The Trinity Rail Link In Z

Doug A. Jul 1, 2015

  1. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    I am starting a new layout and for the first time since venturing into N from HO in 1983 it will be in a new scale. That's right, I had an undiagnosed brain episode and drifted into the Z lane. [​IMG]

    I am planning on modeling the joint commuter/freight line between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, USA. (at one point I was working on a similar layout in N) This includes operations of four railroads: Trinity Railway Express, BNSF, UP, and the Dallas, Garland, & Northeastern. The era will be mid-2000’s. The layout is called "The Trinity Rail Link" to generically refer to the line and its tightly interwoven tenants. (and river!) A little more about the "why" later, but for now I'll present what is a fairly finalized track plan.

    [​IMG]

    In a nutshell, the design goal is "build a very small layout that permits a couple of commuter trains to run while a freight slips in and around switching local industry." The modeled area is about a 3 mile part of the line between South Irving station and Medical Market Center station, yet not modeling any actual stop...simply the commuters running through a very "freight heavy" part of the line, plus a short bit of scenery near the crossing of a tributary of the Trinity River. So some bit of scenic area, but mostly "urban decay" in the form of an extremely compressed Mockingbird Yard and adjacent warehouse district. A meandering industrial spur winds through the warehouse jungle before ending at the Dallas Coca-Cola plant, (the red building in the layout diagram) destination for many loads of corn syrup delivered by rail. This is very different than my previous attempt in n-scale, and is really grounded in the concepts of simplicity and just a fun side project.
     
  2. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    Why Z-Scale?

    Well, like I said, I think I probably destroyed some important brain cell, best I can figure. [​IMG] But really it can be blamed on American Z Lines blowing out their F59PHI/Bombardier commuter sets for $99. That includes a locomotive, three coaches, and one cab-control car. I had been curious about Z, and particularly with respect to modeling the TRE. (AZL also makes RDC's, another key piece of equipment the TRE ran that really gives it major character)

    [​IMG]

    So, that's how it started. Originally I figured I would just buy an oval of track, stick it on a piece of foam and call it a day. Well, then I started discovering that Z now has enough modern freight equipment to really represent the TRE line extremely well. The $89 AZL GP38-2 got good marks for performance, and before I knew it I had one in UP paint, a handful of freight cars, plus an undec RDC that I got at a great price. I have to admit I was a little struck by how well everything operated. I even bought a couple of curved turnouts thinking I would really regret it and they just perform flawlessly. That RDC-1 is just a beautiful sight to behold gliding across the track. While I was clearly already pretty deep into things by then, that RDC really pushed me over the edge to try and put together a layout in Z.
     
  3. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    There is an unwritten law that anybody with the given name of Doug will model in nothing but N scale.







    Hehe, just kidding.

    :D

    Doug
     
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  4. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    I know, I wrote that unwritten law. o_O:confused::D

    I've lost friends over this, and my dog won't speak to me.
     
  5. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    $99 for the commuter sets will push almost anyone into skipping down a scale :)
     
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  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I wouldn't worry about the lost friends, this dog situation could be the bad part. :D
     
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  7. markm

    markm TrainBoard Supporter

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    Doug,
    Welcome to Z dark side. Actually a lot of people don't realize all that's come out in Z. You can model almost every major road and era.

    Good looking layout. Other than the gap on the left, I really don't see anything to fault.

    Good luck with your layout.

    Mark
     
  8. emaley

    emaley TrainBoard Supporter

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    Looks pretty cool. I love the TRE. I want to get another set. I see you have used curved turnouts. Have you had a chance to test them yet? I have thought about using some, but just haven't tried them yet.

    I am about to start a similar size layout, just a bit wider, that is if I stick with the 700th iteration of my track plan. I think I can, I think I can.

    Good Luck and many pictures,
    Trey
     
  9. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    Another Z-scaler! :D Welcome, Doug.;)

    Dom
     
  10. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    Mark, that gap is not indicative of a problem with the track going together. The "slop" value for the version of XTrackCAD that I'm using doesn't seem to be working right. I can eventually make it line up in the drawing but it's a pain so typically I just ignore it. Once I settle on a final plan I'll clean all of that up. (In fact right now it is fixed I think, as long as I don't change anything else) This was just a "rough-in scenery, structures, and color" effort. I actually have a pretty final plan now but haven't gone through the exercise again. I'm still tweaking the industrial trackage too and probably won't make a decision on that until I have the layout underway and can see how some structures will look.

    Trey, well now is the time to get another set....$99 is impossible to beat. I actually just bought a third set. I bought both of the sets, then sold 3 coaches and now the third set replaces those and gives me a third Cab car. (I just need to renumber it which shouldn't be too difficult) Also gives me another loco, which I plan to use the mech for an F59PH (not "I") that hopefully can be done via Shapeways....we'll see. So I now have the ability to run 3 three-car sets or other combinations of 6 coaches and 3 cab cars. Typically they ran in 2, 3 or 4 car trains...I think I've seen 5 before but don't quote me on that. For a model railroad I think 2 or 3 is about right...so I probably could have been fine without the third set but I figured this way was a pretty low cost risk abatement in case I did eventually have room for three trains at some point.

    Thanks Dom, I'm having fun so far!
     
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  11. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    Oh, and regarding the curved turnouts...

    I bought an initial order of Rokuhan track and purposefully got some challenging pieces to see what I could break so to speak. So that included two curved turnouts, and I have to say they performed flawlessly. I operated almost every scenario I could think including backing the TRE train and even backing the freight equipment...as many as 11 cars...through the turnouts in all directions. Had zero problems. So that is why I included them so prominently. They are a pretty good space saver and I just like the way they "flow" so I can't be more excited about getting started with the layout.
     
  12. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    Doug that is a nice plan for sure and welcome to Z It is very addictive and there will be times you get frustrated but thee are a ton of great folks here to help, Without fail someone can always get you the knowledge you need. It is an addiction, but a fun one.
     
  13. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    Doug welcome to the world of Z! I love the track plan and concept. Very cool! You nailed it starting with Rokuhan. This track system was designed for operations.

    Great idea on the corn syrup cars delivery to the Coke plant. I am expecting AZL's corn syrup cars to be available by the end of summer. These will be perfect!

    Keep us posted. I can't wait to see your layout progress.

    Rob
     
  14. Pig Gap

    Pig Gap TrainBoard Member

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    As another new N to Z covert, I found out that Rokuhan has taken the best of KATO and Tomix and combined them.
    I am using George Stilwell's BCD switch controller that I used on the KATO N switches with no problems.
     
  15. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    And some progress finally! (just a little)
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Basically just got the foam cut out to the basic dimensions of the layout. Two 3/4" pieces and one 1/2", which will be laminated together to create a sufficiently strong layout board.
     
  16. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    Laid out the track plan. Missing some turnouts and a few other pieces but almost there.

    [​IMG]
     
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  17. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    Excellent use of space! Should be fun to operate.
     
  18. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    Another quick update...still need more track, but got some trains running tonight after this pic was taken to test the grade down into the industrial area.

    [​IMG]
     
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  19. Raytl

    Raytl TrainBoard Member

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    Cool layout, any updates?
     
  20. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    No updates to speak of, at least nothing photo-worthy. I have started the process of wiring feeders and weathering the track. I also am working on redoing the foam a little, to effectively add about half inch of additional depth and a little more rigidity. Also done some side projects....working on decoder installs, etc.

    I've frankly not had much time to work on it as I've had a number of episodes of mayhem in the past six months that have really affected things. But once I return from my current business trip, I *should* (knock on wood) have a little bit easier go of it and more time for model railroading.
     

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