Well, after deciding I wasn't going to have enough space at home to do what I really wanted to, so I decided to go to Ntrak (yes, I model N scale at home) especially after I saw the Ntrak layout at a local train show. I am also a big prototype modeler, I like to do things so they look very close to the real thing. So the challenge was to come up with a track plan that would fit Ntrak modules, and still mimic the real thing. Little did I know, it would lie ten minutes from my dorm room!! So I took some pictures and acquired a track diagram. Kinda hard to read, sorry, but you can get the idea. As you can see there are a few problems. One is the depth, the other is that Ntrak requires 3 mainlines, where there are two at the north end, and only one at the south end!!! I solved the problem by adding the third main in front of the two on the prototype, and using crossings to keep the switches coming off of the same track. Turns out that with the extra 6" on the back allowed by Ntrak, you can fit the tracks in without much of a problem. The track plan also fits the real curvature of the yard. Photo taken from the north (east) end, on Friday the 7th, looking compass west. Photo taken from the I-787 embankment, looking compass south, also on the 7th. So here is the Ntrak plan I came up with, holding extremely close to the original. Comments or suggestions are welcome. Gridlines are one foot square.
I like your track plan. Now all you need is hundreds of cars... lol. What track spacing did you use. On the left, some of the track looks tight together, but I realize it could be the CAD, etc.
The first three lines are on Ntrak spacing, which is 1.5". The next one is at 1.6" (it is a little further away on the prototype) then the next few are on 1.3" centers, the natural center for Atlas customline N scale standard turnouts. The gridline runs right down the middle. Actually, I have to revise the 6 foot module on the plan, found some track I omitted.
