My TTRAK Technology Demonstrator Module

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm not sure I want to put this in the engineering reports, but I wanted to share something I've put together ahead of the Altoona N Scale Weekend: a module to show off my hacked unitrack, along with a few other nifty things:
https://conrail1285.com/ttrak-technology-demonstrator/

Take a look if you're curious, and keep an eye out for it in the combined TTRAK layout on Saturday.

[randgust]

That's even a step beyond what I've done.   I've replaced all my connections in back on the older Hickory Valley / Ross Run modules with Unitrak connections so they just snap together.   I've excavated and sawn so that the connectors are only a couple ties longer that the rail joiners, and then soldered to whatever existing track there is (C80, C55, C70) so that everything just snaps together like Unitrak.   That part I really like.

I do believe that the biggest negative to Ttrak is the assumption you HAVE to use Unitrak, or somehow the Kato police will show up.  I won't say it doesn't have it's place, and if you have a turnout right on the edge you pretty much HAVE to use a Kato (I've done that twice) but other than that, you won't find any Kato track on my Ttrak modules at all, edges only.

So I'm all in favor of anything like this if it 'forehead slaps' people into doing fine modelling within the dimensional limits of Ttrak.   I'm still not sure you could get away with Atlas C55 given all the wheel issues, but I can tell you Peco C55 works just fine.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I do believe that the biggest negative to Ttrak is the assumption you HAVE to use Unitrak, or somehow the Kato police will show up.  I won't say it doesn't have it's place, and if you have a turnout right on the edge you pretty much HAVE to use a Kato (I've done that twice) but other than that, you won't find any Kato track on my Ttrak modules at all, edges only.

This was exactly the problem I was trying to solve. I feel like chopping the ends off of Unitrack is a waste, and the engineered roadbed that this uses prevents it.

So I'm all in favor of anything like this if it 'forehead slaps' people into doing fine modelling within the dimensional limits of Ttrak.   I'm still not sure you could get away with Atlas C55 given all the wheel issues, but I can tell you Peco C55 works just fine.

Oh yeah, Atlas Code 55 will never work (well, unless you ONLY use flex track and then trim the spike heads down), but for Micro-Engineering or Peco, or even Atlas Code 80 flex, this gives you the magic.

[John]

Not sure if the Kato police will show up, but I would bet a dollar in vegas that someone will comment about "it's not in the standards" at some point ..

[John]

Actually, the FreemoN guys should adopt something like this to align the ends better ..

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Actually, the FreemoN guys should adopt something like this to align the ends better ..

You know... it'd work just fine. In fact, it'd be "backwards compatible" too: use the unijoiner if both modules are equipped, use regular joiners if they aren't.

I'll let you write up the recommendation for that though.

[bman]

Not sure if the Kato police will show up, but I would bet a dollar in vegas that someone will comment about "it's not in the standards" at some point ..

I'm sure you would win that bet. And as you collect your winnings that's when you hit 'em with the wording from the track standard in section 5 and I quote, "The basic track standard for T-TRAK requires the use of Kato Unitrack, as defined in the table below. This use of Kato Unitrack at the module ends is mandatory for the correct interface with adjacent modules. Within a module or set of always interconnected modules flextrack may be used. Allowable types of flextrack are Atlas Code 80, Peco Code 80 or 55, Micro
Engineering Code 55, or hand laid track. The use of Atlas Code 55 is prohibited." Of course you have to look as smug as possible when reciting this.
I've acquired a good amount of Microengineering code 55 flex and am still trying to decide TTrak or FremoN. Leaning towards the latter at this point.

[Point353]

I'm not sure I want to put this in the engineering reports, but I wanted to share something I've put together ahead of the Altoona N Scale Weekend: a module to show off my hacked unitrack, along with a few other nifty things:
https://conrail1285.com/ttrak-technology-demonstrator/

Take a look if you're curious, and keep an eye out for it in the combined TTRAK layout on Saturday.

Why not have a comparison between a section of Unitrack (as a control/reference) and the Micro Engineering and PECO products?
Also, paint/weather and ballast all three sections of track in the same way, so it's a level playing field.

[timwatson]

I don't know if there is any interest but I too have a ttrak unijoiner end? We can just make it smorgasboard of solutions?

p.s. I love this!

[vermonter_railfan]

Actually, the FreemoN guys should adopt something like this to align the ends better ..

There are a few that have done similar prints for Free-moN. I personally have a pair of machined blocks with our standard 1.125" spacing, which the person who I bought them from has sold them to a good amount of people.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Why not have a comparison between a section of Unitrack (as a control/reference) and the Micro Engineering and PECO products?
Also, paint/weather and ballast all three sections of track in the same way, so it's a level playing field.

I like that idea. I may ballast a portion of it at some point in the future to show off.

As for comparing it to Unitrack, well, it'll be right next to it!

[u18b]

What about Aaron's code 30 Unitrack conversion?

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58196.0

Or do people run pizza cutters still at shows?

[Point353]

Or do people run pizza cutters still at shows?

Perhaps difficult to believe, but some people do.
It can depend upon how inclusive or exclusive your T-Trak group wants to be.
Some will suggest that "pizza cutters" can provide more reliable operation.

[peteski]

Perhaps difficult to believe, but some people do.
It can depend upon how inclusive or exclusive your T-Trak group wants to be.
Some will suggest that "pizza cutters" can provide more reliable operation.

Some club members (like me) still have a sizable collection of older N scale cars with "pizza cutter" wheels. 40 years ago most N scale models had those wheels (incuding MTL), and operationally they are reliable. It would also be expensive and time consuming to upgrade them all to lower-flange wheels.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Also, given the dodgy nature of table top modular railroading, stuff with higher tolerances can be quite preferable.

I'm going to get some photos of examples this weekend.

But that being said, one thing I think this approach opens up is the ability to use the TTRAK format to do higher end portable modeling, even if it isn't going to work in a big setup.

Think about this: if you wanted to do a small portable layout like Dave Vollmer's Colorado Midland, you could now build it all on modules that just click together like TTRAK. It doesn't have to match the spec if you're keeping it self contained, and it's sure a lot easier to throw some TTRAK modules in the passenger seat than a hollow core door.