Hi All:
We have an N-Trak modular layout at our club (Scale Rails of Southwest Florida - Ft. Myers, Fl) and we wanted to be able to add some switching. We hit upon the idea of adding a module that would have both an Inglenook and a Time Saver switching puzzle. Since we are predominately DCC, we also thought it would be great if we could achieve our goal and we could have two people working a different puzzle at the same time, maybe. :mrgreen:
In order to get two working at the same time, we decided to "T" the module off of our regular modules....thus allowing two members to be on opposite sides of the module, one working the Inglenook and one working the Time Saver.
We developed the layout and a view from the top looks like this:
The main track comes in off the layout and branches off to the left to enter the Inglenook puzzle while the Time Saver is made up of the tracks below. We did add two sidings that are not used in the operations at the top left to park two locomotives. We plan on adding scenry. On the Time Saver, we have limited our rolling stock to box cars only. We know this wasn't the original set-up, but if we wanted industries to deliver the cars to, it helped in our planning. We can send box cars to most any industry. But sending a coal hopper to a box factory didn't seem to fit.
A view looking across the module onto our main layout looks like:
One of the questions we get asked is why didn't we put in a wye to join up with the main modules. Two reasons, one there wasn't really enough room, and two, we wanted to keep it simple and not have to worry about installing an auto reverser. We used Peco #6 turnouts and flex track. The only exception to the flex track is the connector track to the main layout.
After we scenic the module, I hope to provide more pictures.
dwight77
We have an N-Trak modular layout at our club (Scale Rails of Southwest Florida - Ft. Myers, Fl) and we wanted to be able to add some switching. We hit upon the idea of adding a module that would have both an Inglenook and a Time Saver switching puzzle. Since we are predominately DCC, we also thought it would be great if we could achieve our goal and we could have two people working a different puzzle at the same time, maybe. :mrgreen:
In order to get two working at the same time, we decided to "T" the module off of our regular modules....thus allowing two members to be on opposite sides of the module, one working the Inglenook and one working the Time Saver.
We developed the layout and a view from the top looks like this:
The main track comes in off the layout and branches off to the left to enter the Inglenook puzzle while the Time Saver is made up of the tracks below. We did add two sidings that are not used in the operations at the top left to park two locomotives. We plan on adding scenry. On the Time Saver, we have limited our rolling stock to box cars only. We know this wasn't the original set-up, but if we wanted industries to deliver the cars to, it helped in our planning. We can send box cars to most any industry. But sending a coal hopper to a box factory didn't seem to fit.
A view looking across the module onto our main layout looks like:
One of the questions we get asked is why didn't we put in a wye to join up with the main modules. Two reasons, one there wasn't really enough room, and two, we wanted to keep it simple and not have to worry about installing an auto reverser. We used Peco #6 turnouts and flex track. The only exception to the flex track is the connector track to the main layout.
After we scenic the module, I hope to provide more pictures.
dwight77