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About the "N" SIG
N Scale is one of the
smaller sizes of model railroads at 1:160th the size of the prototype. This
allows for much more opportunity for operations, especially in limited
spaces.
The Erin Mills Model Railroad Association N Scale SIG (Special
Interest Group) or NSIG was formed to share our passion for N Scale model
railroading, and to share knowledge and expertise amongst fellow members. Our
members come from all parts of the Greater Toronto area including Toronto, Mississauga,
Brampton, and Oakville. We currently have over 20 active
members, with about 30 NTrak or oNeTrak modules. In addition, many members have
N Scale home layouts of their own.
Meetings are held once a month at
member’s homes on the 2nd to last Tuesday of every month, (a week
before the general meeting) except during the summer. Being part of the larger
EMMRA Club, we also attend the Club's general meetings which occur on the last
Tuesday of each month (except during summer).
We enjoy attending local
and regional train shows to setup and show our modules as part of our larger
NSIG layout. We try to attend at least four major train shows a year, as well as
a number of regional shows with smaller module requirements.
N-Trak and oNe-Trak Modules
NTRAK modules are
portable sections of track, usually 2 feet deep by 4 feet long all built to
strict NTRAK specifications. oNeTRAK, which allows smaller, less expensive and
easier to transport modules, are usually 1 foot deep by 4 feet long. Both module
types are combined to make a large operating layout, primarily setup at train
shows or can be displayed at shopping malls or other events.
Because of
the modular design, our NTRAK/oNeTRAK layout at shows can be made to fit
virtually any size space and in a variety of shapes. Members can select their
module style(s), which allows them to express their creativity to provide a
unique combination representing their particular style of railroad modeling. The
results are unique – cities, towns, farms, factories, rivers, mountains,
carnivals, freight yards and more!
The NSIG group owns one 12-foot yard
(made up of 3 modules), four 3-foot corners, a 3-foot tee junction to
interconnect the NTRAK and the oNeTRAK modules and several reversing loops, used
for smaller shows, where there is a space limitation. Overall, when we setup our
show-combined layout, there are over 30 NTRAK and oNeTRAK modules and the number
continues to grow! The average size of our show modular layout is 32' x 18' and
is limited in size only by the number and shape of our modules. We use
Aristo-Craft radio control throttles on the Blue and Yellow lines and Digital Command
Control to operate the Red line and the oNe-Trak extension. |
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