MikeO

A few photos of the T Trak layout at the Ulster Model Railway Show last weekend.

For this show the total running length was around 12m (about 40ft)

The first 2 photos feature a rake of MK1s with a 121 and A class in charge respectively.  There were seven coaches in the rake and given the length of the layout the train did not look like it was chasing its tail.

Next is an SG3 with a UTA rake of about coaches. In the next photo the SG3 is passing a GNR PPs class with a goods train.

This time an S class with an LMS NCC rake is passing the 121 class with its MK1 rake

At the back of the layout a variety of trains await their turn.

Here we have a Southern N Class in its original grey livery double heading with a K1A class which was converted from a green version of the N Class

Although not ready in time for this show I have included some photos of the MK3 coaches recently completed.

The first two photos show the rake being pulled by a 201 and then with the DVT at the front. The photos show the coaches in a sort of yellow colour but the are in fact orange as can be seen in the next set of photos. The rake comprises 4 open standards, a restaurant car and the DVT. Despite the advice elsewhere on the forum I used an intercity restaurant car as the donor. Removing the roof vents put holes in the roof so I had to do some repairs which did not turn out too well. The DVT was converted from an open standard and the others were open standards repainted. I did heed the advice and got the HST versions. Some came with buffers but most did not.

MikeO

Galteemore

This is a shot I took just after the conversion

This shot gives an idea of the some of the conversion work required as the T9 is a little different from the S Class

MikeO

Galteemore

Thanks. Yes it is a GNR S Class converted from a Union Mills T9

MikeO

A few photos of the T Trak layout from the 1st Bangor show held on Friday and Saturday(24 and 25 May).

These are not in any particular order

First up is a Double headed Class 121 train followed by one with 2 jeeps. The jeeps were on the move hence the poor quality of this photo. The first jeep is a conversion from a BR 4MT and the Second from a Fairbairn.

Next is a Class 800 with a motley collection of Green liveried CIE Coaches. This is followed by a K1a Class on the same train but with an added "tin" van.

Two diesels, an A Class and coaches  and then  a C Class with a short container rake.

Finally a J15 with a variety of 6 Wheel coaches, a jeep with UTA coaches and brown vans and an NCC U2 class with various LMS NCC coaches

Mikeo

A few photos of the T-Track layout taken at the North Down Show 13th and 14th  April.

This year there was a modernish and  international theme both to the stock and the modules. In terms of stock the countries represented were Austria, Germany, Ireland and Sweden. The most modern stock was German where a variety of DMUs featured heavily.

The first 2 photos show an overview of the front of the layout.

The next set show the various trains in the 2 fiddleyards

The blue and white coaches are Austrian and The Steam Train is Swedish. I did not get a photo of the more modern Swedish passenger train.

Some of the more modern Irish stock are the ballast wagons and the Container wagons, the latter are all scratch built and both were inspired by those depicted in Popeye's workbench thread.

The following 2 photos are of Intercity and Arrows liveried trains which will have been seen in photos previously posted in this thread. However they are seen passing the new WH Mills station module. The Signal cabin is a Saxeby and Farmer type, both are scaled down Alphagraix 00 gauge card kits.

The last 2 photos show a McDonalds module and a German Freight Train.

MikeO

Hi WaYSidE

From what I have read on this forum in the prototype, wagons are marshalled depending on where they are going and which need to be dropped off first. In model form the positioning is not an issue. 

MikeO

Hi Fergus

This is very much a personal decision and is just one of the many decisions to be made by modellers about what is the best option in a specific case.

My personal view is that if you are not going to put in over head wiring then you will never need the pantographs to be up. On that basis use the Hack Brocken.

I have a German layout which I am currently rebuilding and I am installing a Faller bridge. When I assembled the bridge, the instruction gave me the option not to include the 2 end pieces in the bridge roofing as by doing so I would not be able to have the pantographs up. I made the decision to put in the end pieces as I did not envisage putting in over head wiring.  if I ever change my mind i will need a new bridge or maybe a new layout.

MikeO

I did not manage to get many photos of other layouts at Cultra on the 10th November. A few that i did get were

Castlederg a truly impressive layout.

Another one was of Obins street

Some of the others have already been posted above by Irishrailwayman

MikeO

Attached are a few photos of scenes of my T-Trak layout taken at the Cultra Exhibition on 10th November.  There was a very good attendance on the day and the people seemed to appreciate all of the layouts.

The first is a general view of the front of the layout.

The next is a view at the back showing trains awaiting their turn.

Next there are 3 detail scenes showing respectively vehicle on the corner module, Class 800 with a variety of bogie coaches and a U2 class with some LMS NCC bogie coaches

This next set of photos were taken at a small local show on the 14th November held at La Mon House

First up is an overview of the front modules

The show reflects farming interests so the next photo is a close up of the farming module developed for the day.

The last 2 photos show an A Class with a rake of Black and Tan coaches and a C class at the head of a mixed freight train

MikeO

I posted the dates for the UMRC show apologies for the confusion.  North Down is usually the week after Easter but that can change.

MikeO

I will be there with a small T-Trak layout

MikeO

Llanuwchllyn is an impressive layout. While the photos on the form show it off well, seeing at the show is a whole different experience, for the better.  Seeing stock moving on the layout brings it to life.

MikeO

A few photos of the T Trak layout at the UMRC show in Belfast this weekend (25/26 August).

The first 2 photos show the layout over view. The each side was 6m (20ft)

The second 2 Show The Strand Hotel and Wooden Bridge modules with new backscenes. The Atlantic and Pacific Hotels are an approximation of how they may have looked deduced from The links members provided. The other houses are based mostly on existing houses on Upper Strand.

Trains in the fiddleyard awaiting turn

Some cameos from the Strand Hotel and the Village modules

The final set show a number of train formations recorded during the weekend

A Class

071 with cement train

GNR PPS no. 18 with mixed Goods

The Class 8500 series DART and the Mixed goods train passing

Lastly WT Class 57 with the Enterprise

MikeO

I hope to get a chance to see the layout, if I can get away from the T-Trak. 

MikeO

A few photos of my T trak layout from the !st Bangor show in May 2018. Some  new features are the Strand Hotel module, a new back scene to the Girder Bridge module and 2 new locomotives a C class, based on a BR Class 22 and a WT class based on a Fairbarin , my other WT class is based on  BR 4MT. They have been numbered 56 and 57 respectively.

MikeO

Ken

That is a brilliant looking model. i hope it prints out well for you.

Have you got a chassis in mind for it?

MikeO

Thanks Eoin

If you do not already have customers for the DARTs  keep me in mind

MikeO

Thanks for the input Sven. It did not come with a blanking plate but I may later change CV 29 back to 6 and try it on my analog track.

My understanding is that setting a CV at 0 or 255 is the same thing ie it means use max speed,  therefore to me setting CV 6 to 0 is a strange thing for the manufacturer to do.

I have a German N Gauge  ET87 railcar which does not increase its speed after speed step 14 although it is set for 28/128 speed step running. It is by Trix and has a Ct Electronics decoder version 59. The model is about 10 years old but did not come with the  information you now get about CVs. I cannot find anything only line to help with the CV settings although decoder version 76 seems close in terms of default values.

The default settings for those which I think are affecting the speed are

CV 2 = 3

CVs 3 and 4 = 4

CV 5 = 0

CV 6 = 0

CV 29 = 2

CV 50 = 255

CV 51 = 120

CV 52 = 60

CV 64 = 100

CV 116 = 0

I changed some of the CVs including setting CV 29 to 6 but no difference. I have reset the decoder a few times to the factory settings but again no change. It almost seems like it is stuck on half speed.

Has anyone any thoughts on the issue.

MikeO

Hi Eoin

The DART looks really well, the work of a real craftsman. One would be a good accompaniment to my own 8600 series one.. Perhaps some will be ready to purchase by the end of the year.

MikeO

Hi John

Hope to see you there. I will have my T-Trak layout

MikeO

Eoin

Thanks for the comments. Close up it does not look that good. Can't see another set of 4 cars being done any time soon but if I do get around to it a simpler roof will be a priority, ie without the air conditioning boxes.

Other projects require my attention.

MikeO

Following the above information I decided to start converting my class 350/2 into the 8600 series DART. While the roof details and a number of others have not been fully done, I think that for N gauge there is sufficient to give a passable representation of this type of DART.

As this will normally only be viewed at a distance it gives a reasonable impression of the DART.

The following 5 photos show the completed model with all its short comings.

MikeO

Eoin

I could make use of a couple of those cassettes. Motorisation is not an issue for me.  Hopefully they will be available soon.

MikeO

Steventrain

Thanks for the photos and videos. It was nice to see our T-Trak layout feature.

I have attached a four photos of the layout and 2 of Kildare Station. I did not manage to get may photos. Hopefully I will do better at the !st Bangor show in May

MikeO