N-Scale Modular Layout History We currently have four module committee members. Modules are paid for, designed and constructed by individual members. Other than the framework and the track positions on either end (which are determined by N-Trak standards), the layout of each section is left to the discretion and skill level of the individual. Currently, the base cost of an N-Trak module is about $50 for a straight, and $100 for a corner. This does not include scenery or buildings. Why N-Scale? article by Al Nordmeier N scale by definition is 1:160 Scale. That means for every 160 inches of REAL things would equate to one inch in N scale. One N Scale mile equals 33 feet. Ten N scale feet equal ¾ of an inch. N scale is the second smallest scale in popular model railroading. Only Z scale is smaller. Going the other way next comes HO scale, then O scale, and LGB is the largest of the most common modeling scales. Everyone who loves model trains has their favorite scale and favorite railroad they would like to model. If we all had unlimited space and resources it would not be too hard to pick a scale to model in. The bigger the better would seem to be the rule. However, that is not the case that we all face. We all have space and resource limitations. Let's talk about N scale as our choice. Just what does N scale have to offer? Let's look. First, being the second-smallest scale, N scale can pack a lot of modeling area into a small space. An entire layout can be built on the traditional 4X8 sheet of plywood. I am not just talking an oval with a few industry sidings; I am talking multi train operation with all sorts of options. It is possible to have yards, a town, an industrial section and other things on this size layout. N scale requires a minimum of 9 ¾ inch radius, or 19 ½ diameter, for a circle of track. This compares to a minimum radius of 18" in HO. Kalmbach Books has many fine publications on model railroad track plans. What about the Engines in N scale? Today’s engines are worlds away from the engines that were around 25 years ago. Evolution has been kind to N scale. Today we get what we pay for. The better engines are more costly but the less expensive engines do a good job for the money also. Our club's portable, N-TRAK compliant modules have been host to unit coal trains of 100 + cars using only two of the higher priced engines. These engines run all day long at the shows we attend without problem. No, no rubber tires on these engines, just highly engineered models which pull about as many cars as their real life counterparts. These engines are about six inches long and weigh about seven ounces. Details are great, handrails look great and the paint and lettering are sharp and clear. Some of the details are so small that a magnifying glass needs to be used to appreciate exactly how good everything really is. The less expensive engines do a good job but may require an extra (helper) engine to do the job. The detail and paint on these models are also good. I do not run any steam engines nor does anyone in our club-please see you local hobby shop dealer for information. Passenger and Freight cars: Just like engines, passenger and freight cars are what you pay for them. Nothing hidden here, what you see is what you get. I believe that just about every type of freight car can be found. Seems like every manufacturer has box cars, hopper cars, tank cars and intermodal cars and many other types. Passenger cars are divided into two basic groups: Heavyweight and Streamlined. The Heavyweights go up to about World War II and the Streamlined after that. Today, AMTRAK uses streamlined cars while most commuter lines use Bi-Level cars that may be streamlined or not. Once again the manufacturers have pushed themselves into coming up with well-detailed and accurate paint schemes. In addition, passenger cars come with a lighting option and a drumhead (light at the end of a passenger train) which often has the road name of the train and the name of the train - "City of Ralston" for example - that may be installed yourself. Track: Straight track comes in several "codes". Real railroads track codes are the weights expressed in pounds for a three-foot length of rail. Therefore, code 55 rail in real life is a 3’ piece of track that weighs 55 pounds. In the model world, code 55 is the lightest while code 100 is the heaviest. Different manufacturers make several different lengths of track to fit in various places as well a Flex Track that can be cut to the exact length that is needed. Curved track also comes in various codes as well as various radius and degrees of a circle. This sounds difficult but once explained in detail is not a problem. Also available is preballasted interlocking track. Several manufacturers have this system which is fast to go down and looks reasonable. The downside to preballasted track is no choice of ballast color and unless you are great with painting-no painting of track and ties to achieve that overall weathered look. Buildings: Buy what looks good to you and matches your skill level. There are a lot of preassembled buildings that look very good. Other options are to build a building from a kit or build one of your own design by either starting with a kit and modify it to suit you needs (kitbashing) or build a completely new structure of your own design (scratch built). All of these can be achieved in N scale without to many problems. Building materials are usually plastic or wood and both may contain white metal detail castings. Scenery is the same in all scales-only the size is different. Basic scenery is trees, grass, rocks, water etc. N scale trees are LGB scale bushes and LGB trees make a nice redwood forest in N scale. Power: Any transformer rated for N scale will do the job. It is better to buy more power than you think you need to begin with rather to go out and a buy a more powerful transformer latter on. Other things to think about for the health of our hobby: True, I have purchased several items off of eBay. I am like anyone else - take a discount where you can. There is only one thing wrong with that line of thought - what about the hobby shops? Most of the time that is where we go for help and advice. I use my local hobby shops for that purpose as well as networking within our own club. Both are excellent sources of information you can not get through ebay or discount hobby stores which run big adds in major model railroad publications. I'M not saying do not buy from eBay but at the same time, let’s not lose one of our major sources of knowledge and ideas. New members: I do not know of any model railroad club that has a NO VACANCY sign. We are always looking for new members who bring in fresh ideas and new ways of looking at problems. If you have any ideas please pass them on - as a hobby we need all of the members we can get. Ntrak: The world standard in modular N scale layouts. N-trak is the best thing for N scale since the invention of the N scale rerailer tool. What other set of rules are there in the world that will let a module from Japan, Germany, New York and LaVista, Nebraska all join together to form an operating layout? My hat is off to Jim and his comrades at N-trak for proving the information to standardize this one part of the hobby. However, I think Jim and company has taken an even greater step with the birth of T-Trak. This little gem gives us small modules, about the size of a sheet of notebook paper that fit together like a First Jigsaw Puzzle. These modules in my eyes have none of the less attractive parts of the regular N-Trak modules. No skirting, no clamping, no Jones connectors between modules and no fighting with any wondering why the modules connector tracks have all changed lengths from the last set-up. Also, for old guys like me - the weight of the modules. The basic straight 2x4 module with almost no scenery and legs checks in at a healthy 29 pounds. A corner with the same sparse scenery is a whopping 43 pounds. No wonder I quit taking the modules to the basement. Oh yes, four basic T-Trak modules WITH carrying option weighs in at a record breaking 10 pounds total - including backdrops. With the small size, I recently held a T-Trak clinic at our local club meeting, which fit on two very small tables. Ease of assembly - I had a four year old son of one of our members assemble it (with adult supervision of course) and fast set up (took less then 10 minutes until HE was running the train). I think and hope this will be the wave of the future when we are able to attract young people to this hobby. N-Trak Module Chairperson Mark Erickson
See also: NTRAK Modular Railroading Society, Inc. WHD N-Scale Layout Photo Gallery T-Trak Information WHD T-Trak Layout WHD T-Trak Photo Gallery
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