T-Trak Hyndman, PA Q Tower T-TRAK

[Kuchler10]

Hello All,

I am starting a new thread on my quad module of Hyndman, PA. This was where Q Tower and a helper station was located. Below is a mockup of the module and reference photos. The track arrangement can be reworked a bit, and the runaround is really short and not useful. The tower is a print from https://leopardarchmodels.com/ and the module is pre-built from https://modelrailwaytechniques.com. Aiming to have it presentable for a show at the end of August.

[randgust]

Just found those same shots on a quick search.   That concept will definitely do it justice.

Never saw Hyndman but did get to hang around Hancock when it was alive and all the rods were still in place.  That's the detail that will set it apart.

It looks like that is a T-trak triple?  (never mind, re-read and it's a quad)

Don't get trapped into thinking you can only use Kato switches.  Other than the ends that have to be Kato, I don't use Kato anything - it's all Peco C55 on cork, which means you can control ballast and geometry a whole lot easier.   And I'm personally a fan of yard and sidings with an entirely different look that main lines in terms of ballast and elevation.

I'd also put a second crossover in there to extend your 'runaround' on the left side into an unbuilt second module or 3 track configuration, so that if you do decide to build more later it works either as a single triple or extending it indefinitely on future modules.

But the basic tower/bridge/yard, after looking at the photos, is an excellent module concept.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I love it!!

[N Scale Train Boy]

I always love seeing T-trak modules based on prototype locations and modules that have some level of operation built in, and this ticks both of those boxes! Nice work, and I love the tower!

[randgust]

I'm not sure how hard you are pushing the 14 3/8 rule across in the back, but you can also add more space in the front; I've seen as much as 6" on removable scenery chunks at the Altoona show.   The depth rule is sorta more critical.   Front is 1 1/2 inches off of 'edge', not much room for your tower.

[chessie system fan]

This is great.  I plan on building a similar scene.  Can you post more photos of the tower?  I don't see it listed on his website. 

I agree on more space up front. Partly to protect the tower on the edge, but also that stone basement is part of its charm. 

[Jesse6669]

Excellent.  Have great memories of that place, once rode the helpers on the front of the Chicago Jet out of there.  Here's a pic from a foray of mine in the early 80s.  You might get some detail ideas for the bridge etc. 

[Kuchler10]

This is great.  I plan on building a similar scene.  Can you post more photos of the tower?  I don't see it listed on his website. 

I agree on more space up front. Partly to protect the tower on the edge, but also that stone basement is part of its charm.

Here is the direct link to the product: https://leopardarchmodels.com/products/copy-of-b-o-12x15-interlocking-tower

It is based on the standard B&O design and the product lists the similar towers, including Q.

[Kuchler10]

Based on the mock-up and comments here, I will extend the passing siding to the end of the module, and may have to make a bump-out for the tower and scenery to fit on the front of the module another inch or so.

I will stick with Kato track on the sidings for this module, and will consider C55 for the next one. I have another quad module to decide what to do with.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Based on the mock-up and comments here, I will extend the passing siding to the end of the module, and may have to make a bump-out for the tower and scenery to fit on the front of the module another inch or so.

I will stick with Kato track on the sidings for this module, and will consider C55 for the next one. I have another quad module to decide what to do with.

You might want to think of Micro-Engineering Code 70 for the next one instead of 55. It matches up much better with the Kato stuff (which is ALSO Code 70).

When that time comes, let me know if you need some "Hacked Unitrack" ends: https://conrail1285.com/hacked-unitrack/

[wm3798]

You'll have to check out the Camera Totin' Idiot, my friend and maybe yours, Paul Hutter.  He's got a Flickr page here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/32832165@N07/

He grew up just outside Cumberland, and spend a great deal of his misspent youth hanging around at Hyndman, and still does now that he's achieved full adultery.

He rode the helpers on more than one occasion, I've been led to believe, and his photographic record is way too elaborate for him to have fabricated it in the lab. 

I've invited him to join us here on several occasions, but he insists he would never join a club that would have him as a member.  He's on the facetoobs, under both his name and his camera totin handle.  Lots of great stuff there.  More angles of Hyndman than most know existed.
Check him out.
Lee