T-Trak The N scale Pennsy Juniata Division 2.0 - T-TRAK!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm just waiting until Dave inevitably succumbs to our "implied peer-pressure" to do the Curve in T-Trak modules...

Maybe the peer-pressure isn't as implied now that I've said that... Lol

Deep down, he knows he wants to as well!

It's funny, I was just texting with him about wanting us each to do the same location but separated by 20 years: he does it in the 50s, I'll do it in the 70s (or maybe 80s). I had initially thought of just something as simple as a set of intermediate signals, but The Curve?? That'd be insane. lol.

[Dave V]

It's funny, I was just texting with him about wanting us each to do the same location but separated by 20 years: he does it in the 50s, I'll do it in the 70s (or maybe 80s). I had initially thought of just something as simple as a set of intermediate signals, but The Curve?? That'd be insane. lol.

That would be insane for sure. Love The Curve. And while I have no idea what size or shape space I'll have at the next house--nor how much of it will be occupied by HOn3--I do really like the idea of a freeform Altoona section. Roundhouse, engine facilities, car shop, a visible staging yard, and a background of flats representing the Juniata Shops. Built with some flavor of code 55 track. And at one end it'll have the Unitrack transitions and connect into the T-TRAK layout. Then on show days or meet-ups, I just unplug the modules and take 'em with me.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That would be insane for sure. Love The Curve. And while I have no idea what size or shape space I'll have at the next house--nor how much of it will be occupied by HOn3--I do really like the idea of a freeform Altoona section. Roundhouse, engine facilities, car shop, a visible staging yard, and a background of flats representing the Juniata Shops. Built with some flavor of code 55 track. And at one end it'll have the Unitrack transitions and connect into the T-TRAK layout. Then on show days or meet-ups, I just unplug the modules and take 'em with me.

I went looking for a link to this: https://www.yeltonmodels.com/product-page/alto-tower-n-scale
But then I also came across this: https://www.yeltonmodels.com/product-page/n-scale-cresson-tower-mo-prr

Hmm...

[Dave V]

I went looking for a link to this: https://www.yeltonmodels.com/product-page/alto-tower-n-scale
But then I also came across this: https://www.yeltonmodels.com/product-page/n-scale-cresson-tower-mo-prr

Hmm...

Oh no!!! LOL. I may have to use that as JACKS tower. Or choose a different interlocking name. Either way, that's a real Pennsy tower. Want!!!

EDIT: It'd make a great stand-in for MIFFLIN tower. MIFFLIN had a very shallow bay window but otherwise the proportions are sufficiently similar. I think my JACKS module just became MIFFLIN.

[apudelek]

You could do a big U shape of modules and the backside of the U that forms the Curve could be Altoona.  Just a thought.  The beauty is that the format allows for easy modification, of course.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This goes along with what @chicken45 was doing before he got sucked into tabletop gaming.

I think he was doing MG. I think I may ALSO do MG at some point. I had planned on doing it on an NTRAK module but it's 2026 and you don't get that much benefit from just having MORE hillside behind it.

[Point353]

I had initially thought of just something as simple as a set of intermediate signals, but The Curve?? That'd be insane. lol.

That would be insane for sure. Love The Curve.

http://ttrak.wikidot.com/bw-horseshoe

[Dave V]

I ordered that Cresson/MO tower from Yelton.



It's way bigger than the Walthers tower on the module now, so when it's ready I'll have to change some stuff again. But no worries.

This is no JACKS for sure... Although nearly all the Middle Division towers has bay windows of some sort, this one looks enough like MIFFLIN tower than I could get away with it. Looks more Pennsy than the Walthers tower, anyway.

And "MIFFLIN" just has an undeniable Pennsylvania ring to it, for obvious reasons.

Oh, and of course I plan to paint mine more carefully...!

[crrcoal]

Actually won a Yelton Alto Tower at Altoona N scale weekend a couple years ago. It''s nice.

I went looking for a link to this: https://www.yeltonmodels.com/product-page/alto-tower-n-scale

Hmm...

[Dave V]

Last night my wife hosted our street's monthly ladies' happy hour, so I stayed out of the way in the basement, making progress.

The interlocking module is done (at least until the MO Tower kit arrives):



And I'm making progress on the bridge module. I did decide to model Granville Bridge just railroad west of Lewistown (versus Ryde, which was just a bit further west). Granville has 8 arches, but a somewhat complicated steel reinforcement pattern you can see I've only begun to replicate. Once all that's done, I have etched brass handrails to add as well.

Please pardon my mess...somewhat uncharacteristic of me, but symbolic of my newfound enthusiasm:

[Dave V]

Slowly it begins to look like something:

[davefoxx]

Dang!  That table set-up looks perfect for two additional curved T-Trak modules at the far end and what looks like two double-length modules to make a perfect loop for some sweet Pennsy roundy-round time.

DFF

[Dave V]

Dang!  That table set-up looks perfect for two additional curved T-Trak modules at the far end and what looks like two double-length modules to make a perfect loop for some sweet Pennsy roundy-round time.

DFF

That is the plan, good sir!

[Dave V]

Wiring... Everything is color-coded...red for the outside track, yellow for the inside track per T-TRAK standard. You can also see the electronics for the signals on the interlocking module.



Adding brass handrails to the Granville bridge:



Juxtaposition:

[Dave V]

Starting to mock up Huntingdon...

I think I'd like to add another track on the front (I know, it's close to the edge!) which would help make the scene more representative of the four-track main but which would also work operationally as an interchange siding for the Huntingdon & Broad Top Railroad (represented with the #6 to nowhere below). I'd use #6s, but the sharper "return curves" to keep the track spacing even). Yeah, it's close to the edge, but it'd be more interesting.



I'd love to add a single crossover in there somewhere too but I don't want to mix the tie spacing and I would rather not deal with the notorious Kato #4 nonsense.