Model Railroad
\nPublished in 1970 in “Nine N Scale Model Railroads by John H. Armstrong & Thaddeus Stepek for Atlas, The Gulf Summit & Susquehanna Valley Railroad, layout N-109, was designed for Atlas Code 80 sectional track. I have adapted the layout for Atlas Code 55 track and made the following changes:
\n\u2022 Used different radii and turnout sizes as they are not the same for Atlas code 55 rail as they are for the Atlas code 80.
\n\u2022 Used larger radii wherever possible.
\n\u2022 Used transition curves wherever possible, starting turns with a larger radius before going to a smaller radius for the center of the curve.
\n\u2022 Extended the length of the layout from 74″ to 8 feet. This was done primarily to reduce the two grades that go to the upper level.
\n\u2022 Revised the way the plywood was cut, so that the ramps remained intact with both the top and bottom, and all plywood joints are on the bottom level.
\n\u2022 Flex track was used to replace the sectional track that the layout was designed with.
\nTrout Lake, Moran, & Allenville Railroad
\n(Formerly the Gulf Summit & Susquehanna Valley)
\n(Click on image for larger view)
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\nDrawn with RTS for Code 80 rail.
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\nRedesigned for Code 55 rail and extended to 8 feet.
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\nRedrawn with XTrkCad. Green area is upper level, pale yellow areas are ramps.
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\nLegs.
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\nPocket Holes hold legs together.
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\nLeg leveler from Woodworker’s Supply.
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\nPlywood temporarily in place.
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\nTransition curve drawn manually.
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\nTransition curve cut out for template.
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\nTransition curve transferred to plywood and track being applied.
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\nXtrkCad comes to the rescue.
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\nFirst turnouts.
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\nSite of future train wrecks.
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\nFour 90\u00b0 crossings cut to make quadruple crossing.
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\nIn place.
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\nHead Gandy Dancer.
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\nViaduct and river placement worked out and plan updated.
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\nFlex track was used instead of the sectional track used to design the layout.
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\nWith track placement final, underlying grid can be built so as not to interfere with turnout machines.
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\nUpper level cut free.
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\nSouth ramp.
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\nTop & ramps are all one piece with bottom.
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\nTop lifted to lay out underground.
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\nWorking out distances for truss bridges.
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\nRiver cut.
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\nWorking out top height to fit viaduct.
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\nThomas awaits viaduct completion.
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\nWorking out level heights for viaduct, river, & tunnels.
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\nEast end.
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\nTop level anchored and viaduct assembled.
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\nSouth end of viaduct.
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\nNorth end of viaduct.
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\nReady for cork roadbed.
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\nRailroad moved to its permanent location.
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\nCork in place
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\nViaduct in place – from the East.
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\nFrom the West.
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\nDouble crossing.
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\nBridges in place – from the North.
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\nFrom the East.
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\nBridges & viaduct.
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\nBridges & Tunnels.
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\n3 Bridges.
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\n3 Bridges & Soo Loco.
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\nLast bridge in place.
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\nTurnout control and indicator LED circuits. Blow up to full size so you see all of the wires on your monitor.
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\nCrossing is wired on all legs.
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\nUnderside of crossing before wiring is connected.
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\nBuss bars made from \u00be” aluminum & #6-32 x \u00bc” screws.
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\nControl Panel.
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\nPanel Interior<\/p>\n
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\nPanel connected to layout with printer cable.
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The project is on hold at this point. We are considering revising the plan as follows:
\n\u2022 6′ x 8′
\n\u2022 Hand-built Fast Tracks turnouts.
\n\u2022 With the following plan:
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\nSuppliers – testimonials all unsolicited.
\nMainline Hobby Supply in Blue Ridge Summit, PA. – Nothing but trains and absolutely everything in stock. A fantastic store.
\nBrooklyn Locomotive Works. Really speedy service and a great website.
\nN Scale Supply. Really helpful service. If they would go to a cart system instead of their order form, they would be fantastic.
\nMcFeely’s Square Drive Screws. Excellent products and Excellent service. All bench work is held together with McFeely’s screws. Also screws for electrical buss-bars and turnout motor mounting screws.
\nMiniatronics. Good selection of wire and switches at good prices.
\nMouser. $1.80 apiece for 8 position terminal blocks. The same blocks were over $4.00 each at Radio Shack.
\nQuickar Electronics. Bi-color LEDs for 25\u00a2. Also panel mounts.
\nNewark Electronics. Spade connectors,<\/p>\n