Looks impressive!! I hope those of you who attend post pictures and videos of this layout for those of us who are unable to attend the National Train Show. I look forward to your pictures and videos. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We had another great TTRAK layout at Altoona, thanks to Dave Ferrari being the master puzzlemaster on the 'pickup layout' of unaffiliated module owners like me. The growth in TTRAK modules from various individuals, sources and clubs is obvious.
Got a T-Trak rules question...I was thinking about making a T-Trak triple/quadruple module....is there a rule against using unitram track for a street running section?
Unitram is on the 25mm center to center, the usual T-trak centers used are the 33mm center. 25mm centers are actually the original standard for T-trak, but, it went quickly to 33mm centers as that matches the unitrack set up except for the #6 thrunouts. The problem with 25mm centers is that equipment passing each other can side swipe. Also, the curves in unitram are way too tight for the large engines used on t-trak modules.
It's track which is set so that it appears to be rails embedded in a street or roadway. Mainly used by folks who like trolley/interurban type settings. Most popular users are overseas, such as Japan...
The original spacing is also much more prototypical in appearance, at least for my side of the USA. I built a batch of modules to that spec and never had a problem on straight portions. BTW- I was very dismayed when this was changed! It made my modules, their time and expense, all worthless for meet setup uses. (Thank you! ) There was ample clearance for all of my passing rolling stock. From the very start, my curves I bumped outward, (a very simple task), which gave me more than ample spacing for such as auto racks, etc.
BoxcabE50, you can still use the 25mm spaced straight modules as long as you provide a conversion module from 25mm to 33mm at each end of your modules, I believe that the Unofficial T-TRAK handbook shows a diagram for such a module.
The diagram is gone, but, the following is still there in the Unofficial T-TRAK Handbook: The Alternate 33mm track spacing standard uses 282mm and 315mm radii track on the corners, maintaining the 33mm spacing throughout the curves. These radii, on 14-3/8" square bases, handle just about any piece of equipment with minimal overhang. Of course, having 2 incompatible standards means that if you want to use old and new modules together, you'll need adapters. The adapters (you'll need 2) fit on single-wide modules. The front track continues straight across, and the gap between the tracks widens from 0mm to 8mm separation. The modules should be mirror images of each other. TRACK REQUIRED Front Track: 310 mm (248 + 62) Rear Track: 312 mm (248 + 64) This should be 4 x 62mm + 1 x 64mm Using multiple pieces of track on the rear track will distribute the 8mm of swing required among 4 rail joints. As an alternative, use flex track and Unitrack to FlexTrak Adapters. I'd recommend leaving the 33mm end of the rear track loose, to allow for any variation in track spacing.
Mike Wongs photo album from Altoona is here with many TTRAK modules shown: https://mikewongphotography.zenfolio.com/p596533596 Update from our Altoona show from the Puzzlemaster Dave Ferrari: " Hello everyone, This note is going out to everyone who was part of the Combined T-Trak layout in Altoona this past weekend, my regular N-Scale Weekend distribution list and my own club. The big T-Trak layout in Altoona was the largest T-Trak layout ever set up in Pennsylvania to the best of my knowledge. It was 56' by 21' with a spine and three (3) peninsulas. There were one hundred (100) individual modules from fifteen (15) different individuals representing eight (8) different clubs. There were 189 feet of double-track mainline, or 5-3/4 scale miles. The modules were the equivalent of 183 single and standard corner modules. I'll list a full breakdown of module types at the bottom of this email. Thank you everyone for bringing modules and helping to set up and breakdown the layout. If anyone wants an "As Built" plan (JPG or AnyRail) please let me know, I'll have it finished later today. We needed about 7 hours to get the layout set up and running. Unfortunately, you can't set the height on all the peninsulas at once and snap them together. That would have allowed us to work from 4 or 5 places at the same time instead of just 2. Some lessons were learned to make it easier next time though. We did have visits from a couple of gremlins during the show but most were easily found and corrected. A big thank you to Ray Chaffee for his electrical trouble shooting. Also to Jim Lundeen for helping out with the issues. There were additional club members and attendees running trains both days, including some kids we let run trains. If my count is right, there were sixteen (16) people from the participating clubs operating the layout during the weekend. A good time was had by all. The only real operating glitches we had were a reverse curve into one peninsula that derailed some long passenger cars and six-axle locomotives and steamers, and some inoperative turnouts in one of the setup yards. Some running repairs were needed when module joints "V-ed" but that happens as the table and modules shift. I was the last one out on Sunday, finishing up at just after 5 which was my estimate right from the start. Thanks again to everyone who participated. Let's see if we can beat the record next year! Dave Ferrari Northern NJ N-trak" On the track spacing issue - I'm probably the most non-compliant guy out there. I'm doing dual single track modules split down the middle with adapters on both ends to bring them back to 33mm spacing. And I'm using Unitrack only at the ends, in between it's open season on everything. And it worked just fine. For the price of making a couple of adapters you're pretty much freestyle on your own stuff EXCEPT on basic length & width & railhead height. Length, in particular, has to be right-on as you are typically paired with other modules in a loop.
Thanks for posting Randy. I have to agree with you that your modules are the most "non-compliant" but they do connect to other modules easily and the workmanship is INSANELY good! The stuff you think of between the two end standards!
Bremner, go for it, just use the 40-021 at either end of your straight away. I, if doing something like this, would build a module with additional space on the front so that the track in the street would really be between 2 sets pf buildings. This would result in an over hang on the 30" wide tables, but keep your adjustable feet at the standard placement and you would be OK. Or you could use some offset to allow your track to run down the middle of your modules. Keep us posted with your decision and work if you decide to go ahead.
So what happened???? With such ambition I'm surprised I haven't heard much of the results, either here and on other MRR forums. Did everything go as planned? Any electrical issues? Pictures? Videos? How many trains ran on it? How about a report?
https://www.facebook.com/2018-NMRA-National-Train-Show-T-Trak-layout-1399121756808647/ Over 1000 photos and 20 videos posted so far (and many are still in transit from the show to their respective homes...) Here are official announcements from each of the show dates... DAY 1 "Well, what can I say???... Except, that, IT’S OFFICIAL!!!! A new T-TRAK layout WORLD RECORD!!! ... after a few hiccups, getting a few ‘out of phase’ module, wiring, and loconet issues taken care of ( not unexpected in an endeavor of this magnitude) the 2018 National Train Show T-TRAK layout now holds the title of THE WORLD RECORD!!!!! We are thrilled to come together and meet fellow T-TRAKers, but we want to give a SPECIAL shout out and thanks to a few dedicated participants for their help in identifying and chasing a few gremlins: Ray Chaffee, John M Wallis, Vic McTee, and Mark Herzog! Please forgive me if I left someone out... every participant deserves a special ‘thanks’ for helping to make this event ‘one for the books!) Photos and news coming at you tomorrow!" DAY 2 day 2 of the National Train Show, and the huge World Record Breaking T-TRAK layout is stealing the show!!!! Yesterday morning, before the general public was allowed access, NMRA convention members were allowed access to the show and voted on the top three modules across the entire show. The World Record Breaking T-TRAK layout produced 2 out of the three TOP modules, in ANY SCALE, from the entire show, INCLUDING the BEST IN SHOW module!!!! Congratulations to T-TRAK’s own Theresa Goff ( 3rd place), and Jeff Wilson ( Best in Show)!!!!! Sorry folks, We are so busy, running trains, and answering tons of questions, from the incredible amount of visitors to the layout, that pictures may have to wait until we all return home! the World Record Breaking T-TRAK layout wowed the show attendees again today, running VERY well, with lots of trains! The Model Train Media gave us extra attention, with yours truly being interviewed by Model Railroader Magazine’s Cody Grivno and Kent Johnson! Followed by Ken Patterson interviewing Vic McTee and myself for the “What’s Neat in Model Railroading” segment. Finally, the entire Kato staff, including Mr Kato, himself, who flew in from Japan, especially to witness the world record breaking T-TRAK layout, treated the layout’s organizers to dinner this evening, as a way of thanking the organizers for the layout’s incredible reception and success! What an honor! DAY 3 understand that there has been ‘rumbling’ online about photos ( or lack thereof) of the World Record T-TRAK layout being posted as they occur... We were VERY busy, from start to finish, ALL of the participants... several of us, including Denise and myself, did not even have time to run a single train on the layout. There were three of us, full time, at the command station, 12 branch manager ‘captains’ at each leg, in addition to module participants, stationed at their modules, engaging the public and promoting T-TRAK... Add to that the coordination with sponsors and donors, press interviews, various contests and awards, an ongoing raffle drive, trying to rotate bathroom and lunch breaks, finding the time to actually ‘post’ photos, videos, events live, or within moments, was entirely impractical, barring the existence of a T-TRAK Cable News Network... There will be PLENTY of photos, videos, magazine articles, hype, etc. of the layout coming soon and often... !!!! The fact is, the best place to see and experience all the incredible fun at a layout/event such as this, is to be here/there! We hope we can see you at the National T-TRAK Layout in Salt Lake City in 2019!!! POSTSCRIPT Well folks, The National Train Show has come to a close, and so ends an INCREDIBLE experience with the World Record T-TRAK layout! We wish all of our participants a safe journey on your travels home. As we get back home and ‘recuperate’, we’ll be collating all of the photos, video, layout facts, and show accolades, including a final, revised layout diagram ( the layout actually ‘grew’ during setup, with a few more modules, so we have to revise our statistics). We, the layout, received SO much attention from the public and the press, that it’s going to take a bit to digest it all. The T-TRAK concept was showcased at this show and I have ZERO doubts that we will be getting a lot more attention in the near future! Stay tuned as we continue to post photos, videos, layout contest winners, statistics, etc. in the coming days and weeks. Be on the lookout for coverage of the layout in Model Railroader Magazine’s MRVP Plus, and MRHM’s “What’s Neat in Model Railroading”. We’re already planning 2019 in Salt Lake City, and 2020 in St.Louis, so get to work on those modules!!! The photos, videos, and articles about this World Record Breaking event, will be streaming in from every corner in the coming days, weeks, and months...the final layout consisted of 340 modules, with a common the mainline run of over 25 scale miles (40 scale miles counting inner loops) ~Bruce
Thank you Bruce! Just a wish, not a complaint, I wish there would be a central repository for all the pictures, a la Flickr or equivalent, as the pictures are all over the place on Facebook and hard to follow and some people don't have Facebook. Anyway, a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to all that participated. Certainly this will push T-Trak on to the forefront of MRR. Heck, even Mr. Kato showed up to witness it himself! How's that for prestige???!!! I look forward to all the pictures and videos over the coming days as people catch up. Please post the links here so we can all follow!
all pictures and videos are either being posted directly, or shared, to the 2018 NMRA National Train Show T-TRAK laout's Facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/2018-NMRA-National-Train-Show-T-Trak-layout-1399121756808647/?ref=bookmarks it's the official site for all news, photos, and videos. ~Bruce
