Tram tracks

[Sodsquirt86]

Hi everyone, I'm just building a new layout and plan to utilise my motorised trams, can anyone tell me if I can get a tighter curve than 1st Radius in 00 gauge as I want to turn it around the corners of the road, but don't really trust myself with flexitrack. I don't mind what brand it is.

Many thanks

Fred

[walkingthedog]

Don't think so that's why it is called 1st rad. Flexi isn't difficult just needs a bit of care.

 

Might be something available with overseas HO track.

[Buz]

Hi Sodsquirt86

Not sure any one here will be able to help I would have a look at the Japnese manufactureres they might do really sharp HO tram track i know they do in "N"

You could allso start you seach for information here.

 

https://www.tramwayinfo.com/Tramframe.htm?https://www.tramwayinfo.com/Main.htm

 

More their cup of tea than ours.

hope this helps

regards John

[JeremiahBunyan]

Hey,

 

You cannot get curves at a radius smaller than 1st radius. Your only option is to buy tram tracks or use flexitack.

 

HTH

 

Cheers

[Ruffnut Thorston]

There certainly are / were curves of a smaller radius than current Hornby (and most other current British market) track 1st radius.

 

The old Lima track system had their 1st radius of a smaller radius than current Hornby.

 

It is quite likely that other "continental" market track systems also vary in the radius offered from that offered by Hornby, etc.

 

But wether these would be of a small enough radius for the curves required is another question.

[Rana Temporia]

The tightest I know of are the Playcraft/Jouef first radius which were 12.75" radius And will connect to modern Hornby track. However, many of the old ones haven't retained their curvature properly and are no use for anything. There are points to the same radius as well, you just have to remember that they are non-isolating like modern points. They have some sliding fish plates to break a connection to the rails but then you need more feeds from the controller. The later ones had brass fishplates and are generally in better condition than the ones with steel fishplates. the very early track has brass rail, all the rest is plated steel. 

[LCDR]

Trams could turn on remarkably sharp curves, and they tended to use their flanges running in a groove in the rail head rather than on the tread which undoubtedly helped. 

 

In Germany Tillig make a HO tramway system

https://www.tillig.com/dateien/Produkte/TTModellbahnen/Zubeh%C3%B6r/Sonstiges/TILLIG%20Stra%C3%9Fenbahngleis.pdf

[96RAF]

These guys have been at it for donkeys years.

https://www.tramwayinfo.com/Deftlrs.htm

[ColinB]

I am going to add tram tracks to my layout. I worked out flexitrack was the best solution, its cheap and you can bend it to any shape you want. In the towns it will be encased in a road so it won't move. There were some youtube videos around on how to do it. I was originally worried about the tight curves but trams have a very short wheelbase. Flexitrack is ok, just make sure you pin or screw it down. Buy yourself a decent pair of track cutters with the money you save on the track or use a Dremel and you will be ok.

[96RAF]

You can slip lengths of normal or flexi rails out of the chairs and solder them to copper-clad sleepers set at any radius. You may need track roller gauges similar to these to help keep the rails parallel.

https://eileensemporium.com/index.php?option=com_hikashop&ctrl=product&task=show&cid=6585&name=track-roller-gauge-00-16-5mm-code-100-fb-rail

 

Not that many sleepers are required because as you say they are buried in the road.

[DBfan]

 You could look for Conrad or Hartel a German manker who makes specific tram track