Bri Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Re: Tram turnouts in UK. Have you tried traintrax, he's had them on his site for some time. Link to comment
Tyler B Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 I have tried Traintrax, he still has them listed as 'arriving soon' Link to comment
Bri Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 I was in touch with Traintrax and asked about the turnouts amoungst other things, here is his reply: "They have been released in Japan only at the moment. I did receive a small supply but they sold out in 48 hours to customers who had previously requested them and they are now out of stock in Japan I understand that they should be available in the USA in about 10 days time which mesans I will receive them in a months time. Gaugemaster the UK distributor has them on order but is uncertain which container they will arrive in, one is due in 14 days and the next a month after." Link to comment
Strassenbahnfan Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Modeltrainstuff.com has had the Kato unitram turnouts in stock for about 2 months now.Over 25 of each in stock at this moment.They are a very reputable dealer located in Maryland USA. Link to comment
bill937ca Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) Reviving an old thread. I recently pulled out my Unitram and I have been looking for ideas to push the envelope. First is to connect a Kato 20-846 double track girder bridge (or similar) with 33mm track center to the wide end of the Unitram curves. Nagasaki has a location like this. Video by nekOmask55. The track here is also side of the road with heavy foliage along a small river. Video by pikarail. Problem is it doesn't line up the rest of the oval. You are left with short gaps and few options to close the gaps. Edited February 8, 2017 by bill937ca 1 Link to comment
bill937ca Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 (edited) I found a blog entry that explores the complexity in building a double-double T junction like found in Nagasaki, Hiroshima and Matsuyama. There are 14 different locations where positive and negative need to be isolated and locations that would be without feeders. With so many locations needing isolation quality control could become an issue. The current Kato 40-210 and 40-211 have six locations where positive and negative current crosses. As Kato turnouts are insulated at the factory I have never had an issue running by trams through these turnouts even though I used to have a large complicated layout. http://ameblo.jp/inkyoise/entry-11996926530.html Positive and negative diagram. http://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/20150303/14/inkyoise/cb/18/j/o0800042413234049807.jpg?caw=800 Edited February 8, 2017 by bill937ca Link to comment
bill937ca Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 (edited) For someone who's still looking for ideas, there is a section of alley like track in Nagasaki with similar overhead supports in the center of a very narrow road, You would just need the Unitram straight sections, place your buildings right up against the track edge. Video by JTC 長い間ありがとうございました。 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGLc3UxjLoc Edited February 8, 2017 by bill937ca 1 Link to comment
cteno4 Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Excellent for standard spaced Ttrak! Going to have to try some modules like that with just street on track. Jeff Link to comment
velotrain Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 I found a blog entry that explores the complexity in building a double-double T junction like found in Nagasaki, Hiroshima and Matsuyama. There are 14 different locations where positive and negative need to be isolated and locations that would be without feeders. With so many locations needing isolation quality control could become an issue. Bill - If you're willing to mix Unitram and Tomix track, I have a solution for you. I had to shorten a Unitram straight to make it work, and used Tomix 140 and 177 radius along with their wye switches and crossing. I posted this in September 2014: http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/9196-unitram-track-bash/?hl=bash It includes photos and notes on bashing the Unitram track. The image below shows the shims I used on the chopped end of the Unitram section, and the "Kato" ends of the Tomix curves to raise them to the Kato rail level. I'm pretty sure that I ran trains through the "mid-line terminal" by making a Unitram loop around it, but can't swear to it. I'm a bit puzzled by the drawings of the positive and negative crossings, as I don't think that is an issue with these tracks? Also - on your bridge scenario, you would just need a similar kink on the opposite side of the loop, using a custom Unitram straight the same length as the bridge - unless that bridge matches an existing straight. Or, you could just use a custom straight on one of the ends to adjust for the bridge. As for pushing the envelope, here is another of my track bashes. 5 Link to comment
bill937ca Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Interesting, Combining Unitram and Tomix really doesn't appeal to me. I like the finished look of Unitram. Link to comment
kvp Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 I'm a bit puzzled by the drawings of the positive and negative crossings, as I don't think that is an issue with these tracks? It would be if the Tomix turnouts were not fully power routing, essentially swapping the polarity between the two directions. Using Kato turnouts only would cause shorts through the outer rails. On the other hand, the example is probably meant to demonstrate how much easier is to wire with overhead as the positive and all tracks as the negative (return) pole, since you don't have to isolate or switch polarities at all. Btw. classic model railway 3 rail systems (like maerklin h0) also utilise this trick. 1 Link to comment
bill937ca Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Usually we think of Tomix Wide Tram track for short sections of paved track, but you can use the TWR180 and TWL180 curves and their 33mm track center to pair up with Unitrack. In this case I used R216 and R249 for the Unitrack and of course the Unitram curves will be R180. I'm using this right for a short section of test track. I didn't have enough extra Unitram on hand so I looked for another solution without waiting for an order to arrive. Link to comment
velotrain Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 How quickly things can change ;-) Link to comment
bill937ca Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 (edited) Here's a 42 x 42 Unitram layout with lots of junctions. But because it is Unitram you are limited to squares and rectangles when you stick with tram track. The junction in the center is as complicated as an Unitram junction gets. Track parts list: Track TW-X90, N Kato Unitram, 40-300. Crossing 2 7/16". (double plate track) 1 TWR180L, N Kato Unitram, 40-101. Curve angle 45º (double plate track) 6 TWR180R, N Kato Unitram, 40-102. Curve angle 45º (double plate track) 6 TWS124, N Kato Unitram, 40-020. Straight 4 7/8". (double plate track) 4 TWS186, N Kato Unitram, 40-010. Straight 7 21/64". (double plate track) 2 TWS62, N Kato Unitram, 40-031. Straight 2 7/16". (double plate track) 5 TWT180L, N Kato Unitram, 40-210. Double left turnout angle 45º (double plate track) 4 TWT180R, N Kato Unitram, 40-211. Double right turnout angle 45º (double plate track) 4 Edited September 27, 2017 by bill937ca 4 Link to comment
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