Oil Refinery (2017)
Basic Information
Name: Oil Refinery
Built by: George Barrier in August 2017
Size: 48″ wide x 24″ deep x 17″ high (1 module) with a 6″ rear bump-out on the right side.
Introduction
The “Oil Refinery” is the first NTrak module George built after joining NTrak Express. The main industry on this module is a Texaco oil refinery and its associated loading area. The refinery is set near a triple-track main line somewhere in the Texas wilderness. The loading area has a two-track yard to handle the volume of product through this refinery. There is a front siding (orange) on the left which connects to the (red) main line, crosses all three main lines, loops around the rear bump-out and back to the (blue) main line in the reverse direction. The mountain division (green) represents a spur servicing another nearby industry. A lonely desert highway follows the spur along its path.
Table Construction
The Deck
The frame of the module was built as a rectangular box of 1″x4″ knot-free lumber. The higher cost of materials resulted in greater strength. The surface of the table is a single sheet of 2’x4’x1/2″ plywood. The thickness of the table surface eliminated the need for reinforcement underneath. Electronic components can also be mounted directly to the underside of the table without adding small sheets for extra thickness.
The Legs
The legs are 2″x2″ knot-free pine. They fan-fold underneath the module for easy storage. Each pair of legs are connected together by a brace for extra strength. These braces each have a hole in their center which align when folded. A post in the center of the module has a twist-top to lock the legs in place by the braces. This leg design can be found in the NTrak manual PDF file.
Ready For Use
A good table is an essential base to begin laying track and building scenery. It must have strength and parts that fit well together in order to support the weight of the finished module. It must also be light enough to transport to shows, so unnecessary material should be omitted. Once the table is complete, track may be added.
Laying Track
Inspiration
In Columbia SC, there is a rail yard near a triple-track main line. One of the main line tracks branches to a siding, then the siding crosses all three main lines to depart in a different direction. This triple crossing seems very interesting to George as something he wants to model.
Brainstorming
Without track planning software, sections of track are positioned roughly where they should go. Track planning software such as AnyRail make this much easier. Certain key sections would be used in the final design such as turnouts and crossings. The straight sections are only there for planning and will be replaced later with flex track. This is also a good time to trial fit any scenery elements which need to go near the rails.
Main Level Complete
The original track design included paths for both (red and yellow) main lines to dive into the reversing loop back to the (blue) siding. There was also a crossover from one (yellow) main line to the other (red) main line. the supports for the (green) mountain division are attached to support track up there as well. Ballast work can begin as soon as track is laid.
Don’t Forget the Bump-Out
This extra section of curve completes the reversing loop. The sections are soldered together, but not to the track on the main part of the module. This way, the bump-out can be removed for transportation and storage. There are plans to create a second bump-out option with connections to staging tracks located inside the layout.
Wiring
The wiring is the final critical element needed to make this a NTrak module. The table must be a specific height above the floor. The track must be laid to very specific points near the edges. So too the wiring must have specific connections to neighboring modules. Since wiring can get complicated as more electronics are added, care should be taken to organize the wiring as much as possible.
Scenery
Ground Work
The hill behind the loading yard is built by gluing sheets of rigid styrene foam on top of each other until the desired height is reached. These sheets were purchased at a local craft hobby store. Each sheet was cut to the approximate footprint prior to gluing. After the glue sets, the hill can be carved (sanded) to blend the sheets into the desired shape. A couple layers of Plastic Wood smooth the surface, sanding lightly in between coats. It helps to dilute the wood filler putty with a little water prior to application.
Ground Cover
Some Woodland Scenic products are used to cover a small patch of ground between the (red) main line and the reversing loop. Diving deep on a small portion of scenery confirms that the finished look will be satisfactory. A few boxcars help set the stage on this tiny prototype.
Desert Highway
A lonely desert highway follows the (green) mountain division, providing road access to the loading facility. A grey color paper is used to mimic old, faded asphalt. Lines are hand-painted, but maybe paint pens would be better. A moving truck is quick to make use of the new highway.
Main Industry
Supports for the main refinery are added by gluing thin plywood on top of wood blocks. A second table supports a bulb of track, completing a loop. Now trains can be run! While not strictly NTrak, only these two modules are needed to run trains at home.
Time for Some Fun!
Too Fast? Nope!
Careful track installation supports worry-free train operation, even at high speeds. This train was going backwards! It is always a good idea to test the track and wiring before spending a lot of time on the scenery. Running trains is also a lot of fun.
Bummer
While the diesel locomotive passes through this area with no problem, the 4-8-4 steam engine snags the raised turnout motor with its undercarriage. The longer 4-8-4 swings out further in the turn and hits the top-mounted turnout motor. The only solution is to convert this switch machine to a bottom mounted type. For now, only the diesels may pass.
No Parking on the Dance Floor!
The small diesel switcher makes use of the loading yard to park some tank cars. The main lines are barely used for the two-module loop, so they can serve as staging tracks for now.
Back to work
Loading Yard
Adding a few small storage tanks to the loading yard seems appropriate. Materials are stored here only for a short period of time before being transferred to the rail cars.
Main Refinery Complex
The main refinery complex sits atop a raised platform to protect it from a potential derailment below. There is also a second loading area for road vehicles to use.
Overpass
With the completion of the overpass, the lonely desert highway is open to road traffic. The highway passes over a service road leading to the vast oil fields feeding the refinery.
One Last Hill
Only one hill remains in the front left corner before the module is ready for presentation.
Module Upgrades (2024)
A little Simpler
The way a NTrak layout operates at events makes it difficult to use the crossing from the (yellow) main line over the (red) main line and into the reversing loop. Since this path was not part of the prototype track design, removing it seems like a wise choice. In its place, an (orange) siding originates from the reversing loop and exits the left side of the module. The crossover between the (yellow) and (red) main lines is also removed. The result is a much more streamlined design.
Replacing the Turnouts
Those pesky top-mounted turnout motors are gone. All five switch machines have now been replaced by Peco below-track solenoids. Large 4-8-4 steam locomotives can now use the reversing loop with confidence.
A New Look
An actual visit to Texas revealed that the original groundcover is actually found in Arizona and New Mexico. The Texas landscape has more green color than expected. It never hurts to do more research on the prototype location. The Saguaro cactus plants are removed in favor of lightly green scrub brush and weeds. This appearance was achieved by layering multiple Woodland Scenic products (12 of them) together.
Oh yeah. Much better.
The hill behind the loading yard looks so much better now. The target geology is middle to western Texas. It looks a lot more like the actual Texas observed during the earlier visit.
Skyboard, where have you been?
Adding a skyboard hides the rear edge of the module, giving the appearance of a much larger diorama. The colors for the new scenery were carefully selected to blend well with the bottom of the skyboard. The bridges over the far-right reversing loop are converted into a tunnel. The tunnel is held on by magnets so it can be removed for track cleaning and train rescue.
Where is the wear?
Years of heavy traffic down the lonely desert highway have really taken their toll. A black colored pencil was used to apply the numerous crack and pothole repairs. Why would anyone want to drive this way?