I've been working into the MR hobby over the past few months...reading, watching videos, setting up and running a basic oval layout, etc. One area I'm still not clear on is Kato Unitrac ties. Some questions I could use some help with: Are all Kato Unitrack pieces available in both concrete and wooden ties? Is the only difference between the two modern vs older? Is Kato phasing out the wooden ties? And in general is there anything else I should know about?
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Allen99Are all Kato Unitrack pieces available in both concrete and wooden ties?
No, not yet. You did not say if you were in HO or N scale. N scale has a lot more variety, but there are pieces in both HO and N with either wooden or concrete ties modeled on them
Allen99Is the only difference between the two modern vs older?
Sort of. Most newer class 1 mainline track in North America is built on concrete ties. Turnouts and crossings still favor wooden ties from what I have seen. Smaller sections of new track are still being installed with wooden ties.
Allen99Is Kato phasing out the wooden ties?
I seriously doubt it. There will always be plenty of modelers around that model a time from before there were any concrete railrod track ties.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Allen99And in general is there anything else I should know about?
Eventually you will want more than an oval. Perhaps you are there now.
Read this book first. John Armstrongs's Trackplanning for Realistic Operation.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I have a ton of HO Kato Unitrack. It allows me to set up trains and run them anytime I want even though I do not have a layout right now. It is very high quality stuff.
I learned decades ago in N scale, that using Kato Unitrack for all hidden trackage makes maintenance many times easier and installation a breeze.
I intend to use the Kato Unitrack for the hidden trackage on my next HO layout.
Currently in HO Kato only makes three lengths of straight track (4-7/8", 9-3/4", and 14-1/2") with concrete ties, plus their 9-3/4" feeder track, and superelvated curves in 28-3/4" and 31-1/8" radii. The superelevated (or 'banked') curves are not available in the wooden tie regular line; but the three lengths of straight track, along with other straights, curves, turnouts, etc. are. The pieces are all interchangeable, except you do have to use the easement or transition track for going into and out of the superevated concrete tie curves.