N-trak Onetrak User manual

The oNeTRAK Manual

CONNECTIONS 16

First Edition, 2001 Version 1.00 March-23-2001

CONNECTIONS TO OTHER SINGLE

TRACKED STANDARDS

While oNeTRAK has pro en to be a popular

standard for single track modules, it is not the only

standard. This page shows the differences and

similarities among se eral standards to aid in

tailoring arious standards to a particular situation.

Some standards, such as oNeCat, follow U.S.

prototype. Others follow European prototype and

are popular in Europe. There are e en proposed

standards for narrow gauge modules, but they

ha e been omitted because of ob ious problems

connecting narrow gauge with standard gauge

trackwork. There are se eral more standard

descriptions published o er the last few years but

ha e not been included in the list as they either are

no longer ali e or are used by ery few indi iduals

only. If the authors of this manual did forget one of

the rising stars, please gi e us a note!

ONECAT

The origin for these modules comes from NCat or

those NTRAK modules that feature traction track

along with the original three tracks. You will find a

narrow minimum radius of 6" and steep grades of

up to 4% as well as Catenary all along the tracks

(hence the name...). Both the manual and sketches

for interface-modules are to be published soon on

the Internet.

FREMO

FREMO is a group which is mainly based in

Germany with some acti ists in other European

countries. There are standards for se eral scales

and some of them (HO) are specalized for US

prototype. A similar one for N scale has not yet

been finalized. The main aim for FREMO is

prototypical operation. There are no loop-style

layouts. Modules therefore are relati ely free in

their form and only the end sides of a module are

standardized.

MAS 60

Another mainly European standard with an

emphasis on geometry. Lengths are in multiples of

60 cm (~2') and the standard angle is 60°.

Operations usually follow prototypical schemes

but might be loop style on occasion. Module

geometry is more strict than with FREMO but

"multiple-segment-modules" are possible. The main

theme follows European prototype, and standards

are written for se eral scales.

Currently, there are HO and N scale groups.

ADDRESSES

oNeCat:

Alex M. Postpischil: [email protected]

FREMO:

www.fremo.org

www.free-mo.org

MAS 60:

www.webdesign-tg.ch/mas60

Eduard Isenring: [email protected]

MAS 60 N scale club:

mypage.bluewin.ch/ smsn/index.HTML

Dieter Portmann: [email protected]

DISTRIBUTION OF THE ONETRAK MANUAL

The current On-Line ersion of this manual will

be found at:

www.ntrak.org

www.ntrak.ch

www.n ntrak.org

A metric ersion of the oNeTRAK specifications

for Australian conditions can be found at:

homepages.picknowl.com.au/austnscale

The oNeTRAK Manual

The oNeTRAK ManualThe oNeTRAK Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ONETRAK 2

oNeTRAK layout at Adliswil 2000 Con ention

MODULES/LAYOUT SAMPLES 15

This is the track plan of the Dease Lake &

Northern, which pro ed to be a real show

stopper during the 2000 Adliswil Con ention.

While all elements follow oNeTRAK

specifications, they were designed to suit

this configuration and the landscape flows

smoothly from one module to the next. Such

a layout is not expected to see fast trains

looping. The main attraction is the barge

operation o er a lake made of real water.

Operations follow time table and waybill

instructions. Se eral industries are ser ed

and cars are swapped with another railroad

symbolized by the tracks on the interchange

at the left side of the layout.

INDEX Page

Specifications ...........................3

Basic module ............................4

Offset and corner modules .......5

DCC wiring tips.........................6

Analog wiring tips .....................7

Switch Wiring Tips ....................8

Main line junction......................9

Branch line junction ................10

oNeTRAK junction ..................11

Operational tips ......................12

Modules/Layout samples.. 13-15

Connections/Distribution.........16

DEFINITION

oNeTRAK is an NTRAK compatible

single-track branch line that can

augment NTRAK layouts.

MAIN GOALS

1. Lightweight, simple to build

modules, especially for beginners or

those with limited transport capability.

2. Pro ide an alternati e to three

track modules that can be connected

to an NTRAK layout. Connected

layouts encourage team building and

enhance fun!

3. Easy home layout integration

4. Extend the NTRAK Red Line

Route at shows

5. Pro ide a branch line for more

prototypical operations.

6. Pro ide an easy way to model

scenes with single track and tighter

cur es.

7. Pro ides a section of the layout

for serious switching operations

when the rest of the layout is running

lots of trains to hold the attention of

spectators.

INTEGRATION

oNeTRAK modules can be used to

build stand alone layouts with

emphasis on operation or can be

connected with an NTRAK layout

using junction modules either to

lengthen the “Red Line Route” as

seen on the sketch below or to ha e

a branch line with sparse traffic. As

the module design should permit both

uses, all rele ant standards for a

con entional NTRAK module must

be met by any oNeTRAK module.

ELECTRICAL ISSUES

NTRAK layouts in general and

oNeTRAK modules in particular may

be operated using con entional

analog technology or digital DCC

equipment. A module should conform

to both requirements e en if its builder

or owner only intends to use it in one

of the two modes.

ADDRESSES

Bernard C. Kempinski

1801 N. Beauregard Street

Alexandria, VA 22311-1772

USA

[email protected]

C. Matt Schaefer

4301 Starr Jordan Dri e

Annandale, VA 22003

USA

[email protected]

Simon Ginsburg

Letzigraben 49

CH-8003 Zürich

Switzerland

[email protected]

The oNeTRAK Manual

SPECIFICATIONS 3

MODULES/LAYOUT SAMPLES 14

Standard NTRAK

layout



Junction module "Gordons ille"

Offset module module with

additional depth

180° return



loop module

corner

modules

oNeTRAK part of the Orlando '98 Con ention layout

Arrows show direction of traffic

on extended Red Line Route



This was the first appearance of oNeTRAK in large

scale. The operating scheme extends the Red

Line Route through this part of the layout. The

Junction module (Gordons ille) permits both legs

of the Route to pass through. Trains enter

Gordons ille from the south on the right-hand

track. They pass through a turnout and head north

on single track. The engineer loops round

oNeTRAK's main and reenters Gordons ille from

the west. The train takes the right hand leg of the

wye and continues off the module back to the

south, this time on the second track. The straight

leg of the wye (at the front of the module) is ne er

used, so there is no re ersing loop. An empty

boxcar is usually parked on this leg, awaiting

interchange and pre enting operators from using

the track. Trains that remain on the oNeTRAK loop

during local operations can use the third leg of the

wye.

Most of these guidelines are based

on NTRAK standards.

1. HEIGHT OF TRACK Nominal

height is 40 inches. To make grades

longer than one module the module

interface on grades may need to be

changed from the 40 standard

height.

2. FRAME SI ES Frame lengths in

multiples of one foot. Twel e inches

is the minimum width. This width may

be increased up to an additional foot,

front or back for a total maximum

width of three feet.

3. MODULE INTERFACE Same as

NTRAK with one clamp and the stan-

dard 4.91" Atlas connector track sec-

tion. The frame on the module end

can be 1x3 or 1x4 lumber or plywood

equi alent.

4. TRACKS Code 80 track is stan-

dard. Code 55 is acceptable with

code 80 transitions at module inter-

face. Any Atlas, Peco or Micro Engi-

neering code 80 or code 55 turnouts

are acceptable. One track is re-

quired, additional through tracks are

permitted.

5. MINIMUM RADIUS is 18 inches

with appropriate easements. To pre-

ent binding the minimum length of

tangent between all re erse cur es

must be 7 inches.

6. LOCATION OF TRACK On

straight modules the location of the

main has no impact on the loop of

modules and is not important, but

generally the track is set back 4 to 6

inches from the nominal front so that

the Fascia may be reasonably

aligned. Bump outs on the modules

are permitted, same as NTRAK.

Double or triple track should ha e

1.5-inch center spacing at the mod-

ule interface.

7. CORNERS Standard corners

can be 3 by 3 or 4 by 4 feet, etc. On

a standard corner the track should be

set back 6 inches from the nominal

front edge. This makes layout design

with inside corners easier. With track

set in 6" modules can be used as in-

side or outside corners and maintain

the one foot spacing increments.

8. CLOSING LOOP LAYOUTS

Due to the wide ariety of frame sizes

and locations of tracks, some gaps

may de elop in a loop layout. Most

large loops should be flexible enough

to close a gap by "scrunching" the

modules together. In some cases a

temporary bridge may be necessary.

This can be made by using a piece of

foam, some flex track and a bar

clamp to close the gap.

9. JUNCTIONS The smallest re-

commended junction is 3 by 5 feet.

10. GRADES 1.5 percent maxi-

mum across a dedicated set of mod-

ules. Grades on other modules can

be created with shims under legs of

modules. Grades suggest addition of

a helper district and helper engine

facility.

11. END TURNS are modules that

include a 180-degree cur e in the

track. They should be a minimum of 2

by 4 feet to allow the 18-inch mini-

mum radius and easements. The dis-

tance between the ends of tracks on

an end turn must be three feet or

more in e en foot increments.

12. TURNOUT SI ES All turnouts

should be number 6 or larger on the

mains, passing sidings and inter-

change tracks. Number 6 turnouts

are also encouraged in yards for bet-

ter operation.

13. ELECTRICAL The main line

has a red plug fastened the same

way as NTRAK. The white and 110

olt requirements are the same as

NTRAK. There are no special DCC

related wiring requirements. NTRAK

standards for wire gauge suffice.

14. SCENERY Any realistic scen-

ery is permitted. Round down hills on

the ends of modules so the iew from

an adjacent flat module looks like

scenery. Colors for the fascia and

skirts should blend with the scenery

(generally shades of green or

brown). Do not use diorama di iders.

15. SKYLINE Skyboards or ertical

scenery flats are optional. In many

cases photography is easier if the

skyboard is remo able.

16. PASSING SIDINGS To en-

hance operations most layouts

should include se eral passing sid-

ings. Clubs should try to include one

or more standard passing sidings in a

layout. A standard passing siding is a

set of two 1 by 4 feet modules with

turnouts at each end of the pair and

double track connecting the turnouts.

The resulting passing siding is about

se en feet long. Double or triple track

modules can be used to extend these

sidings.

17. OFFSET MODULES pro ide

track offsets in one-foot increments

for isual ariety. Obser e 18-inch

minimum radius and tangent track

between re erse cur es standards.

18. OPERATIONS SCHEME Al-

though a stated purpose of

oNeTRAK is to pro ide a enue for

more prototypical operations, no op-

erational scheme is specified. Clubs

and indi iduals can tailor the operat-

ing scheme to their situation. To in-

crease potential for realistic opera-

tion, wireless DCC is recommended.

19. LAYOUT DESIGN oNeTRAK

modules ha e pro en ery flexible in

layout design both as part of an

NTRAK layout or when standing

alone. Note that NTRAK modules

can be used in a 1T layout.

The oNeTRAK Manual

MODULES/LAYOUT SAMPLES 13



Lumber Mill Flour Mill

StagingYard

Gra el Loader

Sunset Falls

W-O Junction

Susan's 

End Turn

(Future Town)

Wilmore, KY

Mark Franke's Small Town Module.

Gordonsville, VA

John Drye's Junction Module.

Rickey Tick Junction

Mike Langford's module based on a

location on the Soo Line Northern Di ision

Pete Matthews' oNeTRAK Layout

A Gallery of oNeTRAK Modules and Ideas

Wingate, IN

NTRAK ersion of a track plan

published in MRP 1995.

Moose Lake, Saskatchewan, CA

Bernard Kempinski's 14 feet long by 18 Inches

wide pro ides room for a long Passing Siding.

CP321, VA

Da e Da ies' oNeTRAK-to-NTRAK Adapter

Module used as a lead to a NTRAK yard.

Baxter's Farm, GA

Bill Baxter's NTRAK-to-oNeTRAK Adapter

Module features four crosso ers

Sarah's 

End Turn 

(Future Alaska Scene)

Monica, WV

Brian Brendel's End Turn Module Set

Central Ridge Acts as a View Block.

Also used as part of a home layout.



BASIC MODULE 4

3"-4"

12" min.

36" max.

4' Standard

any multiple of 1' possible

1.5"

4"-6"



Con entional NTRK Frame Construction 

(as seen from below)

Lightweight Frame Construction

1" Styrofoam



Add second frame layer for 

additional strength

Luan plywood

Additional styrofoam layer

for deeper contours

Additional cross member

Sufficient clearance for

C-clamps required



The basic module construction follows

NTRAK specifications. E ery module is to

ha e four legs and be free standing to

simplify setup and teardown. Modules can

ha e a 1" layer of Styrofoam as deck sheet.

Special care must be taken for the module

to remain sufficiently stable. It's a good

idea to ha e a sheet of luan plywood on the

underside to pre ent "punching through"

while handling the module. Remember that

when modules are clamped together that

small gaps usually are filled by

"scrunching" sets of modules together.

An additional cross

member in the middle of

the module adds a lot of

strength and stiffness,

without adding a lot of

weight.

Make the cross member

slightly smaller than frame

so modules will not harm

each other when stacked

and cut holes for wiring.

The oNeTRAK Manual

OPERATIONAL TIPS 12

OFFSET AND CORNER MODULES 5



Multiple of 1'

4', 5' or 6'

multiple of 1'

36"



Offset modules add ariety to the look of a layout.

They will not cause operational rough spots if the

minimum radius, easements, and a minimum dis-

tance between cur es are considered and followed

while doing the trackwork.

When a oNeTRAK layout is designed to close a loop

special care must be taken to stay with the one-foot grid

while building modules. This is especially true with odd

shaped or junction modules. When there's no intention to

close a loop in the near future, there might be one later...

Corners might be used as inside or outside corners.

While the dimensional problem can be simplified by

sticking to the 6" grid, the electrical connection for both

uses can be prepared by pro iding two connectors on

each side, male and female. The polarity of the second

set must be switched in order to be right when the

module is used with the "wrong" side.

Corner modules may be built as

3'x3' or 4'x4'. Minimum radius must

be kept and while bigger modules

tend to be hea ier and more difficult

to transport, a cur e with larger

radius will always look better.



It is possible to cut out parts of the

corner module in order to reduce its

weight and space consumption.

Special care then must be taken to

lea e enough strength and stiffness

to pre ent damage while clamping

together the layout!

A 4'x4' ersion of this design will

need a stiffer frame, the reduction in

size and weight is still remarkable

compared with a con entional form

(as seen abo e).



1. Try to get longer sidings for operating flexibility.

A switching scheme can be made up with a 6'

maximum train length, but longer sidings with

industries spread around make operations more

interesting and planning them more flexible.

2. Test out modules ahead of time. It's far too late

to find a short circuit in your track work when the

modules are to be clamped together at a Show! To

be sure that all modules work flawlessly it's a good

idea to ha e a test set up with all new or rebuilt

modules. Don't forget to check all sidings and

spurs.

3. The planning of an operating scheme needs

as much preparation as the planning of the layout

itself. Special care should be taken to meet the

expectations of the attending operators. An all-

digital or all-analog layout is only a alid option if

e erybody agrees on doing so. The same applies

to an all switching layout. The key idea for most

cases is to ha e the layout split up into a digital and

an analog district, and into portions with trains

looping and others with local switchers at work.

4. When car switching operation is desired, car

cards or switching lists need to be made up in

ad ance. A car pool must be collected and it must

be certain that selected cars show up. For smaller

schemes it is a good idea that the one preparing

the switching operation uses his own cars

exclusi ely.

5. Prototypical operation needs a ast number

of people! One single engineer per train is fine

when the scheme is ery simple and the engineer

has some experience. When cars are to be

switched a conductor is imperati e. When the

choosen switching scheme is new to the majority

of the attendees, a three man crew will sol e most

problems. Staff planning is ital for a successful

operating session. Fi e trains with a two man crew

makes ten people. Add a dispatcher and a

superintendent and you will need a dozen operators

to fill the callboard for one session.

6. Name e erything! As with the prototype e ery

location with rele ance to operation needs a

specific name, preferably being unique throughout

the layout. If industries are to be ser ed they need

names too.

7. Make sure that you ha e a system to identify

the owner of all rolling stock. An easy solution is to

color code the kingpin of the cars and the underside

of the locomoti es. Each member is assigned a

unique color (or combination of two colors for

larger clubs). The club keeps track of the colors

already taken.

8. Clean the Track and Clean the Wheels. This is

good practice whether DC or DCC. The important

message in this rule is to be sure that the track has

dried from any liquid track cleaner (such as Goo

Gone or 409) and that any residue has been

remo ed. If trains are run while the track is still wet,

then the train will spread any dirt that is coming off

wheels or the residue of the cleaner all o er the

layout. Then you ha e a real problem. There are

two ways to clean the track - use two Centerline

cars with a wet cloth on the front roller and a dry

cloth on the rear roller, or wipe the track with a wet

rag or Q-tip then follow up with a dry rag. Clean

wheel sets with a paper towel laid on a track and

wetted with Goo Gone or 409. Roll the car back

and forth and the gunk will come off. For

locomoti es, do one truck at a time on the towel

with power applied so the wheels are turning.

The oNeTRAK Manual

DCC WIRING TIPS 6

ONETRAK JUNCTION 11

Appoint a Digital “Master” This person is fully

responsible for all aspects of the digital design for

the Show, and for setup and for digital operations

during the Show. The Digital Master and his crew

must be thoroughly familiar with DCC equipment,

its problems and solutions for the layout size being

planned.

Plan the Digital Layout Design as Carefully as

the Layout Determine the number of Power

Boosters, Radio/IR Recei ers, Uni ersal Panels

and amount of LocoNet cable necessary to handle

the configuration of the layout and the operations

planned for the Show. Know who is supplying what

equipment (if not Club-owned) and when it will be

a ailable during setup of the layout. Be sure to

ha e a spare Command Station and Radio/IR

Recei er.

If you run lighted cars (e.g. Kato passenger cars)

be sure to include their current draw in any Booster

current calculations.

Each booster will need its own isolated "block" and

it's good practice to add a separate fast response

circuit breaker so a short does not shut down the

whole layout. The benefit is that you do not risk

frying expensi e rolling stock.

Don't forget the coin test! It's a good idea to think

ahead of what happens when a short occurs! The

first test after the modules and all wiring is in place

must be the "coin test". Short between rails close

to the power source (booster) and then on the

most distant piece of track. This checks that the

wiring and connections in each section are

adequate 1) to maintain sufficient oltage so that

train control is not lost and 2) to allow the breaker

to trip should there be a hea y short, pre enting

damage to N gauge equipment. If the coin test fails

to trip the breaker, a separate jumper cable may

be added parallel to the red wire along the modules.

Rerun the coin test until successfully completed.

Reversing Loops and Wyes Have Special

Requirements On NTRAK layouts where there

are no re ersing loops or wyes, a single LocoNet

will generally work fine, handling e erything. When

re ersing loops and/or wyes are present separate

LocoNets are mandatory. Further, there must be a

ground wire (12 gauge preferred, 14 gauge

minimum) between the ground terminals on all

Power Boosters including the Command Station,

and this ground wire should be connected to the

power line ground at one point only. If the ground

wiring is insufficient, unpredictable effects are

likely to show up.

Review Electrical Characteristics of All

Modules in the Layout This is extremely important,

especially for modules that ha e not been in a

Show with digital operations. E en though the

owner may state categorically that he followed the

NTRAK rules for wiring modules, this may not be

sufficient to ensure trouble free digital operation -

what works fine with DC will sometimes not work

well with DCC.

Use Power Supplies Matched to the Power

Boosters Do not use standard DC power packs of

any type to supply Power Boosters. Always ensure

the power supply is capable of producing at least

the rated power output of the Power Booster it is

supplying.

Only One Command Station Can Command Be

sure there is only one Command Station controlling

the entire layout. Any other Command Station/

Power Boosters used on the layout must be set to

Booster-only mode. When the layout is REALLY

big, the whole layout must be separated into two or

more layouts linked with interchange blocks.

It is good operating practice when a locomoti e or

locomoti e consist is remo ed from the layout to

also remo e it from the DCC system - break down

the consist to its indi idual locomoti es and dispatch

each locomoti e from the system. This frees up

slot memory for additional new locomoti es.

Stress Test the Layout Following Setup Always

test e erything before beginning normal operations.

Run as many single locomoti es as possible o er

the layout simultaneously. Some problems can

only be found with high traffic density.

Provide a Means of Programming Locomotives

Always ha e some way to program locomoti es.

Someone may ha e just installed a decoder, or

there may be a need to check the alues of CVs in

a decoder to diagnose a problem.

Identify Ownership of All Digital Equipment To

ensure the equipment is returned to its rightful

owner after the Show is o er, all digital components

and equipment should be labeled with the owner’s

name or some other well-known clearly identifiable

marking. A return address label applied to the item

is a simple and adequate means of identification.

GENERAL DESIGN

From the track planning point of iew

a junction module consists of two

corner modules linked by a straight

module. If the planning grid is kept,

there is no problem closing se eral

loops with junctions without

scrunching any gap.

GORDONSVILLE JUNCTION

Gordons ille Junction is the first

oNeTRAK junction module and

pro ides an example of how to adapt

a prototype location to a modular

layout system.

The prototype Gordons ille has been

an important rail junction since the

1850s when the Orange and

Alexandria made a connection there

with the Virginia Central.

The prototype track plan at

Gordons ille is relati ely simple. The

con entional wye has tracks heading

north to Alexandria, south to

Richmond and west to

Charlottes ille. Today, only one

additional track, a siding along the

north-south leg, still stands. A brick

tower, no longer used, stands at the

west end, and the center of the wye

contains the abandoned C&O water

tower which is used for storage by

the city of Gordons ille.

Gordons ille's main street cuts

diagonally through the wye. The west

leg passes o er the street on a low

girder bridge, allowing a iew of 19th

century business structures from the

rails.

It took a few compromises to fit the

track on a four-foot by 30-inch

module. The west wye switch sits on

the wrong side of the highway

o erpass, and the remaining siding

to the outside of the wye. The track

is isolated electrically into se en

blocks which are connected together

to suit the layout configuration. In

most cases, no re erse loop wiring

is needed.

The minimum size of a juncion is 3

by 5 feet. The minimum radius can

be met and there's e en space for

cur e easements.

As the wiring of a junction in ol es

the re erse loop problem it is good

practice to ha e all three approaching

tracks on separate circuits. By

throwing switches the current

scheme of traffic then can be aligned.

One of the features of the track plan

is that the module can function in

se eral different configurations:

Junction (the usual mode); Corner;

Straight; and Branch line connection.

Because we forced the wye into a

four-foot length, the cur ed legs ha e

an effecti e radius of two and a half

feet. oNeTRAK modules are

designed in e en foot increments.

This means that six inches needs to

be made up somewhere when the

module is part of a loop. We ha e

managed so far by making temporary

six-inch bridges out of Styrofoam

and by building a 2.5-foot module to

compensate.

To come out e en, the module ought

to be fi e feet by three feet, which is

large for a oNeTRAK element. North

Raleigh NTRAK has built some three

track Junction modules in two

sections, which could work for

oNeTRAK as well. If the module

were this size, in one or two sections,

there would be room for a couple of

industries. A run-around track would

also help to make operations more

interesting.

The oNeTRAK Manual

ANALOG WIRING TIPS 7

BRANCH LINE JUNCTION 10

AAB

It is recommended to supply turnouts

with the following wiring types:

A: Type V

B: Type III

C: Type II or III, if track behind backdrop

will be used

It is recommended to supply turnouts

with the following wiring types:

A: Type V

B, C: Type III

BASIC IDEA

The main idea of the junction shown is to ha e the

oNeTRAK subdi ision directly connected with the

blue line. Usually the blue line has most of the indus-

tries and sidings and can be put to good use with the

oNeTRAK switching operations. A crosso er o er

the main lines permits branch line operation with

minimal interference of the main line acti ity on

those modules.

A scheme then can be set up to pro ide true car

forwarding and time table and train order operations

on the branch line while lea ing the main lines to

those that prefer a less strict regime of letting long

trains loop for iewing pleasure.

ELECTRICAL ISSUES

The crossing between the main lines and the

di erging branch lines requires an interlocking

mechanism to pre ent collisions. One solution is to

allow switching off a portion of all tracks leading to

the junction. This is easily done on the module itself

and it would be a good idea to increase the security

distance on the left side by ha ing the first module

to the left included in the stop block as well. A tower

operator will then ensure the crash-free passage of

the trains by aligning the turnouts, cutting off power

at conflicting tracks, and communicating with the

train engineers.

A good place for the tower operator is at the back

of the module o erlooking all three approaching

sides free of obstructions such as operators or

isitors while being out of the way of passing

operators. A tall chair with the required electrical

switches and push buttons mounted on a panel

within a comfortable reaching distance makes a

perfect working en ironment. It is recommended to

ha e the panel separate from the module for easier

transportation and handling.

While it is possible to ha e the turnouts thrown by

hand it is recommended to install switch motors

with the wiring type indicated. Adding turnout

position feedback would e en allow a remote CTC-

like control.

These two track plans use

grade crossings o er the main

lines. While that has an impact on

operation, it is far easier than

building an o erpass for the

branch line.

Standard wiring The most simple

way to control a oNeTRAK layout is

to ha e all tracks fed by the same

throttle. This might be a good idea

for small layouts. With a growing

number of modules there will be a

demand to run more than one train

simultaneously.

Installing se eral independant

blocks, each ha ing its own throttle,

will allow multiple train operation.

But trains bypassing each other at

sidings will cause major headaches

for the operators and running trains

by time table will not work well.

Two Cab Control The sketch on

this page shows how two power

feeders running through a whole part

of the layout can be used to allow

usage of the same throttle while

passing other trains. By using radio

controlled throttles for left and right

“global”, an engineer will be able to

walk along his train and gi e himself

control for specific parts of the layout

by throwing the DPDT switches

accordingly. The DPDT switches

can, but do not ha e to be, integrated

into the wiring of single track

modules. It's recommended to

pro ide for this wiring while building

modules with sidings and yards.

Siding

Main

OS-Section

MainlineMainline

Isolated rail joiners on both sides

Red Line feeder wires

“Global” Left feeder wires (Colorcode: Black)

“Global” Right feeder wires (Colorcode: Magenta)

DPDT-Switches

Gaps in feeder wires through open connectors

This plug can be used for

“global” or local power supply.

Standard wiring single track module(s)

“Global” power supply

through separate wiring

“Global” power supply

through module wiring



The term “global” is introduced for

a power supply not directly

connected with a specific portion

of track. Before operating with

“global” power, one must use

switches to acti ate a connection. With con entional Two Cab

Control the cabs are named "A"

and "B". Using horizontally

mounted DPDT switches yields

the names of two “global” power

supplies to be “Left” and “Right”.



The oNeTRAK Manual

MAIN LINE JUNCTION 9

SWITCH WIRING TIPS 8

III

457



R <-> N



Hand Thrown

or 

Simple Wiring

Switch Motor 

with 

Frog Feeder

Switch Motor with

Frog Feeder and

Stop Block

Switch Motor with

Frog Feeder and

Power Selection

Switch Motor with

Frog Feeder, 

Stop Block, and

Power Selection



Block

1 and 2 are the feeder wires for this portion of track

unless otherwise stated.

All switches are solid or electrofrog type.

WIRING TYPES

For any discussion about junction, siding or yard

wiring it might be useful to get some sort of

common wiring schemes for indi idual switches.

Any type is used with Electrofrog Turnouts with

power routing through the switch tongue. Type I is

the standard case with hand thrown turnouts;

Type II - V are most likely used with switch motors.

The switch contacts will require a fixed mechanical

connection with the turnout tongue or unpredictable

results will occur (spelled short circuit).

WHAT TYPE TO USE

This part is not to be understood as a MUST USE

but rather as a help to decide which type best suits

your demand. More complicated schemes will

later help simplify the use of your module during

operation.

The stop block will help during more automatic

operations to stop trains more safely (as with

scheme I), as there cannot be a short when

approaching a closed turnout. Schemes III and V

are mainly for re erse loop or wye wiring. Special

care must be taken that under no circumstances

do two power supplies feed the same portion of

track (or any portion of track or wiring in between),

or the 'weaker' supply might fry!

N is the straight position of the switch and the

middle contacts are connected with the ones on

the right. R is the re erse or turnout position of the

switch and the left and middle contacts are

connected.

BASIC IDEA

A oNeTRAK Mainline di erging from the Red Line

of a standard modules di ision is basically done

with a standard Junction module and a three to

one track transition module.

These Junction modules ha e been around for

quite a while and ha e been mainly used to link two

di isions' red line making up what Northern Virginia

NTRAK called the "Red Line Route".

When an extension of a loop is desired either two

junction modules can be used (as seen on the

right), or a combination of a junction module with

a special module like Gordons ille is needed (as

seen on the track plan on page 14).

PPP

Module can be as short as

2' (610 mm)

A double line is a block boundary and a single line separates a

stop block. P indicates a connection with a power supply.

It is recommended to supply turnouts with the following wiring types:

A, B: Type III if power supply at both ends, otherwise a V might be used



C: Type III D,E: Type V

Add standard modules

to fit layout space

OPERATIONS

A single direction loop style scheme will not require

any manipulations during operations. Trains follow

each other and are guided either by tower

operators, by block indicators or o er radio by a

dispatcher. Turnouts and electrical routing are

preset and need not be remotely controlled.

A more complex scheme permits indi idual routing

of the trains and therefore the turnouts of the

junction will be switched frequently. Remote control

and automatic electric routing helps pre ent

mistakes and simplifies the work of the tower

operator.

The oNeTRAK Manual

MAIN LINE JUNCTION 9

SWITCH WIRING TIPS 8

III

457



R <-> N



Hand Thrown

or 

Simple Wiring

Switch Motor 

with 

Frog Feeder

Switch Motor with

Frog Feeder and

Stop Block

Switch Motor with

Frog Feeder and

Power Selection

Switch Motor with

Frog Feeder, 

Stop Block, and

Power Selection



Block

1 and 2 are the feeder wires for this portion of track

unless otherwise stated.

All switches are solid or electrofrog type.

WIRING TYPES

For any discussion about junction, siding or yard

wiring it might be useful to get some sort of

common wiring schemes for indi idual switches.

Any type is used with Electrofrog Turnouts with

power routing through the switch tongue. Type I is

the standard case with hand thrown turnouts;

Type II - V are most likely used with switch motors.

The switch contacts will require a fixed mechanical

connection with the turnout tongue or unpredictable

results will occur (spelled short circuit).

WHAT TYPE TO USE

This part is not to be understood as a MUST USE

but rather as a help to decide which type best suits

your demand. More complicated schemes will

later help simplify the use of your module during

operation.

The stop block will help during more automatic

operations to stop trains more safely (as with

scheme I), as there cannot be a short when

approaching a closed turnout. Schemes III and V

are mainly for re erse loop or wye wiring. Special

care must be taken that under no circumstances

do two power supplies feed the same portion of

track (or any portion of track or wiring in between),

or the 'weaker' supply might fry!

N is the straight position of the switch and the

middle contacts are connected with the ones on

the right. R is the re erse or turnout position of the

switch and the left and middle contacts are

connected.

BASIC IDEA

A oNeTRAK Mainline di erging from the Red Line

of a standard modules di ision is basically done

with a standard Junction module and a three to

one track transition module.

These Junction modules ha e been around for

quite a while and ha e been mainly used to link two

di isions' red line making up what Northern Virginia

NTRAK called the "Red Line Route".

When an extension of a loop is desired either two

junction modules can be used (as seen on the

right), or a combination of a junction module with

a special module like Gordons ille is needed (as

seen on the track plan on page 14).

PPP

Module can be as short as

2' (610 mm)

A double line is a block boundary and a single line separates a

stop block. P indicates a connection with a power supply.

It is recommended to supply turnouts with the following wiring types:

A, B: Type III if power supply at both ends, otherwise a V might be used



C: Type III D,E: Type V

Add standard modules

to fit layout space

OPERATIONS

A single direction loop style scheme will not require

any manipulations during operations. Trains follow

each other and are guided either by tower

operators, by block indicators or o er radio by a

dispatcher. Turnouts and electrical routing are

preset and need not be remotely controlled.

A more complex scheme permits indi idual routing

of the trains and therefore the turnouts of the

junction will be switched frequently. Remote control

and automatic electric routing helps pre ent

mistakes and simplifies the work of the tower

operator.

The oNeTRAK Manual

ANALOG WIRING TIPS 7

BRANCH LINE JUNCTION 10

AAB

It is recommended to supply turnouts

with the following wiring types:

A: Type V

B: Type III

C: Type II or III, if track behind backdrop

will be used

It is recommended to supply turnouts

with the following wiring types:

A: Type V

B, C: Type III

BASIC IDEA

The main idea of the junction shown is to ha e the

oNeTRAK subdi ision directly connected with the

blue line. Usually the blue line has most of the indus-

tries and sidings and can be put to good use with the

oNeTRAK switching operations. A crosso er o er

the main lines permits branch line operation with

minimal interference of the main line acti ity on

those modules.

A scheme then can be set up to pro ide true car

forwarding and time table and train order operations

on the branch line while lea ing the main lines to

those that prefer a less strict regime of letting long

trains loop for iewing pleasure.

ELECTRICAL ISSUES

The crossing between the main lines and the

di erging branch lines requires an interlocking

mechanism to pre ent collisions. One solution is to

allow switching off a portion of all tracks leading to

the junction. This is easily done on the module itself

and it would be a good idea to increase the security

distance on the left side by ha ing the first module

to the left included in the stop block as well. A tower

operator will then ensure the crash-free passage of

the trains by aligning the turnouts, cutting off power

at conflicting tracks, and communicating with the

train engineers.

A good place for the tower operator is at the back

of the module o erlooking all three approaching

sides free of obstructions such as operators or

isitors while being out of the way of passing

operators. A tall chair with the required electrical

switches and push buttons mounted on a panel

within a comfortable reaching distance makes a

perfect working en ironment. It is recommended to

ha e the panel separate from the module for easier

transportation and handling.

While it is possible to ha e the turnouts thrown by

hand it is recommended to install switch motors

with the wiring type indicated. Adding turnout

position feedback would e en allow a remote CTC-

like control.

These two track plans use

grade crossings o er the main

lines. While that has an impact on

operation, it is far easier than

building an o erpass for the

branch line.

Standard wiring The most simple

way to control a oNeTRAK layout is

to ha e all tracks fed by the same

throttle. This might be a good idea

for small layouts. With a growing

number of modules there will be a

demand to run more than one train

simultaneously.

Installing se eral independant

blocks, each ha ing its own throttle,

will allow multiple train operation.

But trains bypassing each other at

sidings will cause major headaches

for the operators and running trains

by time table will not work well.

Two Cab Control The sketch on

this page shows how two power

feeders running through a whole part

of the layout can be used to allow

usage of the same throttle while

passing other trains. By using radio

controlled throttles for left and right

“global”, an engineer will be able to

walk along his train and gi e himself

control for specific parts of the layout

by throwing the DPDT switches

accordingly. The DPDT switches

can, but do not ha e to be, integrated

into the wiring of single track

modules. It's recommended to

pro ide for this wiring while building

modules with sidings and yards.

Siding

Main

OS-Section

MainlineMainline

Isolated rail joiners on both sides

Red Line feeder wires

“Global” Left feeder wires (Colorcode: Black)

“Global” Right feeder wires (Colorcode: Magenta)

DPDT-Switches

Gaps in feeder wires through open connectors

This plug can be used for

“global” or local power supply.

Standard wiring single track module(s)

“Global” power supply

through separate wiring

“Global” power supply

through module wiring



The term “global” is introduced for

a power supply not directly

connected with a specific portion

of track. Before operating with

“global” power, one must use

switches to acti ate a connection. With con entional Two Cab

Control the cabs are named "A"

and "B". Using horizontally

mounted DPDT switches yields

the names of two “global” power

supplies to be “Left” and “Right”.



The oNeTRAK Manual

DCC WIRING TIPS 6

ONETRAK JUNCTION 11

Appoint a Digital “Master” This person is fully

responsible for all aspects of the digital design for

the Show, and for setup and for digital operations

during the Show. The Digital Master and his crew

must be thoroughly familiar with DCC equipment,

its problems and solutions for the layout size being

planned.

Plan the Digital Layout Design as Carefully as

the Layout Determine the number of Power

Boosters, Radio/IR Recei ers, Uni ersal Panels

and amount of LocoNet cable necessary to handle

the configuration of the layout and the operations

planned for the Show. Know who is supplying what

equipment (if not Club-owned) and when it will be

a ailable during setup of the layout. Be sure to

ha e a spare Command Station and Radio/IR

Recei er.

If you run lighted cars (e.g. Kato passenger cars)

be sure to include their current draw in any Booster

current calculations.

Each booster will need its own isolated "block" and

it's good practice to add a separate fast response

circuit breaker so a short does not shut down the

whole layout. The benefit is that you do not risk

frying expensi e rolling stock.

Don't forget the coin test! It's a good idea to think

ahead of what happens when a short occurs! The

first test after the modules and all wiring is in place

must be the "coin test". Short between rails close

to the power source (booster) and then on the

most distant piece of track. This checks that the

wiring and connections in each section are

adequate 1) to maintain sufficient oltage so that

train control is not lost and 2) to allow the breaker

to trip should there be a hea y short, pre enting

damage to N gauge equipment. If the coin test fails

to trip the breaker, a separate jumper cable may

be added parallel to the red wire along the modules.

Rerun the coin test until successfully completed.

Reversing Loops and Wyes Have Special

Requirements On NTRAK layouts where there

are no re ersing loops or wyes, a single LocoNet

will generally work fine, handling e erything. When

re ersing loops and/or wyes are present separate

LocoNets are mandatory. Further, there must be a

ground wire (12 gauge preferred, 14 gauge

minimum) between the ground terminals on all

Power Boosters including the Command Station,

and this ground wire should be connected to the

power line ground at one point only. If the ground

wiring is insufficient, unpredictable effects are

likely to show up.

Review Electrical Characteristics of All

Modules in the Layout This is extremely important,

especially for modules that ha e not been in a

Show with digital operations. E en though the

owner may state categorically that he followed the

NTRAK rules for wiring modules, this may not be

sufficient to ensure trouble free digital operation -

what works fine with DC will sometimes not work

well with DCC.

Use Power Supplies Matched to the Power

Boosters Do not use standard DC power packs of

any type to supply Power Boosters. Always ensure

the power supply is capable of producing at least

the rated power output of the Power Booster it is

supplying.

Only One Command Station Can Command Be

sure there is only one Command Station controlling

the entire layout. Any other Command Station/

Power Boosters used on the layout must be set to

Booster-only mode. When the layout is REALLY

big, the whole layout must be separated into two or

more layouts linked with interchange blocks.

It is good operating practice when a locomoti e or

locomoti e consist is remo ed from the layout to

also remo e it from the DCC system - break down

the consist to its indi idual locomoti es and dispatch

each locomoti e from the system. This frees up

slot memory for additional new locomoti es.

Stress Test the Layout Following Setup Always

test e erything before beginning normal operations.

Run as many single locomoti es as possible o er

the layout simultaneously. Some problems can

only be found with high traffic density.

Provide a Means of Programming Locomotives

Always ha e some way to program locomoti es.

Someone may ha e just installed a decoder, or

there may be a need to check the alues of CVs in

a decoder to diagnose a problem.

Identify Ownership of All Digital Equipment To

ensure the equipment is returned to its rightful

owner after the Show is o er, all digital components

and equipment should be labeled with the owner’s

name or some other well-known clearly identifiable

marking. A return address label applied to the item

is a simple and adequate means of identification.

GENERAL DESIGN

From the track planning point of iew

a junction module consists of two

corner modules linked by a straight

module. If the planning grid is kept,

there is no problem closing se eral

loops with junctions without

scrunching any gap.

GORDONSVILLE JUNCTION

Gordons ille Junction is the first

oNeTRAK junction module and

pro ides an example of how to adapt

a prototype location to a modular

layout system.

The prototype Gordons ille has been

an important rail junction since the

1850s when the Orange and

Alexandria made a connection there

with the Virginia Central.

The prototype track plan at

Gordons ille is relati ely simple. The

con entional wye has tracks heading

north to Alexandria, south to

Richmond and west to

Charlottes ille. Today, only one

additional track, a siding along the

north-south leg, still stands. A brick

tower, no longer used, stands at the

west end, and the center of the wye

contains the abandoned C&O water

tower which is used for storage by

the city of Gordons ille.

Gordons ille's main street cuts

diagonally through the wye. The west

leg passes o er the street on a low

girder bridge, allowing a iew of 19th

century business structures from the

rails.

It took a few compromises to fit the

track on a four-foot by 30-inch

module. The west wye switch sits on

the wrong side of the highway

o erpass, and the remaining siding

to the outside of the wye. The track

is isolated electrically into se en

blocks which are connected together

to suit the layout configuration. In

most cases, no re erse loop wiring

is needed.

The minimum size of a juncion is 3

by 5 feet. The minimum radius can

be met and there's e en space for

cur e easements.

As the wiring of a junction in ol es

the re erse loop problem it is good

practice to ha e all three approaching

tracks on separate circuits. By

throwing switches the current

scheme of traffic then can be aligned.

One of the features of the track plan

is that the module can function in

se eral different configurations:

Junction (the usual mode); Corner;

Straight; and Branch line connection.

Because we forced the wye into a

four-foot length, the cur ed legs ha e

an effecti e radius of two and a half

feet. oNeTRAK modules are

designed in e en foot increments.

This means that six inches needs to

be made up somewhere when the

module is part of a loop. We ha e

managed so far by making temporary

six-inch bridges out of Styrofoam

and by building a 2.5-foot module to

compensate.

To come out e en, the module ought

to be fi e feet by three feet, which is

large for a oNeTRAK element. North

Raleigh NTRAK has built some three

track Junction modules in two

sections, which could work for

oNeTRAK as well. If the module

were this size, in one or two sections,

there would be room for a couple of

industries. A run-around track would

also help to make operations more

interesting.

The oNeTRAK Manual

OPERATIONAL TIPS 12

OFFSET AND CORNER MODULES 5



Multiple of 1'

4', 5' or 6'

multiple of 1'

36"



Offset modules add ariety to the look of a layout.

They will not cause operational rough spots if the

minimum radius, easements, and a minimum dis-

tance between cur es are considered and followed

while doing the trackwork.

When a oNeTRAK layout is designed to close a loop

special care must be taken to stay with the one-foot grid

while building modules. This is especially true with odd

shaped or junction modules. When there's no intention to

close a loop in the near future, there might be one later...

Corners might be used as inside or outside corners.

While the dimensional problem can be simplified by

sticking to the 6" grid, the electrical connection for both

uses can be prepared by pro iding two connectors on

each side, male and female. The polarity of the second

set must be switched in order to be right when the

module is used with the "wrong" side.

Corner modules may be built as

3'x3' or 4'x4'. Minimum radius must

be kept and while bigger modules

tend to be hea ier and more difficult

to transport, a cur e with larger

radius will always look better.



It is possible to cut out parts of the

corner module in order to reduce its

weight and space consumption.

Special care then must be taken to

lea e enough strength and stiffness

to pre ent damage while clamping

together the layout!

A 4'x4' ersion of this design will

need a stiffer frame, the reduction in

size and weight is still remarkable

compared with a con entional form

(as seen abo e).



1. Try to get longer sidings for operating flexibility.

A switching scheme can be made up with a 6'

maximum train length, but longer sidings with

industries spread around make operations more

interesting and planning them more flexible.

2. Test out modules ahead of time. It's far too late

to find a short circuit in your track work when the

modules are to be clamped together at a Show! To

be sure that all modules work flawlessly it's a good

idea to ha e a test set up with all new or rebuilt

modules. Don't forget to check all sidings and

spurs.

3. The planning of an operating scheme needs

as much preparation as the planning of the layout

itself. Special care should be taken to meet the

expectations of the attending operators. An all-

digital or all-analog layout is only a alid option if

e erybody agrees on doing so. The same applies

to an all switching layout. The key idea for most

cases is to ha e the layout split up into a digital and

an analog district, and into portions with trains

looping and others with local switchers at work.

4. When car switching operation is desired, car

cards or switching lists need to be made up in

ad ance. A car pool must be collected and it must

be certain that selected cars show up. For smaller

schemes it is a good idea that the one preparing

the switching operation uses his own cars

exclusi ely.

5. Prototypical operation needs a ast number

of people! One single engineer per train is fine

when the scheme is ery simple and the engineer

has some experience. When cars are to be

switched a conductor is imperati e. When the

choosen switching scheme is new to the majority

of the attendees, a three man crew will sol e most

problems. Staff planning is ital for a successful

operating session. Fi e trains with a two man crew

makes ten people. Add a dispatcher and a

superintendent and you will need a dozen operators

to fill the callboard for one session.

6. Name e erything! As with the prototype e ery

location with rele ance to operation needs a

specific name, preferably being unique throughout

the layout. If industries are to be ser ed they need

names too.

7. Make sure that you ha e a system to identify

the owner of all rolling stock. An easy solution is to

color code the kingpin of the cars and the underside

of the locomoti es. Each member is assigned a

unique color (or combination of two colors for

larger clubs). The club keeps track of the colors

already taken.

8. Clean the Track and Clean the Wheels. This is

good practice whether DC or DCC. The important

message in this rule is to be sure that the track has

dried from any liquid track cleaner (such as Goo

Gone or 409) and that any residue has been

remo ed. If trains are run while the track is still wet,

then the train will spread any dirt that is coming off

wheels or the residue of the cleaner all o er the

layout. Then you ha e a real problem. There are

two ways to clean the track - use two Centerline

cars with a wet cloth on the front roller and a dry

cloth on the rear roller, or wipe the track with a wet

rag or Q-tip then follow up with a dry rag. Clean

wheel sets with a paper towel laid on a track and

wetted with Goo Gone or 409. Roll the car back

and forth and the gunk will come off. For

locomoti es, do one truck at a time on the towel

with power applied so the wheels are turning.

The oNeTRAK Manual

MODULES/LAYOUT SAMPLES 13



Lumber Mill Flour Mill

StagingYard

Gra el Loader

Sunset Falls

W-O Junction

Susan's 

End Turn

(Future Town)

Wilmore, KY

Mark Franke's Small Town Module.

Gordonsville, VA

John Drye's Junction Module.

Rickey Tick Junction

Mike Langford's module based on a

location on the Soo Line Northern Di ision

Pete Matthews' oNeTRAK Layout

A Gallery of oNeTRAK Modules and Ideas

Wingate, IN

NTRAK ersion of a track plan

published in MRP 1995.

Moose Lake, Saskatchewan, CA

Bernard Kempinski's 14 feet long by 18 Inches

wide pro ides room for a long Passing Siding.

CP321, VA

Da e Da ies' oNeTRAK-to-NTRAK Adapter

Module used as a lead to a NTRAK yard.

Baxter's Farm, GA

Bill Baxter's NTRAK-to-oNeTRAK Adapter

Module features four crosso ers

Sarah's 

End Turn 

(Future Alaska Scene)

Monica, WV

Brian Brendel's End Turn Module Set

Central Ridge Acts as a View Block.

Also used as part of a home layout.



BASIC MODULE 4

3"-4"

12" min.

36" max.

4' Standard

any multiple of 1' possible

1.5"

4"-6"



Con entional NTRK Frame Construction 

(as seen from below)

Lightweight Frame Construction

1" Styrofoam



Add second frame layer for 

additional strength

Luan plywood

Additional styrofoam layer

for deeper contours

Additional cross member

Sufficient clearance for

C-clamps required



The basic module construction follows

NTRAK specifications. E ery module is to

ha e four legs and be free standing to

simplify setup and teardown. Modules can

ha e a 1" layer of Styrofoam as deck sheet.

Special care must be taken for the module

to remain sufficiently stable. It's a good

idea to ha e a sheet of luan plywood on the

underside to pre ent "punching through"

while handling the module. Remember that

when modules are clamped together that

small gaps usually are filled by

"scrunching" sets of modules together.

An additional cross

member in the middle of

the module adds a lot of

strength and stiffness,

without adding a lot of

weight.

Make the cross member

slightly smaller than frame

so modules will not harm

each other when stacked

and cut holes for wiring.

The oNeTRAK Manual

SPECIFICATIONS 3

MODULES/LAYOUT SAMPLES 14

Standard NTRAK

layout



Junction module "Gordons ille"

Offset module module with

additional depth

180° return



loop module

corner

modules

oNeTRAK part of the Orlando '98 Con ention layout

Arrows show direction of traffic

on extended Red Line Route



This was the first appearance of oNeTRAK in large

scale. The operating scheme extends the Red

Line Route through this part of the layout. The

Junction module (Gordons ille) permits both legs

of the Route to pass through. Trains enter

Gordons ille from the south on the right-hand

track. They pass through a turnout and head north

on single track. The engineer loops round

oNeTRAK's main and reenters Gordons ille from

the west. The train takes the right hand leg of the

wye and continues off the module back to the

south, this time on the second track. The straight

leg of the wye (at the front of the module) is ne er

used, so there is no re ersing loop. An empty

boxcar is usually parked on this leg, awaiting

interchange and pre enting operators from using

the track. Trains that remain on the oNeTRAK loop

during local operations can use the third leg of the

wye.

Most of these guidelines are based

on NTRAK standards.

1. HEIGHT OF TRACK Nominal

height is 40 inches. To make grades

longer than one module the module

interface on grades may need to be

changed from the 40 standard

height.

2. FRAME SI ES Frame lengths in

multiples of one foot. Twel e inches

is the minimum width. This width may

be increased up to an additional foot,

front or back for a total maximum

width of three feet.

3. MODULE INTERFACE Same as

NTRAK with one clamp and the stan-

dard 4.91" Atlas connector track sec-

tion. The frame on the module end

can be 1x3 or 1x4 lumber or plywood

equi alent.

4. TRACKS Code 80 track is stan-

dard. Code 55 is acceptable with

code 80 transitions at module inter-

face. Any Atlas, Peco or Micro Engi-

neering code 80 or code 55 turnouts

are acceptable. One track is re-

quired, additional through tracks are

permitted.

5. MINIMUM RADIUS is 18 inches

with appropriate easements. To pre-

ent binding the minimum length of

tangent between all re erse cur es

must be 7 inches.

6. LOCATION OF TRACK On

straight modules the location of the

main has no impact on the loop of

modules and is not important, but

generally the track is set back 4 to 6

inches from the nominal front so that

the Fascia may be reasonably

aligned. Bump outs on the modules

are permitted, same as NTRAK.

Double or triple track should ha e

1.5-inch center spacing at the mod-

ule interface.

7. CORNERS Standard corners

can be 3 by 3 or 4 by 4 feet, etc. On

a standard corner the track should be

set back 6 inches from the nominal

front edge. This makes layout design

with inside corners easier. With track

set in 6" modules can be used as in-

side or outside corners and maintain

the one foot spacing increments.

8. CLOSING LOOP LAYOUTS

Due to the wide ariety of frame sizes

and locations of tracks, some gaps

may de elop in a loop layout. Most

large loops should be flexible enough

to close a gap by "scrunching" the

modules together. In some cases a

temporary bridge may be necessary.

This can be made by using a piece of

foam, some flex track and a bar

clamp to close the gap.

9. JUNCTIONS The smallest re-

commended junction is 3 by 5 feet.

10. GRADES 1.5 percent maxi-

mum across a dedicated set of mod-

ules. Grades on other modules can

be created with shims under legs of

modules. Grades suggest addition of

a helper district and helper engine

facility.

11. END TURNS are modules that

include a 180-degree cur e in the

track. They should be a minimum of 2

by 4 feet to allow the 18-inch mini-

mum radius and easements. The dis-

tance between the ends of tracks on

an end turn must be three feet or

Popular Toy manuals by other brands

Century Helicopter Products

Century Helicopter Products Raven 30 V2 instruction manual

Hachette

Hachette U-BOAT U 96 Assembly instructions

Rail King

Rail King Fire Station user guide

Fisher-Price

Fisher-Price Guitar user manual

REVELL

REVELL Piper PA-18-150 Float Plane Assembly manual

Lionel

Lionel 71-4156-250 owner's manual

marklin

marklin TVT manual

Pokemon

Pokemon Power Action PIKACHU quick start guide

Jamara

Jamara Tiger Moth Instruction

KidSmart

KidSmart Young Explorer Setup guide

MTHTrains

MTHTrains RAILKING BLUE COMET Operation manual

Viessmann

Viessmann 4021 Operation manual

Yookidoo

Yookidoo CRAWL 'N' GO SNAIL Instruction leaflet

Jamara

Jamara Volvo EC160E Metal instructions

Mega Bloks

Mega Bloks Thomas & Friends Hidden Treasure Adventure manual

Art-Tech

Art-Tech Flywolf operating manual

Flex innovations

Flex innovations Cessna 170 60E G2 instruction manual

BNF

BNF Blade 300 X instruction manual

N-Trak oNeTRAK User manual

Popular Toy manuals by other brands