T-TRAK Information

T-TRAK Information Page

How T-TRAK got started
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In early year 2000, an editor of the Japanese model train magazine, RM Models, took an N scale drawing of a Tram (street car) and cut and folded it into a 3-D model of the tram. He then took a piece of their business size letter paper and drew some tracks and curbs, street markings and left it on his desk. Some fellow workers added some finished N buildings.

Someone else produced an art board found in Japanese craft and photo stores. These are thin (about 1/8” plywood) with a frame on the back side made of wood about 3/4” square. These come in several sizes. One is A-4, (8-1/4” x 11-5/8”) the size used for business letters in Japan and Europe. It is a metric size similar to our 8-1/2” by 11”. By adding 5.5mm thick (1/4”) plywood end pieces to the boards, the top became 210mm x 309mm.

By using a piece of 248mm Kato Unitrack plus a 62mm long piece, they were just slightly longer than the board and could be connected to similar boards. By putting two tracks tight against each other, they got the track spacing often seen in the streets. By filling in around the rails, they got the look of “tracks in the streets”. Their word for this is “Romen". So they called the modules “Romen Tram Modules” or “Electric car - tracks in the streets” modules.

Lee and I took part in a train convention in Tokyo in August of 2000 and the magazine editors showed us the first boards at that time and wanted our opinion of them. Lee saw a great potential in the idea and we bought four of the boards while in Japan. Lee completed three straight modules and we showed them at the July 2001 NMRA Convention in St. Louis and then in August, took them to Japan for another train convention. The modules became part of one of the two 30 module each layouts of these small modules. None of these modules existed a year earlier!

She received permission to present and expand on the idea. This has been accomplished successfully, internationally, through the T-TRAK Column in the NTRAK Newsletter and presenting the modules at Shows and Conventions. By then Lee had come up with the name "T-TRAK" including the slogan "Trams, Trolleys, Trains, Two Track and Table Top". The T-TRAK name is also being used internationally.

She is a modeler who, since 1982. has completed 40 ft. of full size NTRAK Modules in Philadelphia and 8 ft. in California. All have extensive scenery.She has now completed 42 plus feet of T-TRAK modules and more are coming.

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NTRAK Modular Railroading Society, Inc

My wife Lee and I edit the NTRAK Newsletter. This is a 16 to 32 page magazine that goes to members of NTRAK. NTRAK furnishes specifications and books on building modules (tables) that are 2 foot by 4 foot and 40” high. These “C” clamp together to form large layouts at trains shows, conventions and club layouts. I was one of the founders of NTRAK back in 1973 and have been involved with it ever since.

The NTRAK Newsletter features information on T-TRAK modules as well. A new membership is $8.00 and brings you the Newsletter every other month. Check our web site for information: www.ntrak.org

Jim FitzGerald

e-mail: ntrak@tcsn.net

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Links

Link to NTRAK web page: http://www.ntrak.org

Information about NTRAK modules (2' x 4' and 40" high), NTRAK Newsletter, Books on modeling in N scale, Links to N Clubs.

Link to the Kato web page: http://www.katousa.com

Information about Unitrack, other Kato products and the Japanese Kato site.

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T-TRAK, 1150 Wine Country Place, Templeton, CA 93465