Fantasy (someone else's) but workable NTrak trackplan

velotrain Nov 17, 2015

  1. velotrain

    velotrain TrainBoard Member

    29
    4
    6
    I actually found this forum when an image search found the below trackplan (in a T-Track discussion), which the OP hinted wasn't really serious, but it intrigued me none the less.

    N-scale-car-ferry-city-5-5h-n-trak-1.jpg

    I've just spent an hour in AnyRail seeing how close I could get to it. I used Tomix fine track, with R140 curves and matching turnouts. I've used the R103 with trams, but felt it was just to sharp for this application. I just have the trial version, so ran out of track pieces at 50. The car ferry seemed visually and operationally silly sitting isolated just in front of the skyboard, and I wanted a full loop with double-ended access to the set-up track. Besides providing roundy running if I get tired of operating, it will allow me to bring a short train out of "staging" to the yard, for distribution by the local switcher. Due to the lack of space, sheer embankments at the ends will be needed to raise the industrial level to the level of the adjoining modules. Now I just need a light-weight NTrak module frame.

    NTrak2.png
     
  2. Joe D'Amato

    Joe D'Amato TrainBoard Member

    1,749
    352
    38
    oye...lots of switches to manage :)
     
  3. JMaurer1

    JMaurer1 TrainBoard Member

    2,310
    1,731
    53
    One small thing: then N shaped track between the two while warehouses in the center...there is no way to put a car on the left lower part of the N. The 'lead' is just enough room for a car OR an engine, but not both. Otherwise...interesting.
     
  4. velotrain

    velotrain TrainBoard Member

    29
    4
    6
    Exactly - which is why I chose to leave it out. (GMTA) The crossover could be moved back under the mains, but I don't think that would add enough.

    The OP hasn't been on the forum since June/July. I'm curious just what software he used to draw it, and whose track / turnouts he was using. Hmmm . . . I'm questioning AnyRail (or my skill at it), as it's showing the Tomix R140 turnouts as about 6" long. I just measured one of mine, and it's less than 3", but I'm fairly sure I selected the right component as it was marked as R140. Based on his drawing "scale" (24 ticks per foot), the original turnouts are about 5" long, and the radius looks much more gentle than the Tomix R140.

    Maybe it isn't such a fantasy after all. Perhaps I'll try laying it out with Tomix track, as I actually think I have enough turnouts on hand.

    I think it's a good design even without the overhead mains. Yard and enginehouse in the front, a half-dozen industry tracks at the rear, a loop when you want it, hidden "staging", and lots of opportunity for dense, urban industrial scenery.
     
  5. k-59

    k-59 TrainBoard Member

    242
    29
    18
    Getting rid of it also means all the switches are with in a reachable distance of the sides. Your modifications also fixes the other problem I had with the original design that the lead for the yard tracks is too short. I'd also leave out the building over the switch on the right side.
     
  6. velotrain

    velotrain TrainBoard Member

    29
    4
    6
    On top of that it doesn't really add anything.

    I also decided I wanted a separate runaround track for the yard, as the one by the industries seemed too far away. Also provides better access to the engine facilities.

    I don't know what that thing on the right side is meant to be. It could be some sort of industry where the main goes through it.

    The other odd thing was the crossover where one track is curved all the way through it. Of course, it could be built as custom trackwork - but I don't know why.
     
  7. Kenneth L. Anthony

    Kenneth L. Anthony TrainBoard Member

    2,749
    524
    52
    I think I remember John Armstrong suggesting something like this as a model of a New York City warehouse district served only by carfloat.
    And the elevated tracks that don't actually go anywhere add part of the scene, even if non-operating. I did something like that for a 27" x 34" N scale layout suggesting Berlin.
    [​IMG]
     
  8. velotrain

    velotrain TrainBoard Member

    29
    4
    6
    The double-track loop on your Berliner-bahn suggests that running trains was the priority, while I very much see this as a switching layout.


    The car ferry at the back made no sense to me for several reasons:

    - It looked silly, being landlocked in a tiny puddle of water

    - It couldn't be used for staging/operations, as the position means there is no way to get it out - except straight up

    - Being at the far rear of the module, and just behind industries (some potentially two floors) means that it has very low visibility

    - Even though static, it could be switched but, unlike the industries - there's not even an imaginary reason to


    Removing it makes space for a loop track, which I feel adds to the flexibility of the design. This could very easily be a standalone shunting layout, as well as a N-Trak module that gives the owner something to do when he doesn't have a train running on the main. You can also bring trains onto the layout in either direction from the set-up (AKA staging) track.


    BTW - It had obviously been too long since I used AnyRail; as suspected I was not using the turnouts I thought I was.

    Here it is drawn with the Tomix 1231 and 1232 turnouts, which are the R140 (~5.6" radius)


    Tomix R140 mm turnouts.png


    It all fits, but I don't like it. I started to try it with the Tomix R280 (~ 11.2" radius), but it wouldn't fit. I don't think it is the radius so much as the extra track that Tomix has on these. It could work by shortening the rails behind the frog. I have no problem with bashing Tomix and Kato track, but I know a lot of the Japanese (proto - not necessarily the modelers themselves) modelers are aghast at this. I think it might work with Peco SetTrack. Does anyone know of a company making N-gauge turnouts with roughly a 6-8" radius?
    Actually, Shinohara made (makes?) some 150mm and 200mm HOn30 turnouts, but they've become ghastly expensive.


    I must admit that I've gotten seduced by the Tomix turnouts, including the built-in (under the rails) powered throw. I can't imagine building a trackplan like this with anything else - needing to install and wire some ~20 Tortoises. One other benefit is that they work with the Tomix sensors and TCS unit - #5563. http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10040736


    I've made some videos of my experiments with this unit/system.

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNoLAFqZO9QX9ez3kWFLZvg/videos

    It is for sure easier with trams, but you could have two short trains - say in front of and behind the skyboard, and have them alternate running loops (mode 7/8). You could also have three short trains in the yard tracks, and they would sequentially run behind the skyboard and then reverse back to where they came from (mode 5).
     
  9. JMaurer1

    JMaurer1 TrainBoard Member

    2,310
    1,731
    53
    Personally I like the car float idea, but then again I model the NWP which HAD car floats. In the version that I'm being tempted to try building, the engine house is moved from front right to the front left corner and the car float is moved to the front right. Now it is in front and can be used to switch in and out cars. The space where it was in the back is for what you are already proposing...adding a loop.
     
  10. velotrain

    velotrain TrainBoard Member

    29
    4
    6
    I'm certainly not against the idea, and think they provide excellent staging for small layouts, but just didn't care for how it was actualized on the original layout. I agree that the right front is a great location for it - both scenically and operationally. However - I'm curious to see how you're going to fit the engine house into the opposite corner without major impact to the yard, although I thought it was larger than necessary. At most, it should accommodate one car inbound and one outbound for each industry track.

    Looking at the NWP route map on Wiki, there's an impressive amount of waterways adjacent to it. Must be a "bridge" route ;-)

    I've been thinking that with some careful planning (and construction), if desired the mains could lift off for home shunting layout use.
     
  11. velotrain

    velotrain TrainBoard Member

    29
    4
    6
    Well - they say the third time's the charm.


    I've finally wrangled this track plan to a point where I'm satisfied with it.

    Now all I need is a NTrak module kit, some Tomix track and a bunch of other stuff.


    NTrak mixed final.jpg


    Major goals in this round:

    - Try to shift the industry leads as far down (to the front) as possible, so that they wouldn't be covered by the overhead NTrak main lines.

    - Added two industry tracks in the rear. I'm fond of this crossing arrangement, but you could alternately add another turnout to each of the two tracks ducking behind the skyboard. I think these exit points can easily be hidden by the surrounding industrial complexes.


    I kept the Autoconnect function turned on most of the time in AnyRail, mostly so I wouldn't have so many free-floating track elements, but also for honesty and automatic alignment. The two exceptions involve the crossings, and I think those situations can be accomplished with some track bashing.
     

    Attached Files:

Share This Page