T-Trak The N scale Pennsy Juniata Division 2.0 - TTrak!

[Tristan Ashcroft]

OK, folks, had a great chat with @arbomambo .. As I suspected, my misunderstanding came from false assumptions.

I had been thinking all along (based on a typical home layout) that a bus was two wires, one + and one -. But a bus can be four wires (two + and two -) just as easily. And in that case, just reverse the connections on the second + and - pair for desired polarity. This actually makes perfect sense now. Sorry for being so thick-headed!

Thanks for translating that into English.  There's a huge gulf of disconnect, particularly with respect to the terminology, between those that understand how this stuff works, and those of us who don't.

[Mike C]

  Made me scratch my head for awhile .

[Dave V]

So. Still on track in terms of my design ideas, other than the interlocking module will be Jacks tower just east of Mount Union.

On that note, I need to figure out how to build Jacks tower itself, because no one makes the right windows in N scale. Jacks is just a smaller version of a standard PRR interlocking tower; they almost always had those odd 6-pane windows on the upper store (and even more odd 3-pane narrow windows in the bay).



I did find some windows by Tichy that'll allow me to get close enough on a very compressed version of Huntingdon depot:

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

And lastly, I need a good plan for close-enough, compressed, and probably a building-flat version of the JC Blair Keystone Stationery factory (on my previous JD I had an enormous kitbash of this building that would never fit a T-TRAK module:

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

I do have @John 's beautifully rendered 3-D printed HUNT tower. I'd share a picture of it but it's only half-painted at the moment!

[nscaler711]

Following, since I loved your last Pennsy layout, and because I love the Pennsy as well.
Now if I could just find a K4 for a good price... I'll need one for the FoM cars Bmann is due to release.
Or an S2 Turbine in N. 

[Dave V]

Following, since I loved your last Pennsy layout, and because I love the Pennsy as well.
Now if I could just find a K4 for a good price... I'll need one for the FoM cars Bmann is due to release.
Or an S2 Turbine in N. 

Bachmann's releasing FoM cars? Wow! Maybe I do need a T1!

[Point353]

Bachmann's releasing FoM cars? Wow! Maybe I do need a T1!

[dougnelson]

Dave:  here is my scratch built HUNT tower using Tichy windows.

[Point353]

Now if I could just find a K4 for a good price...

https://bradystrains.com/products/bachmann-52852prr-k4-4-6-2-steam-locomotive-post-war-with-modern-pilot-3750-dcc-sound-value-n-scale

[dem34]

https://bradystrains.com/products/bachmann-52852prr-k4-4-6-2-steam-locomotive-post-war-with-modern-pilot-3750-dcc-sound-value-n-scale

"good price..."

[Point353]

"good price..."

MSRP was $469.  How much more of a discount do you want?
The loco was produced 10 years ago. Can you find a new one available at a lower price? If so, please post a link to it.

[Dave V]

Buy it now for $229.35...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/335649834310?_skw=k4&epid=2255134323&itmmeta=01JDJ4BM40X0M46ZMMZXVT27QD&hash=item4e264a0546:g:0fYAAOSwfC1nJVsL&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKmY4kwTI5EfupvcMwy28RJ7chmvY84F3H0PnAgJcLqUrKUf7BPgXAOT3mCNZzC8FPk6qiafsSgBYQ2uAKEy9uKGSon4Q8hXgRnG%2BC1TSu34BeSS1u77h4Uhx8%2F%2BqQzgD%2FqygF4azrf%2FhdrJE5BJCw%2F2GDn0Vg6X8HNbmTszlmU3Ow3ZRV7%2FEyIvDrR%2FtfduEyXNQTQo39F%2Bix4pNbcQiO2hmPr6KydLoU6tqGFTw%2BzHXH9llaD7QdwWqjMV%2FqoD9MAhdgjn%2BAlZe7TjVHGnT4FT%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4rCrsTsZA

Granted it's the "stripey" one, but some paint can knock that down for ya.

Also wondering if the streamlined K4 would be better for the FoM, and they're readily available for less than $300.

[Point353]

Buy it now for $229.35...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/335649834310?_skw=k4&epid=2255134323&itmmeta=01JDJ4BM40X0M46ZMMZXVT27QD&hash=item4e264a0546:g:0fYAAOSwfC1nJVsL&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKmY4kwTI5EfupvcMwy28RJ7chmvY84F3H0PnAgJcLqUrKUf7BPgXAOT3mCNZzC8FPk6qiafsSgBYQ2uAKEy9uKGSon4Q8hXgRnG%2BC1TSu34BeSS1u77h4Uhx8%2F%2BqQzgD%2FqygF4azrf%2FhdrJE5BJCw%2F2GDn0Vg6X8HNbmTszlmU3Ow3ZRV7%2FEyIvDrR%2FtfduEyXNQTQo39F%2Bix4pNbcQiO2hmPr6KydLoU6tqGFTw%2BzHXH9llaD7QdwWqjMV%2FqoD9MAhdgjn%2BAlZe7TjVHGnT4FT%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4rCrsTsZA

Depends upon condition, since it's a "used" item.

[Dave V]

Depends upon condition, since it's a "used" item.

As was pointed out, the first run was more than a few years ago... Finding new stock at discount prices is going to require considerable sleuthing.

I'm grateful I kept my two K4s. I think I did so because of all the angst that surrounded a reliable N scale K4 for years and years in the N scale Pennsy community. I wonder if somehow I knew I'd be coming back one day...

[muktown128]

Bachmann K4's show up on eBay from time to time and can be had for under $200. 

[Point353]

As was pointed out, the first run was more than a few years ago... Finding new stock at discount prices is going to require considerable sleuthing.

I did post a link to a new model in stock at a dealer and at a discounted price.
One poster apparently didn't think the discount was sufficient.

I'm grateful I kept my two K4s. I think I did so because of all the angst that surrounded a reliable N scale K4 for years and years in the N scale Pennsy community. I wonder if somehow I knew I'd be coming back one day...

Given the limited run (and seldom, if ever, re-run) nature of model train manufacturing, it makes sense to hold onto any acquisitions, even if your interest in them wanes on the chance that the interest will reawaken.
Otherwise, you can spend an inordinate amount of time and effort trying to find those items again - often at a higher cost.
Over the past 60 years, the only train item I've resold was an Athearn "blue box" HO switcher when Walthers produced a better model.