I needed to pull together a list of my TTRAK modules for a layout coordinator and figured it made the most sense to do as a blog post here. Here’s my current TTRAK menu.
Northern Central “Dead Season Double”
This is a set of two double length (~24″) TTRAK modules that make up a 4′ scene. This scene is inspired by the real location where PA route 616 crosses under the Northern Central just south of Glen Rock PA. I built these modules so that I had a portable version of “what I do” and to attempt to build some significant below-grade scenery on a TTRAK module. Both modules have feeders on both red and yellow lines.
Bridesburg Modules
My Bridesburg module set were created to recreate some scenes from my childhood around the Bridesburg neighborhood in Philadelphia and to give me a portable switching layout. My Bridesburg module set is comprised of my Rohm & Hass modules, my Bridge Street Module and a pair of corner modules. You can read more about these modules here.
Rohm & Haas
The first in my set of Bridesburg modules was one loosely based on the Rohm & Haas chemical plant where my grandfather worked. It is comprised of two double length (~24″) modules. It has feeders on both modules on both red and yellow lines.
Bridge Street
My Bridge Street module is a single double-width (~24″) module depicting a mashup of scenes from Bridesburg and Marcus Hook PA.
Bridesburg Corners
I needed a few corners to make my switching layout work so I decided to scenic them to go along with my other Bridesburg modules. These are just a set of basic TTRAK corners, although the one features the Philly staple of a used tire dump that is partially finished.
Glenarm
A few years ago I moved to a house across the street from the old MA&PA. I fell in love. But the MA&PA isn’t busy enough to scratch all of my model railroad itches. How do I solve this? TTRAK to the rescue!
My first attempt on this front is Glenarm, a location out in the Baltimore County countryside. I asked my dad, who scratch built me the entire East Strasburg complex when I was a kid, to do the station for me. A little while later… it was time to build a module to hold it. Glenarm is a single wide (~12″) module with feeders on both tracks.
Pavonia Engine House
One of my formative railfanning memories was scoping out the engine house at Conrail’s Pavonia Yard in Camden NJ. I’ve been wanting to build a representation of it for ages, but never had a good venue. I realized that it’d make a great TTRAK module, so I used my hacked Unitrack approach to build something that is reminiscent of the actual scene (but far from an exact model). It is a double wide module that is fully TTRAK compatible and features feeders on all tracks (with the back tracks wired to match the yellow line). This module is still a work in progress.
Eastern Shore Modules
Freight House
This module is a double-width straight module featuring a siding and one of my favorite kits: the Walthers “shed”. It was a collaboration with my dad and features some of his truly remarkable trees (made with a combination of Woodland Scenics armatures and Scenic Express Supertree branches). It has feeders on both lines.
“The Wave”
This is a single width straight module that makes a great non-descript filler.
Corner
This corner module is another non-descript filler. It is a standard TTRAK corner.
David K Smith’s Dauphin
My friend David K Smith decided to build a TTRAK module to explore the format. He needed a new home for it during a downsizing and I have been honored by becoming its caretaker. It’s a double-width module that represents the very scenic rock outcroppings at Dauphin PA on the PRR/PC/Conrail/NS Buffalo Line. It does not have track feeders.
TTRAK Technology Demonstrator
I’ve developed a number of innovations that make TTRAK easier or more interesting, so I created a module to demonstrate a handful of them. It’s primarily to show off my “Hacked Unitrack”, but has a couple other neat features. It has its own post here.
Scenery Demo Corner
This is just a basic corner with the tracks going through a cut. It’s somewhat sceniced and I sometimes use it as a training tool for scenery techniques. It does come in handy from time to time though.
Paired Undecorated Crossovers
This set of two single width modules each feature a Kato crossover. It’s split so it can easily bookend a yard, junction, or other feature where it makes sense to have this capability. They are currently unsceniced but do feature feeders on both lines. You can see one of these crossovers in the photo below.
Choose Your Own Adventure Yard
I realized that I had both a handful of unsceniced modules and a pile of unused Unitrack. I haven’t wanted to commit to building an expensive permanent yard, but having one is incredibly useful at shows. As a result, I can bring the modules and track to a show and throw together a yard in whatever configuration we need. As an added bonus, extra models can easily be added to extend it when possible.
