NTRAK's The Random Route

[alhoop]

In NTRAK 1992 publication " The N Scale Steam Locomotive Information Book" and the 2006 revised edition
of same there is described a small layout named "The Random Route" where a train makes 6 circuits of the
layout taking different routes each circuit before the pattern is repeated.
Did anyone build the layout or obtain the track plan. I would like to build the layout if a plan is available.
TNX
Al Hooper

[JMaurer1]

Interesting...never heard of it but I can't imagine how it goes. Since NTrak only has (at most) 5 tracks (red, yellow, blue, alt blue, green), I don't see how there can be 6 routes. Our club does have two ends that turns the trains back on themselves making it one huge run...red loops around and returns on yellow which returns on blue and then green which then connects to red. I didn't think that was possible either until it was done. I would be interested in seeing this myself.

I did see on the net that someone was referring to 'The Random Route' but it was part of a joke where a 0-2-0 was running on it. I'm wondering if it was a joke as well?

I know that I have the Locomotive Book from NTrak...somewhere, but I can't even think where to start looking. Maybe later today I'll see if I can find it.

[alhoop]

I did see on the net that someone was referring to 'The Random Route' but it was part of a joke where a 0-2-0 was running on it. I'm wondering if it was a joke as well?
 it.

That was probably it. Jim FitzGerald of N-TRAK fame designed the Random Route and the 0-2-0 locomotive to run on it. The two referenced books have pictures of the loco - I sure would not attempt to build it!
Regards
AL

[ncbqguy]

What a trip down memory lane!!!

Vol. 3 No. 3 May-June 1973 of the N Scale News, publication of the Association of N Scale Railroads (a predecessor to N-TRAK) had a submission by Jim Fitzgerald (SP of A) showing his "Burdick's Nightmare" running on the "Random Route" trackage. 

While I was looking for it I noticed that there was a statistic gleaned from the membership roster that in 1971 the average age of the over 400 members was 42.7 which was a little over the average for all scales that year.   So much for the aging of the Hobby.....

Charlie Vlk