in real life? If not, consider hating yourself more and put in more turnouts instead!

I'm glad you've been enjoying my MG build. The reality of it is that there's a lumber shortage so I can't get the final experimental module end cap to make a loop to JFRT. I also need to figure out a table situation in the basement that fits all 4 of the modules.

[dem34]

I'm glad you've been enjoying my MG build. The reality of it is that there's a lumber shortage so I can't get the final experimental module end cap to make a loop to JFRT. I also need to figure out a table situation in the basement that fits all 4 of the modules.

I mean, if you just want to JFRT. Single modules made from MDF strips can be made from $4 in material and given you just rip apart a Sheet into 70mm strips in bulk you can put together 4 corner modules in an evening.

[chicken45]

I mean, if you just want to JFRT. Single modules made from MDF strips can be made from $4 in material and given you just rip apart a Sheet into 70mm strips in bulk you can put together 4 corner modules in an evening.

Thanks!  I use CMR modules and my OCD isn't going to let me have 4 out of the 5 modules all match. Plus, they drew up this custom module and gave it to me to test out. I owe it to them to at least buy the first one

[apudelek]

@chicken45 I hemmed and hawed over the double crossover for (literally) several years (these modules have been in the works for a while) and I decided that I just really prefer the #6s over the #4s and it saves me some space to allow the cars to stretch a bit more with 124 mm instead of 62mm between crossovers.  I want them to work as flawlessly as possible for 85 foot cars, many with six-axle trucks, and not just coal drags and hot shots.  So the die has been cast in favor of the double.  I did consider splicing #6s but I want to get good at this first!

I am also going with the CMR modules, very likely going to order next week (after the DuPage County train show on Sunday lol).  Heard rumors of the lumber shortage affecting things... Is that because it's a custom end cap specifically or do you think at quad 14.36" depth is going to be problematic at sourcing for CMR too?

I have spent the last couple of days looking for PRR blueprints for COUNTY tower when it was rebuilt in the early 50s after a freight derailment but with no luck.  I may have to eyeball the structure as I design.  I also have been converting my MTL heavyweights to 1016 medium shanks and been planning a couple of paint/decal projects:  GG1 4879 (a one number difference), a Kato 10-6 becoming a foobie NH 14-4 "Point" series, and a Con-Cor observation foobed up to NH's "Watch Hill," complete with a rear diaphragm.  Yeah, the Merchants wasn't a Penn Job and "Watch Hill" and "Bunker Hill" ran mid-train for most of their lives... You're going to have to live with it lol.  In the meantime, I always take time each day of my vacation to go down and actually run some trains on my temporary setup.

[nickelplate759]

Not that you need more projects, but if you are already looking at painting a Kato 10-6 into NH to be a stand-in for a 14-4, you might consider buying a set of 14-4 sides from ESMC and building a correct car. 
They still have undecorated sides available (http://www.esmc.com/3110/Item3111.html),
as well as PC http://www.esmc.com/3110/Item3123.html

[apudelek]

George, I have a set of the ESM sides but I think that's a bit above my abilities right now.  Likely these cars will get converted down the road when I feel more comfortable with slicing and dicing something that runs well.  I make enough mistakes as it is...