Western Union - N Scale Modular

         After starting a small N scale layout at home i was told about the Western Union group by a work colleague. I went to a few meetings and then took my layout up to the club. It was then that some smart alec suggested i started an N scale modular layout ! Following a mad flurry of activity i had a basic modular oval up and running in time to make the first meeting of this year in January. I could really do with someone else's support now though as i am the only N scaler at the club at present (surely there must be more of us out there).

        The layout is DCC controlled like the HO one but with a Fleischmann system. Work on the layout is at a bit of halt at the moment as i am experimenting with a system to switch the points with model plane servos. Hopefully this will be sorted soon and work will resume on the visible parts of the layout.

        The modules are based around the basic Ntrak specs and can be joined to Ntrak modules via some adapter leads and tracks. So if you have any Ntrak modules you can bring them up to one of our meets. We would be very glad to see you.

The modules are built to the basic standards as set out below...
Or to view a pdf version please click here, or right click and save target as
If you have any questions about N scale modules please contact me.

Western Union N Scale Module Specifications.

SPECS ARE BASED LOOSELY AROUND NTRAK MODULES.

MODULE KEY POINTS

MODULES IN MULTIPLES OF 2 ft (i.e. 2' 4' 6' 8') BUT 4 ft MODULES PREFERRED

MODULE HEIGHT 40” FROM FLOOR TO TOP OF RAIL (AT INTERFACE ENDS) WITH + / – 3/4” (20mm) OF ADJUSTMENT IN LEGS FOR LEVELLING (i.e. 39 1/4” to 41 3/4”)

MODULE WIDTH FROM 18” MIN TO 36” MAX (18” PREFERRED WIDTH)

BACKSCENES ARE OPTIONAL BUT PREFERRED. IDEAL HEIGHT IS 14” FROM RAIL TOPS

MODULE SIDES ARE IDEALLY 80mm DEEP FROM UNDERSIDE OF BASEBOARD TO BOTTOM OF SIDE

TRACK KEY POINTS

TRACK CENTRES LOCATED AT 4” , 5 ½” AND 7” FROM FRONT EDGE OF MODULE

ALL 3 TRACKS MUST BE PRESENT AT INTERFACE ENDS BUT MAY BE SWITCHED INTO 2 TRACKS ONCE ONTO A PERSONAL SET OF MODULES

TRACK STARTS 1” FROM EDGE OF MODULE INTERFACE

TRACK MUST RUN STRAIGHT FOR FIRST 3” IN FROM END OF INTERFACE (i.e. first 2” of actual track)

FRONT 2 TRACKS ARE MAINLINES AND MINIMUM RADIUS FOR CURVES IS 24”

THIRD TRACK IS BRANCHLINE AND MINIMUM RADIUS IS 18”

GRADIENTS ARE ALLOWED WITHIN MODULES AND SETS OF MODULES BUT MUST BE LEVEL AGAIN FOR END OF MODULE (S) INTERFACE

MAX GRADIENT ON MAINLINES IS 2%, MAX GRADIENT ON BRANCHLINE IS 3%

POINTS TO BE MEDIUM OR LARGE RADIUS ONLY

PREFERRED RAIL IS PECO CODE 55. CODE 80 MAY BE USED IN YARDS ETC BUT MUST BE CHANGED BACK TO CODE 55 FOR INTERFACE ENDS. AT POINTS OF CHANGE, RAILS MUST BE FILED TO REMOVE THE STEP AND PROVIDE A SMOOTH CHANGE

BUILDERS OF 8 ft MODULES (OR PAIRS OF 4 ft MODULES) ARE ASKED TO INCLUDE A SET OF cROSSOVER POINTS OF EITHER HAND WITHIN THEIR TRACKPLAN WHENEVER POSSIBLE (WITHOUT COMPROMISING YOUR OWN MODULE TRACK PLAN)

ELECTRICAL KEY POINTS

PHONO CONNECTORS TO BE USED FOR INTERFACE CONNECTION.

CONNECTORS SHOULD BE MOUNTED WITHIN 6” OF MODULE ENDS

BUSS WIRING BETWEEN PHONO CONNECTORS MUST BE RATED AT LEAST 6 AMPS (CABLE OF AT LEAST 0.75mm 2 OR 24 / 0.2)

BUSS WIRING MUST ALLOW POWER TO FLOW STRAIGHT THROUGH THE MODULE EVEN IF ANY TRACKS ARE SWITCHED TO LOCAL CONTROL

CONNECTIONS BETWEEN A SET OF BUILDERS OWN MODULES ARE UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL BUT MUST BE RATED AT LEAST 6 AMPS

FEMALE PHONO CONNECTORS AT EACH END OF INTERFACE MODULE FOR EACH TRACK I.E. 3 SOCKETS EACH END. FRONT RAIL CONNECTS TO OUTSIDES OF SOCKETS AND REAR RAIL CONNECTS TO INSIDE OF SOCKETS

EACH TRACK IS TO BE TREATED AS A SEPARATE DISTRICT AND SUITABLE ISOLATING BREAKS INSTALLED WHERE NEEDED (INCLUDING CROSSINGS FROM ONE LINE TO ANOTHER)

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL MAINS WIRING AND EQUIPMENT IS KEPT OFF THE MODULES AND MOUNTED IN METAL CASES ON THE FLOOR OR ON SHELVES ATTACHED TO THE MODULE LEGS. ALL MAINS EQUIPMENT MUST BE CORRECTLY EARTHED, FUSED AND WIRED. MAINS CABLES MUST BE IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO CUTS OR TAPED UP DAMAGE. CONNECTIONS MUST BE MADE WITH BRITISH STANDARD CONNECTORS I.E. 13A PLUGS OR ‘KETTLE ‘ TYPE PLUGS AND SOCKETS. WOODEN OR PLASTIC ENCLOSURES ARE NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO DIFFICULTY MEETING REGULATIONS. FOR EXHIBITION USE ANY MAINS EQUIPMENT MAY NEED TO BE PAT TESTED.