Jake,
I have only been able to get straight track in Super Streets so I don't know about the curve sections as yet. Mostly what you can run is trolley cars or hand cars as the curves are extremely tight at 16 & 21 inches!!!!
Won't be able to run an Interurban set if that is what you are asking.
Lee F.
I have had a good experiance on using Superstreets. Previously I was using MTH Scale trax for the street, but switched to Superstreets when it came out. It was much easier for me to make the track fit in with the street.
Below are some pictures of the Superstreets on my layout.
I have a few speeders, and K-line plymouths that can run on the track. K-line shut down before the cars could be released. I am glad the new K-line by Lionel catalog will have some cars available.
Chris
I'm curious. I see myself and my vision for my layout as being 90% about trains, and 10% about scenery maybe as low as 75-25, meaning that the cars and other things on the layout will be static. I'm wondering about the philosophy or idea that is at work with the Super Streets, and how it fits into the layout as a whole. What are you looking to achieve by adding Super Streets?
For me it just seems to take away from the trains on several levels; space, $$, and wattage, not to mention visual focus.
I guess what I'm asking is why do you use Super Streets? What is its appeal to the train hobby? Just wondering.
wchrisyoung wrote: I am glad the new K-line by Lionel catalog will have some cars available. Chris
I am glad the new K-line by Lionel catalog will have some cars available.
What cars? The catolog released a month ago does not have any. What did you read that says the next catalog will? Frankly, I can't see much use for Superstreets other than running a trolley, as you can only run ONE car/truck/bus per loop of track/street.
I plan to use superstreets.
What do I hope to achieve? Reality. I grew up in Pittsburgh at a time when our busses were streetcars. I have few memories of trains, but I rode streetcars all the time. Trolleys are more real to me than passenger trains. I'll find trolleys to run on the streets and not train tracks--as it should be.
Dan
danrunner1 wrote: I'll find trolleys to run on the streets and not train tracks--as it should be. Dan
I'll find trolleys to run on the streets and not train tracks--as it should be.
Not to "nit-pick", but our trolley line, running today between Media and West Phila, PA, makes about 75% of it's trip on train tracks. I agree, however, that most layouts would run on "streets". For the past couple of years, I've seen at least one company at train shows selling "street-track" systems to run "O" trolleys (snap-together, but takes up less space than Superstreets). Therefore, I've been surprised at the reaction of so many "O" trolley lovers that this is something "new". BTW, I run trolleys on 2 of my layouts.
The cars I was referring to was the trucks, classic trucks between pages 2-5 on the on-line catalog. These were similar to the cars K-line talked about, but were never released. I agree it would be difficult to run more than one of car/trucks at the same time without one of them overtaking the other one. I primarly run the PCC car and have it do automatic stops.
ATSJer wrote:I'm curious. I see myself and my vision for my layout as being 90% about trains, and 10% about scenery maybe as low as 75-25, meaning that the cars and other things on the layout will be static. I'm wondering about the philosophy or idea that is at work with the Super Streets, and how it fits into the layout as a whole. What are you looking to achieve by adding Super Streets? For me it just seems to take away from the trains on several levels; space, $$, and wattage, not to mention visual focus. I guess what I'm asking is why do you use Super Streets? What is its appeal to the train hobby? Just wondering.
Well, I consider it another animated accessory to complement the trains. We have log loaders, coal loaders, revolving spotlights, grade crossings, etc. that all add light, sound and movement to the scene. Super Streets allow for either a trolley line or a way for vehicles to actually move around the layout. To me, the appeal is that the curves are tight enough to fit inside an oval of O-27 track. Yes, it will take some space and everyone one of us have to decide how we will use our layout real estate. You have obviously thought this through and decided that trains will get the majority of space. More power to you! For some, though, variety and balance are important. Personally, I want to be able to run two trains at a time, but I also want room for accessories and scenery. I am still undecided on Super Streets, but I understand their appeal.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Joe Hohmann wrote: danrunner1 wrote: I'll find trolleys to run on the streets and not train tracks--as it should be. Dan Not to "nit-pick", but our trolley line, running today between Media and West Phila, PA, makes about 75% of it's trip on train tracks. I agree, however, that most layouts would run on "streets". For the past couple of years, I've seen at least one company at train shows selling "street-track" systems to run "O" trolleys (snap-together, but takes up less space than Superstreets). Therefore, I've been surprised at the reaction of so many "O" trolley lovers that this is something "new". BTW, I run trolleys on 2 of my layouts.
Obviously Pittsburgh thirty years ago isn't Philly today. Your trolleys run on train lines--good for you. Our PCCs ran right on the streets of downtown Pittsburgh and many of the suburbs. The rest of the time they spent on "light rail" tracks that couldn't handle the weight of even a switcher. My memories are mine and they are accurate.
Some of us have exactly the opposite philosphy. In the real world its not only the trains that move, rather people, vehicles and other machines, not to mention otherwise inanimate objects in the wind all have motion. Not only is this animation closer to reality its also more interesting. While some, myself included, can stand in awe of the great modelers like George Selios and John Allen, their layouts are actually fairly boring to watch. OTOH layouts filled with working accessories and sound are much more entertaining.
Pete
Dan,
I have seen the old trolley tracks in Reading, PA, sometimes the old trolley tracks keep coming up thru the pavement as the tracks were paived over instead of removed, was told it cost less money at the time to paive over the track than remove them. I asked my parents about these old tracks and was told they are the old street car tracks, streets where they were last noticed is N. 4th St, N. 8th St.
Ybor City near Tampa FL has a trolley system still in use, from photos that I have seen looks like the old time trolleys.
To have Super Streets on the inside of a layout looks more realistic than having a train track run in a city area.
I am building a layout and I will have three failry substantial areas for my buildings etc. I plan on having streets through them and I see a big advantage in using superstreets to add more activity to areas I had no intention of putting trains through. I enjoy the nontrain parts of my train layout as much as the trains ie, I am going to put in a few golf holes where I could cram in a siding or two.
To each his own.
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