Conrail's Allegheny Crossing as NTRAK Modules

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It's funny you mention the MG tower kit. That's actually the reason I started thinking about all this...

[AlkemScaleModels]

Okay how are you going to transport all these modules and what happens if one module with part of the grade or an Ntrak transition module is a no show?   How many people who own individual modules are going to be able to attend a given event for this layout to be built and operated.  With Ntrak its a simple matter of plugging in another module but you can't do that because of the grade. 

See my earlier post about the PRRMO. If each module is built to consistent specs, and has a standard grade, then you can assemble them in any order as long as you have the same number on either side of the summit.

Return loops are another solution. Since they have to be pretty big to accommodate the necessary radius, adding staging tracks to the loops is not that much more difficult. Lee's idea of stacked loops is quite cool. I have never seen that done in a modular layout.

Agree about the need for a yard. You really need one to do serious ops, even if it is just for staging.

[keystonecrossings]

If this becomes and actual project and IF you opt for Atlas code 55, I could pony up a lot of FREE flex track. I seem to have more than a few pieces!  :-\

[keystonecrossings]

Ed, if you want a web site at the pennsyrr.com domain name for this project, I can hook you up with private FTP access. This domain is now data center hosted for greater bandwidth.   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Thanks for the offer Jerry. I've got the web handled though. I have more hosting than I know what to do with...

[wm3798]

Heh... Bernie said Lee's idea is cool...  Is that like getting a medal of honor or something? ;D

Okay, imagine if you will... (I don't have time to do diagrams) A 42" diameter module, the lower level at 40", the upper level at 56"  Put your duck-under to the "pit" under the high side.  You'd have two balloon tracks, at 90 degree angles to each other, so the module becomes essentially a corner, only at two different levels.

In this case, Cresson could be the highlight of the upper level, leading to Gallitzen, where the track would bend 180 deg. to enter the walk-in where Horseshoe would be showcased, properly graded downward from left to right.  Like Shark JJ's layout, the reservoir would be the aisle.  From there, the line just continues to descend until it reaches Alto, near the throat of the lower balloon.  The result would be U shaped set up, maybe 12' wide x up to 40' long.  We'd need to account for enough flat tangent to get the helpers hooked up, and a way to get them off and send them back down the hill.


SO, let's see... the run would be about 150' all tolled, with around 120 at 1% that would allow us to rise up to about 14.4"... maybe a little more if we "stiffen" the grade a little around the curve.

Properly dressed off with fascia boards and perhaps a detachable light valance, you'd have an awesome looking set up.  I'm probably overlooking the logistical problems, but I always work on plans by starting with what I want the end product to look like, then reverse engineer it to see how close I can get.  Having the loops stacked at a permanent height differential will make missing a module more difficult, but if the grade is consistent, and the module lengths predictable, a "filler" piece could be built that could stand in in an emergency.

Free track could really help get this rocket launched, too...  Good thinking, Jerry!

I say we move on to geography and doling out the segments.

Lee

[wm3798]

Hey, look what I found! (Actually it found me!)
http://users.picknowl.com.au/~nscalepage/msindex.htm

I bet there's something in there we can sink our teeth into...

Lee

[sizemore]

Heh... Bernie said Lee's idea is cool...  Is that like getting a medal of honor or something? ;D

Okay, imagine if you will... (I don't have time to do diagrams) A 42" diameter module, the lower level at 40", the upper level at 56"  Put your duck-under to the "pit" under the high side.  You'd have two balloon tracks, at 90 degree angles to each other, so the module becomes essentially a corner, only at two different levels.

In this case, Cresson could be the highlight of the upper level, leading to Gallitzen, where the track would bend 180 deg. to enter the walk-in where Horseshoe would be showcased, properly graded downward from left to right.  Like Shark JJ's layout, the reservoir would be the aisle.  From there, the line just continues to descend until it reaches Alto, near the throat of the lower balloon.  The result would be U shaped set up, maybe 12' wide x up to 40' long.  We'd need to account for enough flat tangent to get the helpers hooked up, and a way to get them off and send them back down the hill.


SO, let's see... the run would be about 150' all tolled, with around 120 at 1% that would allow us to rise up to about 14.4"... maybe a little more if we "stiffen" the grade a little around the curve.

Properly dressed off with fascia boards and perhaps a detachable light valance, you'd have an awesome looking set up.  I'm probably overlooking the logistical problems, but I always work on plans by starting with what I want the end product to look like, then reverse engineer it to see how close I can get.  Having the loops stacked at a permanent height differential will make missing a module more difficult, but if the grade is consistent, and the module lengths predictable, a "filler" piece could be built that could stand in in an emergency.

Free track could really help get this rocket launched, too...  Good thinking, Jerry!

I say we move on to geography and doling out the segments.

Lee

So whois buying the Freightliner and 45 foot trailer to haull all this?  ;D

[Ed Kapuscinski]

What you have there is a moveable home layout.

I think it lacks the flexibility that would make this idea thrive and last for a while.

Don't get me wrong, I think it sounds beautiful, but I don't think it's where I was hoping to go with it. I think stacking the loops is going to be a problem (by locking it into a certain geography), and I still maintain that while they would be cool grades will be nothing but an operational problem.

[wm3798]

Man... what I don't get is that Ed's the young high tech anything's possible type, and I'm the entrenched bureaucrat... seems like a total role reversal ;D

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

lol. That IS funny.

But I guess when it comes to modular modeling, I AM the entrenched bureaucrat... like I've said, I've been doing this stuff my entire life (and in multiple scales there for a while).

[John]

You better believe you can!

Our next show is in the fall, and I think we'll actually be hurting for real estate. Got a drawing of the whole thing? I'm sure we can try and work it in.

BANTRAK is having a meeting this weekend too, I think I'll bring it up (although I'm sure it'll be read here first).

Oh crap .. now I need to actually scenic my modules .. ..  this could work nicely ..

My section is 13 feet long with a one foot offset. The track plan was in NSR last summer, but I can send you a image when I get to my home computer.

[NorfolkSouthern9708]

I am all for the idea, but as Ed knows, I don't know anyone around here that models N scale, and Conrail.....wait, does anybody know how close Lewistown is to Burnham????

[AlkemScaleModels]

Heh... Bernie said Lee's idea is cool...  Is that like getting a medal of honor or something? ;D


Lee

Would you settle for a cookie? How about one of my wife, Alicia's, home made chocolate chip cookies with a new recipe she got that is awesome? Have you ever had a frozen chocolate chip cookie. It is amazingly good.

The double loop idea is getting more and more interesting.

[sizemore]

Can we agree on the following?


"Transition" modules = 1 Person owns "the Ends" - it consists of two peices that are the "transition" modules, opposing ends of both conform to Ntrak specifications (remains consistent with any Ntrak length specification).

All other modules - can be made to any spec (ie. Code 55 rail, 1-2-*-4 track spacing etc) with the exception that module length conforms to Ntrak module length and height AND can join to both facing ends of "transition" modules. Additionally there will be no incline or decline between or among modules.

"Flex" Modules (those that represent variations other than straights, and 90* curves) - must have a compensating module or modules to conform with variations of size in relation to mainline travel, in accordance with an Ntrak layout. Additionally it or multiple "Flex" modules should conform to module length and height as specified by Ntrak.

When setup it will be with the assistance of any other Ntrak group. The Pittsburgh Module dohicky will act as an exterior "passing siding" within the larger Ntrak layout. This will allow "legacy" modelers the ability to still run their "legacy" equipment, while we get to have the fancy shmancy Pittsburgh Module dohicky.

The S