Unitrack Double track Plate Set 20-841

[ibm650]

I am building a new layout and am interested in the Unitrack Double track Plate Set 20-841, can you connect single track to it?  I was thinking of a double track outer with a figure 8 set inside it, so I would want to add some pieces to the double loop for switches and to connect to the figure 8.  What do you think?

[KenS]

That product has been discontinued (Kato's Japanese stock list notes it as "suspension of production", a notation they don't use for things simply out of stock; and Hobby Search lists it as "terminated"). So, buying into it for a new layout may leave you unhappy if you want to add to it later.

 

I don't have personal experience of it, but I believe it's just a plate that ordinary Unitrack double-track snaps into, so it would be compatible with single track connections (you can connect single unitrack to double track directly with no compatibility issues; they're identical at the connection point).  The only thing you'd have to be concerned with is that the plate raises its track about the "ground" the single track sits on.  With a long straight single-track you'd probably not have any problems, but there's a chance short track could need to be shimmed up to make the conection less abrupt.

 

Perhaps someone else can say more about that.

 

Update: I actually had a set of the station plates tucked away (I'd forgotten I had them).  The plate system is actually single track screwed to a plastic plate.  You can connect single-track (or double track) to it.  BTW, this thread is almost a duplicate of the Suburban Station thread, and it might be a good idea for a moderator to merge them.

[clem24]

Unless you want quick and dirty track side scenery, the double plate track is a pretty bad idea. I think Kato realized this. I don't think the product did very well, seeing as there really wasn't much support for it (there were what like 1 size of straight and 1 size of curve LOL). Also, beware that the curves are really sharp at r315/r282. The newer Vxx sets with concrete ties and superelevated curves are definitely the way to go.

[Pendy]

I have the V11 double track pack with the super elevated curves which I am running in a semi dog-bone shape. I have connected single track via the points. Very happy with it. The only issue I have is that pack has concrete sleepers but the points and some of the single track elements have wooden sleepers.