TRACTION TRACK - AKA GIRDER RAIL
A
RECENTLY UPGRADED STREETCAR TRACK
ON THE SAN FRANCISCO MUNI SYSTEM
THE PRECISION STRASSENBAHN MODEL STREET TRACKAGE SYSTEM
The PSS System is designed specifically for Proto:87 and P4 lyouts, but with some restrictions, can also be used in many situations for HO/OO, HOm, and even N.
It will operate with either 2-rail, or overhead, DC or DCC wiring.
The PSS System comprises a set of precision preformed straight and curved, solid Nickel
Silver girder (tram) rail sections, of a very low, flat profile, simulating just the visible very top of the railhead. These are used in conjunction with a wide range of sheets of pre-textured street surfaces of matching
height, to give the appearance of "girder rail" buried in the street. The flat rails are merely glued
to a convenient, flat street base in the track arrangement and gauge desired, then the chosen textured, street surface, cut and placed to match.
 
Absolutely no complicated or
skilled rail bending required! Accurately preformed curved sections are available to fit single or double track working. However, they are sufficiently flexible to adjust for installation as standard, narrow or even dual gauge configurations.
A wide variety of Pre-formed
street track switches and crossings for the PSS
System are in still processs for introduction as soon as possible. These will eventually include all the parts to make many common varieties of special work up to and including the impressive "Grand Union" configuration.
Specifications and other data:
The PSS TM System Rail has a precision chemically milled grooved simulated rail head and flangeway approximately 0.7 mm high and 2mm wide. (See the picture
of the rail profile ). The simulated rail can be placed directly on a street subsurface, so that the rail web and base appear to be buried in the street. While the rail can fully operate, even if placed alone on a finished street
surface, the greatest realism is achieved by building up the surrounding street surface by 0.5 mm. (0.020"). This is also the thickness of the textured sheet surface material we provide. We do not recommend a greater thickness, as the slight height difference (0.2 mm) allows for more reliable running and easy cleaning of the rail without damaging the finished street
surface.
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For ease of assembly and installation, the rail head is also grooved on the underside. This groove fits short alignment pins (cut from wire) which act as precision rail joiners and also as as location guides, if pre-glued to the street subsurface. As the rail is solid NS, it may be easily soldered. However it is possible to make all solder joints invisibly underneath the rail by using the alignment pins and/or flat wiring strips
With some limitations, PSS Track may be used with Regular HO or HOm Cars. This is because the prototypically shallow floored flangeway of PSS Rail allows the tips of finer wheels such as RP 25 to run on their flanges, without fouling the Proto:scale width flangeway.
While wheel guidance is reduced under these circumstances, completely satisfactory operation can often be possible at scale speeds, provided the wheelsets have a consistent back to back setting and a small reduction in track gauge is implemented. Operation with the reduced gauge is referred to as "HO compatible mode"
TEXTURED MODEL STREET SURFACES
The available street surfaces are also accurately scaled for HO with fine fine stone or brick detail and minor natural random blemishes.
Except as otherwise noted, these highly
durable plastic surfaces are supplied in a neutral beige/grey stone color which can be painted and weathered for an extremely realistic final finish. Note that these fine surfaces are intended for use as needed for ultra track realism within the narrow confines of the loading gauge
of the street trackage and median. The remainder of the street area can be finished traditionally and economically with painted wood, card or plaster as appropriate.
Further varieties of street surface
will be introduced later.
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