Superstreets templates and other questions

Hi Nick:

I believe that K-Line did make templates available a year or so after they came out with Superstreets in 2005 or 2006.  Let me do some research to see if I can find them or any reference to them.

Bill

E-Mail me at Robertemerson12@Gmail.com

I have a copy of the K-Line Super Streets program that is based on the RR Track Program but i use it stand alone it was offered free as a Download from the K-Line Website.  I will look in a couple of my old hard drives and make sure I still have it

Nick:

Bobbie’s posting verifies that K-Line did make templates available on their non-defunct website.  I did find a reference to Superstreets Templates in the 2009 K-Line by Lionel catalog.  They were available online at www.k-line.lionel.com .  Obviously that section of Lionel’s website is no longer operational, either. 

Hopefully Bobbie’s download will work for you.  If not, we could always make our own out of cardboard!

Bill

I've used AnyRail for tracking planning in the past - it's got some quirks but it actually does have a library of super streets pieces. I'm not sure they have every piece (particularly the detail pieces like the skid mark) but it's enough to get a basic plan together.

AnyRail had a free trial version at one time (limited to 50pc).

Maybe its still available?

Who is the current manufacturer? Is there a catalog that shows all of the available pieces?

The author of SCARM was reluctant to make a library without some reference and/or specifications. I have been working on this since march of this year. Any help?

Shouldn't be a problem.

You can work around in SCARM using Atlas or GG flex track and the flex track modeling tool. 16 Radius and 45° Arc Angle and then the 21 inch radius. Straights made to length.

So, the dogbone or other arrangement using the wye and now the switches would be the catch. If you are just making a loop, you should be ok.

pghrailfan,

I just tried to send you an email using the one in your profile and it kicked back.

Is that a good one. I have something for you.

Carl:

Bachmann is the current manufacturer of E-Z Streets, as they are now called.  The E-Z Streets product line is shown in the Williams by Bachmann section of the 2015 Bachmann catalog and also on their website, but I could not find any reference to E-Z Streets templates either in the catalog or on the website.

Bill

Scarm has road pieces but they are not listed as easy streets or any other

they are a little bit of a pain to use but they do work some however the curved sections are based on flex and you make the curves

this is what I have found out

FWIW, Lee Willis' Streets book does a good job of describing all the Streets pieces available in detail. Also describes their special uses and how they all fit together, like what needs to be used where and when. They are now made by Williams by Bachmann.

I bought Lee's book (very inexpensive, like $10 or so), but when it first came out he was offering a free download of a digital copy. I think this was available from Amazon? Don't know if this would be enough detail for the SCARM author, but it might give him a helping hand and is certainly worth a look.

I found a link that Lionel had when they had streets in 2006 for a layout planning guide. I believe that had the templates and was in a .pdf form, but I cannot find it anywhere on the net.

Thanks for tips to the sources. I'll nudge him on the project.

Is there a digital copy of Willis' book available? I could only find the paperback on Amazon. 

I might have been wrong about the Amazon download?

Try here: Lee's website  

Thanks...at the risk of sounding overly "techie" I try to read everything on the iPad now rather than physical books. It's just much more portable.

I'm old and old fashioned too. I much prefer reading a print copy of anything over the digital version. It is just not the same.

Thank you for the link to lees website

Yes...thanks for the link. He does have digital versions available there.

Rob and Moonman:

The pghrailfan@gmail.com email should work for emailing your stuff. If it doesn't, try emailing your files to Daniel@speerco.com, though I'm not sure that email works.

I have a printed copy of the K-Line by Lionel Superstreets templates which I have scanned. There is no page number on these pages, so I don't know if there were more pages. I may have only printed the pages I wanted.

Bill, that's great! Sheesh, the switches were in the works then and never built. I wonder why WBB doesn't provide this?

Thanks!

pghrailfan,

perhaps it didn't like the program file as an attachment and kicked it back. It is the Super streets light application. I'll try again.

No joy with gmail. Check the other one.

Yes, thank you Bill Robb.  FWIW, the D-21 E-Z streets switch (turnout) matches the dimensions shown on the 3rd page for the planned but never made K-Line by Lionel D-21 Superstreets switch.

Bill

pghrailfan,

sent you a link to download the streets lite app. Both emails filtered the attachment and rejected the email.

and after the big flash of white light the emd will make it all gone. or an iOS update that fails.

Just ribbing you, Dom.

EMD....that's kind of like when a it of metal falls between your third rail and the ground rail completing the circuit. A quick poof and everything stops running.

While we're talking super streets, has anyone come across the wider radius curves lately? I've been able to pick several types of pieces here and there but not the wide radius. It's pretty hard to get the two lane effect without that wider track.

You can find the D21 curves at Trainworld, The Western Depot, M. B.Klein and direct from Bachmann.  I keep an eye on Bachmann since once they run out items usually get scarce at the dealers.

pghrailfan and all streets users,

I have emailed the track specifications to Mixy(forum name), the author of SCARM. Hopefully he add the EZ-Streets by Bachmann library in the next update. He's busy finalizing the train simulation coding.

Thanks again, Bill!

I'm actually trying to find old stock. It appears that Bachmann has changed the color of the roadway in the new stock. It's not necessarily a bad color but I don't think it will match the K-Line pieces I already have.

D21 old stock curves have been gone for several years. The market was completely dry until Bachmann reissued D21 curves last winter. Biggest inventory old Superstreets can be found at The Western Depot and Nicholas Smith Toys (not the train store which is a separate web site). But these two sites only have D16 curves.

I use both interchangeably.  I don't think the color makes that much difference. One looks like fresh asphalt and the other like older asphalt. 

pghrailfan,

Did you get the software?  I have some help searching for the Lionel planning guide for the actual size templates.

The other thing about Bachmann's taking over the Super Street line and calling it E Z Streets is that there is no instruction manual telling you how to assemble the track or how to wire the tracks. To me Bachmann has dropped the ball if they want to sell an item without any instructions.

They don't even tell you how to secure the track to a table or sheet of plywood.

From experience I have found the best way to remove the little manhole covers is to unfold a paper clip and pop the manhole covers out from underneath the track section. To wire a 10 inch section of track you must remove the plastic from the side of the track piece as the wire connectors won't go in unless you remove the plastic.

To mount the track to plywood I use a size 4 phillips screw with a recessed head.

Lee Fritz

I have to second Lee's comment about them dropping the ball. Up until this year's catalog they didn't even have a ready to run starter set, just pieces. It seems like it's more of a hobby for them than a product line. And the new color is close to the old one but why change it? 

The selection of vehicles is pretty lame compared to K-Line as well. Six of the same sedan (looks like a standard plasticville car with a little motor in it) in different colors and three vans in different colors - two of which are advertisements for Bachmann's products. How can people work in this industry and be so uncreative?

Maybe that's why Lee Willis wrote his Streets books? For anyone with questions about Streets, I highly recommend Lee's books. He answers many if not all of your questions. I like the print copies, but he offers a download from his website, see link in my post above. 

I think that we are lucky that Bachmann has picked up the STREETS product. If they had not, we would have been without a great product in O gauge. They have even produced the long awaited turnouts and 21 inch radius curves!!! I think it is a bit much to expect any company to have the unlimited money and manpower to instantly produce everything we would like. They do have other product lines that they have to allocate their resources to.

Lee's books ARE the go to sources for anyone interested in this product. He expertly covers all the questions from vehicles to road pieces and applications. I have both of them and believe me they are a BARGAIN!!!! 

Many folks that want the "one color" roadway look just paint it one color. In the prototype world, I notice that road color changes due to time and use. There are "patches" and "cracks" that are filled with fresh new darker materials than the rest of the surface.

Let's be thankful Bachmann picked up the product.

Paul Goodness

If you are looking for the older Super Streets by K-Line Trainworld is almost sold out of all K-Line Super Streets. You should try Western Depot, look under Lionel/K-Line Super Streets and K-Line Super Streets.

I am glad that Bachmann came out with the 21 inch switches for E Z Streets.

Lee Fritz