Thanks kae4466! I have been wishing for the ability to make more complex trackage with Unitram too. Unfortunately, I don’t think a grand union in N would be functionality practical, much less a commercial product. Your comment led me to Wiki for a better understanding: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_union Apparently my layout has a “butterfly half union” where the curves are on opposite corners (I didn’t know it had a specific name”). Each of my 4 Unitram turnouts has 4 switch points (two 2-way switches) and 6 frogs (where rails cross) and the Unitram 90 crossing has 16 more frogs, so my BHU has 16 points and 40 frogs. Wiki says that a “grand union” would have 32 points and 88 frogs. Each of the 8 switches of the GU must be a 3-way switch (which in reality is sort of two 2-way switches mingled together). The photos in Wiki also show that GU geometry is tweaked to avoid three rails crossing at the same spot. I have seen a nice functioning model GU on TH-cam in O gauge. It may be barely possible in HO gauge. However in N gauge, I think that the oversize wheel flange gap widths and associated plastic frog pieces would leave insufficient metal rail for reliable running. Wiki says that each curved path of a GU must traverse 20 frogs! I think a GU in N gauge would require custom all-metal hand-laid trackwork as well as modicied tightly-toleranced low-profile wheel flanges on all rolling stock. On a less pessimistic note, I am hoping that Kato will eventually create a double track 45 deg “Y” Unitram switch. It would be no more complex than their right or left, but would require new mold tooling. Combining a Y with a R & L (and no crossing) would create a “T” junction, which is more common on real tram networks than a GU or BU. I am also fairly sure that it would not be electrically tricky like a single track example would be.
How did you get American Streets plates. I thought that traffic patterns in Japan was the opposite of the USA. I just heard the answer, they have right handed sets from KATO.
lovely layout . i am a traction fan too also. would luv to see a grand union junction with 1 of these , thanks for posting.
Thanks kae4466! I have been wishing for the ability to make more complex trackage with Unitram too. Unfortunately, I don’t think a grand union in N would be functionality practical, much less a commercial product. Your comment led me to Wiki for a better understanding:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_union
Apparently my layout has a “butterfly half union” where the curves are on opposite corners (I didn’t know it had a specific name”). Each of my 4 Unitram turnouts has 4 switch points (two 2-way switches) and 6 frogs (where rails cross) and the Unitram 90 crossing has 16 more frogs, so my BHU has 16 points and 40 frogs. Wiki says that a “grand union” would have 32 points and 88 frogs. Each of the 8 switches of the GU must be a 3-way switch (which in reality is sort of two 2-way switches mingled together). The photos in Wiki also show that GU geometry is tweaked to avoid three rails crossing at the same spot. I have seen a nice functioning model GU on TH-cam in O gauge. It may be barely possible in HO gauge. However in N gauge, I think that the oversize wheel flange gap widths and associated plastic frog pieces would leave insufficient metal rail for reliable running. Wiki says that each curved path of a GU must traverse 20 frogs! I think a GU in N gauge would require custom all-metal hand-laid trackwork as well as modicied tightly-toleranced low-profile wheel flanges on all rolling stock.
On a less pessimistic note, I am hoping that Kato will eventually create a double track 45 deg “Y” Unitram switch. It would be no more complex than their right or left, but would require new mold tooling. Combining a Y with a R & L (and no crossing) would create a “T” junction, which is more common on real tram networks than a GU or BU. I am also fairly sure that it would not be electrically tricky like a single track example would be.
Very nice
Cool video
what are the materials for the rails?
How did you get American Streets plates. I thought that traffic patterns in Japan was the opposite of the USA. I just heard the answer, they have right handed sets from KATO.
😝😝😝😝😝