EZ Streets measurement and track plan

Moonman,

I might have missed it, but on your reverse loop, did you use a 2.5" C/S coming off the curve leg of the D-21 Turnout?  It shows a 10" straight which could cause a problem taking this turn.  Using the 2.5" C/S  would also require a 2.5" straight and a 5" straight to replace the 10" straight shown coming off that curve.

Larry

Dobermann:

      As I said earlier, a "Y Track" consists of two diverging D16 curve tracks. Your trolley may have trouble getting into the "Y."

     Former forum member Lee Willis has two books out on the subject of 'Tracks. He covers the original K-Line Superstreets, the K-Line by Lionel Superstreets  and the Bachmann E-ZStreets (all essentially the same). I recommend his book "'Streets for O-Gauge Model Railroads." It's on Amazon for $14.95.

    In his book, Lee shows that the Atlas Trolley, the Williams Peter Witt Trolley and the MTH PCC will not work on D16 curves. (The MTH PCC will work with modifications to the PCC.)

     I would go with the turnouts, OR---make a dogbone within your space, so that the trolley turns on a D21 circle at each end and goes back in the other direction. Then, you do not have to worry about the trolley not fitting into the "Y" and you don't have to worry about making the turnouts non-derailing.

    You would wind up with two parallel lanes of Streets, which Lee says in his book, look more realistic than a single lane. You could even do what he calls a "crushed" dogbone where the lanes are next to each other.

John Knapp

Thanks John. I have the book here somewhere and earlier I ordered the turnout and what I hope is enough track to complete the turn around. Right now I just have open framework so maybe once the plywood is on I can get a better idea of what's going on

joe

Here's the finished product. It will be a while before it's tested but I wanted to thank everyone who offered suggestions.

joe:

     Excellent! I can picture the trolley making its return to the city to pick up passengers and taking them to the depot.

    Also, I also tried to keep all man hole covers on the same side of the street. I noticed in your photo that they "flip flop" from one side to the other.

John Knapp

Thanks again

My attention to details is not what it used to be

joe

Joe:

    I know that there must be bunch of us who would like to see your finished project with the trolley running and all, so keep us posted!

John Knapp

dobermann posted:

Here's the finished product. It will be a while before it's tested but I wanted to thank everyone who offered suggestions.

Joe,

Nice build! I  missed the C-S off of the switch. I see that LJ picked up on it and you made it all fit. besides, I like the "balloon" reverse loop shape better than roundy one.

Now you have started the itch to put some streets on my layout.

It took 3 manufacturers and over a decade to get it to here.

Lee Willis' books are really great.

Joe,

Looks good!

Larry

Watch the overhang on Western Hobbycraft trolleys with fenders.  On my D21 curves the overhang adds about 1 inch on each side of a loop.  On your loop it would be the rear end to the right entering the  curve and the front end to the top of the curve.

Man hole covers are all over the place.  On the right side of street, on the left side of the street, between the tracks and on sidewalks. The E-Z Streets turnouts have manhole covers on both sides of the center rail.

Thanks Bill....One turn around will be open and landscaped and present plan is to locate the other turn around inside a tunnel so I'll be sure and leave enough clearance inside

joe

Hello All,

I'm re-awakening this post a couple years later to ask the experts a question about E-Z Streets.

After semi-retiring this year, I have a little time to dedicate to my layout (built in 2002-3 and tweaked ever since).  I have one small space left that I'd like to put E-Z streets.  Due to width, I'll need to go with the D-16 curves (and I can go about 4 -5 feet on the straight aways.  I'll just do a loop, which I will place a small town in/around.  [My subway goes from one layout, through a wall, to another layout and will be parallel to the E-Z Streets loop.]

So, my question... I see the D-16 curves come 4 to a pack.  Does that 4 pieces create a semi-circle, that I would use at each end of the loop?  Also, do I need the 2.5" Curve-to-Straight adapters to come off the curve?

Finally, do any of the track planning systems (all these years later) have E-Z Streets templates?  I am thinking about starting up with SCARM for this go 'round.

Thanks in advance!

Brad

Cant tell you about streets but I can tell you there are other options I've seen posted here about wires running under the surface that look really interesting.  If your interested.  I think it's called faller wired roadway. Do a search if interested.

4 pieces make a semi circle.  You need the curve to straight adapters.  The original Williams Super Streets had a dog bone option which adds reversing  loops.  Super Streets and EZ Streets  are compatible except the roadbed color is different.  There are a couple of excellent Super Street books by Lee Willis available on Amazon.

@Brad Trout posted:

Hello All,

I'm re-awakening this post a couple years later to ask the experts a question about E-Z Streets.

After semi-retiring this year, I have a little time to dedicate to my layout (built in 2002-3 and tweaked ever since).  I have one small space left that I'd like to put E-Z streets.  Due to width, I'll need to go with the D-16 curves (and I can go about 4 -5 feet on the straight aways.  I'll just do a loop, which I will place a small town in/around.  [My subway goes from one layout, through a wall, to another layout and will be parallel to the E-Z Streets loop.]

So, my question... I see the D-16 curves come 4 to a pack.  Does that 4 pieces create a semi-circle, that I would use at each end of the loop?  Also, do I need the 2.5" Curve-to-Straight adapters to come off the curve?

Finally, do any of the track planning systems (all these years later) have E-Z Streets templates?  I am thinking about starting up with SCARM for this go 'round.

Thanks in advance!

Brad

SCARM has the Streets library under Lionel as we could find those specifications from when Lionel acquired the K-Line assets. Bachmann would not provide specifications to the author of SCARM, therefore the system is not under the current owner of the asset (track system)

Today I bought my SuperStreets at Nicholas Smith Toys.  They have the old SuperStreets on sale and I was able to put together my loop with D-16 curves.  They also had a kit to convert a loop to a figure 8 so I went ahead and bought that to add more interest to the layout.  They only had Bachmann Straight to Curve pieces which I bought, color difference and all.  They also only had Bachmann vehicles and I bought at taxi.

It runs OK, much like an old time conventional locomotive.  The main problem I'm experienceing is that it frequently "derails" when crossing the intersection (or crossover).

Anyone have any experience with this?  Any known fixes?

Thanks in advance,

Brad

It has to tell you something when the author of EZ streets now uses Automotionfx.

Well heck, AlanRail, I didn't even know that existed.  It looks awesome!  Might be a bit of a budget-buster for me for what I wanted to accomplish, though.

Brad

I found EZ to be too restrictive by the limited track shapes. Automotionfx allows me to make my own track.

It's a system like the German system for HO where the modelers place a magnetic wire steel or iron along the road path and just bury it under a thin material like paper or cardboard for the surface road.

Or you can spend money for the premade Automotionfx road panels.