I am planning on adding a SuperStreet section to my layout, but I don’t understand some aspects of the hardware. Specifically:
Y sections - how is direction controlled when a vehicle enters the single end? The price of these appear to be too inexpensive to be electrically switched.
Why are connecting pins offerred? Don’t track sections come with them? I’m not talking about transition from SuperStreet to O gauge here.
Do I need SuperStreets hookup wire? What’s special about them? Can’t one use the same wire used for normal track hookup?
My concern here is I don’t want to buy more than I need.
Are you sure there are no moving parts to the “Y”? Something must determine which side of the “Y” a vehicle goes when it enters from the single end. I looked at a close up of one on Lionel’s website and it looked like there was a frog in there, as well as some sort of tab on each side of the single end.
Also, can SuperStreets track be custom cut to fit?
There are a number of possibilites for this system, but I find myself wanting additional track items not available. My problem with switches is there is only a straight transition section and that causes the need for more space.
Bill - I have also been looking at the Superstreets, at my local Lionel Dealer. Straight track comes in 10, & 5 inch sections, & two sizes of curves (so you could run vehicles side by side) I doubt you can cut the track because of the way they connect. Did you consider a transition to your regular train track (which would be easier to cut)? Did not look at the “Y”, but, agree with what you saw. Try Catalog 2008 Volume 2 K-LINE by LIONEL (Pages 2-7) Good Luck!
Super Strets also has a 2 & a half inch straight track section that comes in either curve to curve(wide slot all the way) or curve to straight(wide slot that gets narrow at other end).
Most Super Street sets have; vehicle, power supply & wires and track to make an oval. The add-on sets don’t have the power wires included. Lionel Fastrac connector part # 71-2053-265 will hook up to Super Straight 10 inch straight track.
My problem is I am several barrels of oil and another state away from the nearest LHS. And then I’d have to find out if they carried SuperStreets.
I have looked at Lionel’s online catalog. You can see only so much detail. And there is no detailed description of just how the “Y” section works. For instance, does a vehicle always go to the right and then returns via the left? Or vice versa?
There are transition sections to get from SuperStreets to “O” track, but I would need to use them in conjunction with 022 switches. To make it fit in my layout I would need curved transition sections, but there are none as of now.
Billbobboy1, the best you can do is use the straight track transition piece and then add a curve in O gauge track. I don’t have a Y section so I have no idea how it works, also the old K-Line catalog that first listed Super Streets didn’t mention how the Y section worked, just said it reversed the vehicle’s direction of travel. My guess is that the grooves in the track are lower on one side than on the other and the vehicle follows the lower groove.
Lee: Thanks for the reply. I just saw on E-bay a “Y” section being sold by Trainz. They showed the item still in it’s wrapper. On the wrapper card was a statement that the item has spring loaded points to direct traffic. The points look a bit like frogs in a switch. Interestingly, the picture on Lionel’s site does not bring out that detail nor is there any statement explaining it. My presumption is a vehicle must enter the “Y” in the same direction all the time.
My problem, most likley, is that SuperStreets has not yet evolved to the extent I need it (if it ever will). If only there were SuperStreets switches![:(] Using standard “O” gauge switches, along with 10" transition sections will take up more room on my layout than I have. If there were curved transition sections I might make something work.
Hopefully, in the near future, someone will write/publish a “Designing and Operating SuperStreets” manual. And how about SuperStreets with TMCC?[:D]
It seems the more I look into SuperStreets the more questions I have.
I think I have the previous “Y” issue resolved. However, does anyone know if a transition section (crv to st) is required when connecting a straight section to the single end of the “Y”?
Also, is there a need for a crv to crv transition section when connecting a 21" curve section to one of the 16" “Y” curve ends?
Can the center pin be removed to create an insulated block section? Or will the special insulated straight track section handle that?
I have wanted to order my SuperStreets items for several days now, but I just can’t justify jumping in and buying several of this, that, and the other in the hope it will all work out.
Try www.three-rail.com/SS.HTM A lot of info re wiring Superstreets track. Myself, I think I’ll start with 1 pack of (2) #6-21285 Transition to Tubular “O”,. & some 6-21431 10" straight pieces. Added to some “O-31” Lionel track, to complete a loop, to start with. Superstreets running down “Main Street”, to RR track hidden by scenery, or buildings. An initial investment of about $25. Sorry, you don’t have the luxury of being able to access a store. Have you tried the layout planning guides at www.k-line.lionel.com ?
I don’t know. Here’s the reason for the transition. It seems like the flange space is still wide like the curve pieces at the base of the ‘Y’, but I can’t tell for sure. Note the difference in the flange space: The top is a curve section.
Transition sections come in 4-packs. I would order a pack to be safe.
My curves fit together either way, the flange space is the same. I would assume you don’t need a curve to curve transition, and I don’t believe one is available.
There is a space between the center rails without the connector, and I did not get voltage across the isolated track section when I powered the adjacent section.
Westshorefan, Kurt: Thanks for your help. I think I have enough info now to make my buying decision, especially looking at closeups of the sections.
The only issue left for me is whether a straight section can be cut to length. Using the RRTRACK program I am able to fit a fairly nice layout on my main layout. I used three “Y” sections like switches to create a side loop (another street) and a dead end track to park a vehicle. Will most likely put a single trolley barn there. However, I can’t quite get the smaller loop (street) to close. From the program it looks like about an inch off. That’s where cutting to fit may be necessary. I know from experience that tubular track can be flexed a bit to join when it’s not perfect. Not sure about SuperStreets since the sections are loaded with plastic.
Someone did tell me that the “Y” sections have a tab containing a small hole on each side of the straight end. Appears it may be possible to automate the “Y” with a switch machine, such as the DZ-1000. Anyway, I’ll give it the old try. If I succeed I will post my findings as well as a picture.
Don’t think that you can piece together Super Street track after cutting it, try using two & a half inch straight tracks in Super Streets.
I have the track laying program for Super Streets on my computer and I don’t even use it, find it too complicated to use & it don’t fit the tracks correctly. I put my track together by trial & error, that way I fit it to my layout as I want it.
Bought the Dog Bone accessory pack and I am using it for my trolley line on my lower level, along with a couple of 10 inch straights.
Thanks for the reply. I’m glad someone else besides me has had an issue with the RRTRACK SuperStreets library. There appears to be a problem snapping sections together. I have had to use the Rotate function to position sections in an orientation that will mate correctly. And that’s sort of a judgement call.
I ordered a few extra 2.5" sections to have on hand as you suggested.
Is there any flexibility with SuperStreets track, so one could lightly “force” connectivity when it’s not perfect?
The only flexibility that I have seen with Super Streets might be a 16th of an inch, more if you have a long run, you can get more flexibility from tubular track.
The only tricks that I have done with Super Streets was to a 10 inch straight track, I opened the ends up to match the curve spacing with an exacto knife, had to use two new blades as the plastic is tuff to cut.
