Now For a Change of Pace - N Scale T-Trak Module

Mark,

That is awesome.  Look forward to seeing the progress.  I modeled in N scale starting the late 80's in college through about the mid 90's.  I still have all my trains and track, but I think I stopped about the time N scale was really starting to blossom in quality.  Getting together with modules for meets and having a different layout every time sounds like a lot of fun.

Mark, your great at whatever you do. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to more posts.

@Mark Boyce posted:

was intrigued by the N scale T-Trak layouts on display.

I had O- HO -N  back some 40 years ago Mark.      Questioned recently about T gauge .......didn't know what that was.   

What is N scale T Trak 

Nice work.  Looks like Kato track, yes?

Thank you, Jonathan, Dave, Dallas, Landsteiner!

Jonathan, Yes I had some not so nice engines in that era.  The engines now really run great on DC or DCC.  The two I bought are a new Atlas Chessie SD7 for $99 and an somewhat older Atlas B&O E8 for $50.  Both run great on DC alone, but are DCC ready.  One of the Iron City N Scale fellows showed me they can run DC engines from a phone app with the system they have.  I don't have any inclination at this point of upgrading them.  I really like the ease of portability and setup/teardown of this system over the large O gauge modular layouts.

Dave, thank you again.  I will post more as there is more to show.  I bought an older Blair Line laser cut C&O station kit to see how well I do with building small structures again.  It was at a hobby shop for $27.99.  How could I go wrong!

Dallas, I started out in HO, then N, then back to HO, then O.  I have heard of T scale as well, but don't know what it is either.  T-Trak is a modular system developed by the NMRA for HO, then N scale.  The N scale development started in about 2001.  I have yet to learn why they call them T-Trak, but I can tell you what it is.  It is a set of standards where everyone builds their own modules at home to set dimensions.  The dimensions are based on Kato track, which sad for me are in millimeters.  Fortunately Kato lists Imperial measurements on their track products as well as metric.  The modules widths are based on two sections of Kato track which equate to a little over 1 foot.  That module size is known as a single.  You can also build doubles, triples, quads, and special end modules to make an oval.  My module is a double, just over 2 feet wide.  There are wyes as well so a layout can have a layout setup going in various directions depending on space.  The wiring also is standard, so people from different groups or clubs can easily match up and make big layouts.  You don't have to build legs, the modules set on banquet tables.  Let someone else setup banquet tables, and I'll plop down my module.

Landsteiner, yes it is Kato.  As I wrote in response to Dallas question, the specs are designed around Kato products as it was deemed theirs was the most reliable in this situation.  Kato works towards this standard and even provide module kits made by Woodland Scenics.  There are a few other companies who make module kits.  I bought mine from CMR located right here in Butler County, Pennsylvania.  For around $40 for a laser cut kit made to their T-Trak specs, I couldn't be bothered buying, measuring, and cutting the wood myself.  I don't have a table saw of any sort.

As I mentioned to Dave, I'll post more as I have it.  Also, this doesn't mean I am stopping work on the O gauge Blackwater Canyon Line.  I just thought it would be fun to participate and see if I can still handle smaller work with arthritis. 

I put my module in the Iron City N Scale T-Trak layout this past weekend at the show in Sharon Pa.  I had a good time and learned a lot. 

@Dallas Joseph Dallas, I asked where the term "T-Trak" came from and was told the T stands for Table.  Now it is obvious, the modules sit on tables.

Here is my module in the layout.

A meet on my layout was pretty cool.

The layout at this show was L shaped, but it can be adapted to any space the show hosts provide.  One person designs the placement of modules after each participant commits the number, size, and type of modules he or she will bring.  I think we had 6 people bring modules and some others from the group just visited.  It is a group, not an organized "club".  There were two yards, one on each leg of the layout.  Trains are made up and broken down by hand as the yards are sort of "fiddle yards" as I think the Brits call them.  There was one long outer loop that traversed the whole layout.  The short leg of the L had one inside loop.  The long leg had two inside loops positioned end to end.  The end loop was a children's loop where there was a controller set up for children to control one train.  They have a scavenger hunt, which was quite popular with both children and adults.

Group members really like interacting with visitors both adults and children.  There is some nice modeling here.  Setup took a couple hours.  Teardown and loading everything in our vehicles took 1 hour and 5 minutes.  It's really quite easy to setup and everyone pitched in.

The next show will be the Locomotion Weekend at the Carnegie Science Center on the Pittsburgh North Side which is held the 3rd weekend of January.  I was told it is the biggest event they participate in.  I will try to improve the scenery on my module.

Very fun!  You inspired me Mark.  I just picked up a few N scale pieces that I had been missing from my collection like a nice CNJ NE caboose.  While I don't have a group like this in AZ, making a 2x4 module could be fun and manageable project since I don't have room for an O layout these days.

Look forward to seeing more from your group.

@GG1 4877 posted:

Very fun!  You inspired me Mark.  I just picked up a few N scale pieces that I had been missing from my collection like a nice CNJ NE caboose.  While I don't have a group like this in AZ, making a 2x4 module could be fun and manageable project since I don't have room for an O layout these days.

Look forward to seeing more from your group.

Jonathan, AZ is big enough that I knew there had to be some T-Trak clubs, and lo and behold after a quick search I was able to find these. So, maybe a module is in your future?

http://ttrak.wikidot.com/arizona

https://www.facebook.com/tucsonntrak/

I'll have to see who is active.  The only group I knew of before you posted your list is the club at the Scottsdale Railroad Park which has their layout next to the O scale one.  However, I think they've become more or less a permanent layout after the new building opened in 2011. 

Tucson is a bit of a drive for me, but Tempe is pretty close!

Nice module. I only have one piece of N equipment, a Kato through truss bridge. My plans were to use it as an upside-down truss in 0n½.

This is a neat concept Mark. Everyone uses a standard track placement at each end of their modules and anything goes (well almost) in between.

Looks like a lot of fun. Your module looks good too.

Bob

Thank you, Jonathan, bigboy25, Dave, Bob, Dallas!

Jonathan, I'm glad to provide some inspiration for N scale.

bigboy25, you are on top of it!  ttrak.wikidot.com

Dave, items from one scale can work for something in another scale for sure!

Bob, I certainly was happy when my module track ends snapped right into their neighbors'.  I was also glad when trains ran straight through to the next module without any issues.  The Kato track sections have to overhang the ends of the module by exactly 1 millimeter.  I would have never succeeded without buying the module kit.  You can make the track curve away from the front of the module as long as it matches up at the correct spot at the other end.  A good way to do it is to build more than one module and then your modules have to be placed adjacent to each other.

Dallas, yes you can do a lot more with scenery and yards in a given amount of space.  I miss that in O gauge.  I really have to be creative in O.  My former coworker told me new engines are offered by almost every dealer at 20% below MRSP or more.  I got a really nice Atlas SD7 for $99.  It is DCC ready if I wanted to install a decoder.  The slow speed control even with DC is great!

@Mark Boyce   Fantastic.

I am a huge fan of Kato N-track. It's been 100% reliable for me when I have used it.

Thank you, David!  This is my first experience with Kato track.  I am very impressed with it! 👍🏻 😃

Question for you Mark.  Does your T-Trak group require that the locomotives be equipped with DCC?

Jonathan, no you can run DC engines as well.  One of the inner loops was dedicated to DC, but other loops can run either DCC or DC using a system called DCC-EX.  It is something I never heard of before.  With the DCC-EX, they can switch loops back and forth to run either.  Also, the DC engines can be assigned an address and there is an app to control the DC engines with a phone, though all the engines on that loop will respond the same.  They use a dedicated WiFi switch.

The nice thing is, I don't have to know how any of that actually works.  I just help setting up modules, connect the wires, and run a train or just watch.  That is great since I really don't want to try to learn how to setup something else.