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Portram Pretzels


Salvatore

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Dear friends.

 

Now that  I moved to a larger house I have begun to build a new layout, with wide curves and long sidings which allows me to run passenger trains; a layout where my Shinkansen Fleet feels at home.

 

I named my layout “Port Isabel & Marsella” after my two daughters: Anna Isabel and Marcela.

 

Although I explored the possibility to build it with Kato Unitrack, finally I decided to use Atlas because of cost considerations, previous experience with Atlas, null experience with Unitrack and ballast realism.

 

Anyway… my layout is a Point-to-Loop-to-Point design, and most of it runs over shelves, with the exception of the returning loop which will be built over a peninsula of about 1 meter width.

The concept:  6922371169_3efb083af9_m.jpg    The blueprint:  6922425103_3b90986469_m.jpg

 

I am making all the carpenter work by myself (slower than I'd like). I already have finished the skeleton of all the shelves and I am about to start to build the peninsula:

 

6922373327_8d1b06c844_m.jpg  6776259504_7429670165_m.jpg  6922373587_e353d34871_m.jpg

6922376811_aae4ff334a_m.jpg  6922376955_37a0846693_m.jpg  6922377085_f18bb4bb94_m.jpg  6922377249_1cb1cd39c1_m.jpg

 

At this point I have been thinking what to do in the space in the middle of the loop… maybe a yard, or an industrial district... I was not sure. But last week I had a completely new idea…

 

Since last month my good friend Carlos Chaveznava came back from Japan with the Portram that I asked him to bring me… Why not to build a street car circuit?

 

The considerations for this idea were:

1.- Continuous circuit

2.- Designed with Unitrack

3.- Width adjusted to a 1 meter maximun (beacause I’m in the construction phase of the peninsula, length and width could be slightly increased; but I prefer not to adjust the width because that would imply a straight section in the middle of the loop curve, and I want a continuous curve for smoother operation).

 

An oval circuit is just too simple... maybe an 8 shape. Using curves Unitrack 20-170 (radius 216 mm) and with the help of AnyRail System I drew an 8 shaped circuit 90 cm width:

 

   6922379659_0ff97f7659_m.jpg

 

Good for a first attempt. But, could be more interesting? What if I fold the circuit over itself… like a Pretzel:

 

   6776265618_7ebb54e1dd_m.jpg

 

Much better….

 

Now, if I introduce a diagonal track, with the same curves radius 216 mm, width is then reduced from 90 to 80 cm:

 

   6922379791_dc537f009c_m.jpg

 

Here is where I make a stop and, because of my mentioned lack of experience with Unitrack,  I ask you expert people your opinions…. Do you think this pretzel circuit is adequate for a couple of Portrams running on it?

 

I'll really appreciate all comments and ideas.

 

Chava.

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By dividing the pretzel in 3 blocks, with the 2 trams traveling in the same direction. But currently I have just one Portram. If the circuit is too small, well... one tram at a time is OK.

 

The table is my current layout. I started to build it using all the available space I had under the stairs of my previous small house. In a previous post, I already had put a video that shows it:

 

 

Chava

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Densha, Mudkip Orange

 

Thank you friends for your interest in my layout. You can see those pictures (an others) in my "Port Isabel & Marsella" Album at Flickr:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27437008@N03/sets/72157605484598638/show/

 

But don't forget, amigos.... the main reason for this post is to known your opinions about the Pretzel Layout to be used as Portram circuit...

 

Chava

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I don't think it's too small for two trams.  In the real world, they often run fairly close together in city-center areas.  You may need to think ahead a bit to avoid one catching up to the other.  But that's going to add to the fun.  And I like the track pattern.  With buildings around, it's going to make it look like multiple separate lines.

 

And, at worst, you'll wire up a complex three-block system and decide it's too much work to operate two, or doesn't look good, and still be able to run one tram at a time.  I'd say go for it, and see how it feels when you get it built.

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I like the track pattern. With buildings around, it's going to make it look like multiple separate lines.

 

Yesssss...!!!! You got the idea...!!!!

 

And now I can clearly see that Portram trams can easily handle very tight curves:

 

 

Thanks

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Densha, Mudkip Orange

 

Thank you friends for your interest in my layout. You can see those pictures (an others) in my "Port Isabel & Marsella" Album at Flickr:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27437008@N03/sets/72157605484598638/show/

 

But don't forget, amigos.... the main reason for this post is to known your opinions about the Pretzel Layout to be used as Portram circuit...

 

Chava

But I also see some pictures of the new layout, and that's what your post was meant for, isn't it?
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Yes.... thank you very much, Densha. I'm taking some pictures as my project progresses. Later, I will look for time to organize all that material in a photo album and/or a Youtube video.

 

 

And by the way.... KenS, I made a firts visit to your Sumida Crossing website. Excelente, señor !!!!  It looks really great. I'm gonna take some time this weekend to review it in-depth.

 

 

Chava

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