The Caboose - Random ramblings about "TT-Tracks^©"

As this page was getting a bit long it has been split into pages by years.

• This Year
• 2022
• 2020 - 21 Page
• 2019 Page
• 2018 Page
• 2017 Page
• 2016 Page
• 2015 Page
• 2014 Page
• 2013 Page
• 2012 Page
• 2011 Page

January 1, 2019 A quick look back at the TT-Scale and TT-Tracks highlights of 2018: A good setup at Western Rails. The GuiTTar layout has come home. I took the GuiTTar layout to the Victoria show. Two good setups at BCSME July and September Kuehn #6 turnouts arrive Our Largest ever display at Chilliwack Zeuke 3-Bay Hopper cars arrive. A good display at VTE 2018 2018 was another good year for TT-Scale!

January 1, 2019 This is Salt Lake City NMRA National Year! We will be there with our layout.

January 18, 2019 Happy Birthday TT-Tracks is Eight. What a long way we have come in eigth years. We had a Birthday/planning dinner on the 19th.

Possible Displays in 2019

Sunday March 10, 2019 - display at Nanaimo with the GuiTTar layout. Done

Sunday March 24, 2019 Display at Western Rails. Done.

Sunday May 5, 2019 - Possible Display at the Victoria Show. Canceled due to scheduling conflicts.

June 15-16, 2019 - Pre NMRA Test Display at BCSME

July 7 - 13, 2019 - NMRA National at Salt Lake City. Display days - July 12 - 14, 2019.

September 1 - 2, 2019 - Display at BCSME

October 19 + 20, 2019 Display at Chilliwack

November 2019 - Display at Vancouver Train Expo 2019

Things to work on in 2019: Rebuild return loops to R4 curves. Changed to new larger loops. Fix power module. Done - Nope - failed again at Western Rails. Run through station - on hold. Sway back module with RH crossover LH #6 Crossover module to make balanced pairs of crossover modules. Done March. #8 LH crossover module Industrial Area - Started. 22.5 degree corners - on hold. Equipment Scenery upgrades Of course not all this will get done but it is something to aim for.

March 10, 2019 I took the GuiTTar layout to the Nanaimo show. A great show but a long (18 hours) day.

March 24, 2019 A 'learning' experience setup at Western Rails. Had a miswired turnout, rails that needed shortening, a failed power module again, and a bad unijoiner. After all those problems were cleared up Sunday morning, things ran well. Was a long tiring Sunday for me. Dinner Saturday and Sunday night at Red Robin. The first use of the new 30 dgree corner module set. Trains look good on these broad curves. A new #6 crossover module. Our first attempt at a rear industrial switching area. The idea works. Now to make or modify modules to make a purpose built set.

Final display

North side of the display

Part of south side of the display

West side of the display

East side of the display

The new 30 degree corners.

April 2019 The first module (M15) was modified for the rear industrial switching area.

First module for Industrial area.

May 2019 Due to scheduling issues, too many events on that weekend, it was not possible to have a display at the Victoria show.

May 2019 After contemplating the rebuilding of the end loops, it was decided to start over again. A new foam module concept with larger radius curves on larger (four-foot modules) was designed and started.

Schematic of new end loop.

June 22, 23, 2019 setup at BCSME. Pre NMRA test. First test of a new end loop.

June 2019 BCSME Setup.

July 12-14, 2019. Setup at NMRA National in Salt Lake City. A Great Show. Tibi, Terry, Richard and myself were there. Second new end loop in service. Modules from Richard, Terry, Bjoern, Voytek, Tibi and myself.

July 2019 in Salt lake City

September 1 and 2, 2019. Second setup at BCSME. Tibi was there for setup. Terry and Bill ran the two days.

Second setup at BCSME.

October 19 and 20, 2019. Setup at Chilliwack. It was announced that this was the last Chilliwack show (but see 2020) Tibi, Terry, Graeme, Voytek and Bill.

North end of Chilliwack Display.

South end of Chilliwack Display.

November 9 and 10, 2019. Setup at Vancouver Train Expo 2019. A great show. Richard and Katalin drove up from CA. Voytek came down. Graeme and Terry were there. Tibi, Xenia and myself rounded out the crew. Richard brought stuff to sell. One dual frog juicer acted up. It may have been because the insulated rail joiners collapsed. Terry debut his tilig powere Lionel F3 unit. It ran very well. More will be built. We debut the new blue table coverings. They looked great!

VTE 2019 setup.

2019 was a Great year for TT-tracks. Great displays, new equiopment, new mdoules, cold beer, good fun.