Kato Unitram Intersections and Junctions

[brill27mcb]

A few days ago an idea popped into my mind about how to make a Kato Unitram arrangement that functions like a double-track "T" junction, where an incoming tram on any of the three approaches has the choice to take either of the other two directions out. In the past, people on this forum and elsewhere have played with designing track arrangements to try to do this with sectional track, but using Tomix "Mini" and "Super Mini" curves and turnouts/points. The next step up, a four-approach "Grand Union" junction, where from any approach a tram can go left, straight or right, has also been a sectional track puzzle for which many people have tried to find workable solutions.

 

I drew it up the Unitram idea in AnyRail, and immediately saw that the "T" junction solution could easily be expanded to make the equivalent of a Grand Union junction, too. So then for completeness I added drawings for a family of the more basic Unitram intersection and junction possibilities. Here's the end result:

 

 

"T" junctions have been (and still are) quite common in larger streetcar systems around the world. There have been a good number of Grand Unions, too, often at a main central intersection in a city:  In Canada, for example, at Toronto (3 of them), Montreal, Edmonton and Brantford; in the U.S. at Boston (4), Rochester (3), Akron, Trenton, Roanoke, Atlanta and probably others.

 

The Unitram equivalent designs are an interesting exercise, but the Grand Union equivalent just by itself would take up a lot of layout space. The "T" junction equivalent would be a more practical thing to model in a larger layout as the focal point where three longer route legs meet. I can picture the small city block at its center being the tramway offices, maybe with a bus "transit center" hub; or a paved plaza with trees and maybe a statue; or just a small urban park.

 

Rich K.

[bill937ca]

Prague has 3 grand unions, something like 42 T intersections and Poznan, Poland is the grand union champ with 6.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_union

 

Photos

First a grand union at Strossmayerovo namesti on a Sunday morning, June 2024

 

 

T junctions in Prague.

Spalena & Lazarska, June 2024

Spalena & Lazarska from another angle, June 2023

Na Porici & Havlickova, June 2023

 

Edited August 21 by bill937ca

[brill27mcb]

That stone paving really adds character to those scenes! Not sure I'd like to have to drive or bicycle over it, but the appearance is terrific.

 

Rich K.

[bill937ca]

Its mainly at the junctions which usually are traffic light free.

[MeTheSwede]

I live in a city where cobble stoned areas in the city center have gradually expanded during the past several decades. Cobble stones are a very good way to signal that the street is mainly intended for pedestrians. Modern cobble stones are friendly to bikes and wheel chairs.