Looking ahead to the next section of the layout which will include tracks on the dock I have been entertaining the use of Kato Unitram which has the rails in a street. Might be the easy way of setting tracks into the piers. However there is one thing I can't seem to come up with and that is what code is the rails after a fruitless search.
Code 80, as is all Unitrack. Of course, in the street, you don't notice. There are ways to transition between Unitrack's code 80 and code 55, using the Peco track.
Has anyone transitioned the edges of the unitram track to the rest of the layout scenery? I'm looking for some ideas?
Depending on the thickness to the track in street section it seems like a suitable like thickness could be used to further widen the street. And Woodland Scenic's has varying thicknesses of foam that strips could be beveled along the sides. Thin Masonite cut in strips could also be used. My possible application is for a pier where the container ship would be docked. How much space that is outside the tracks and how much space is needed may make Masonite a bet to abut the section of track and it comes in several thicknesses.
You might want to take a look at Tomix's street track. It's has lot more options than unitram, but the disadvantage is it has to be imported from Japan. It can be bought through sellers on American ebay but the shipping charges add up. I won't link them because of TrainBoard rules. This site has lots of useful information about it.
Not a disadvantage since I have ordered some fishing vessels and tugboats, and three locomotives plus mechanisms all from Japan. My mini RDCs for passenger service are also from Japan. I looked at Tomix and could not find what seemed suitable but will look again.
I've been thinking similar since reading Lance Mindheim, I think it was, used unitram for street track. Early days for me, but I'm hoping to do a pier with track running under a crane on it's own carriage track. Wonder if the unitram could be cut down the middle and added to both outsides of the train track at the width of the crane carriage? I guess the only way is to get a couple of pieces and try it out...
Finally found some information on it after doing some more searching and accidentally stumbling on it. Single track Unitram is approximately 2.5 inches wide and a double track 5 inches wide. It's thickness was in mm so it roughly comes out to about 3/8 ths inch thick. So i just have to figure out how wide I want the pier and use Masonite which comes in 3/8 ths thickness to fill in the sides to the width I decide upon. Since that pier will also have the car float apron I can transition to Atlas sectional track for that point and a set of turnouts for a crossover. The pier will be concrete so the Masonite will be painted to blend with it. I have a traveling crane and two tower cranes but the ships also have deck cranes for loading/unloading. I am going to check on a double track turnout in the Unitram line for use at the land end of the pier.
Part two of the layout probably won't commence until this Fall.The back part of the harbor will have the fishing fleet and marine services. A lot of the structures are already built and stored. Most of them have wood docks and the structures are built to be partially over the water. Left side gets the light house and Coast Guard station and somewhere on that side get the train station and auto ferry dock. The concrete pier comes off the right side and that is where several of my larger vessels will be.
