SuperStreets is an O-Gauge three-rail, sectional track system with the appearance of a city street. A gray plastic base has formed sheet metal outside rails and a thin sheet metal center power strip. Outside rails and the center power strip are raised slightly above the flush roadway. A groove adjacent to each outside rail provides clearance for wheels flanges. The groove is wider for curved track sections, requiring a transition track from straight to curved track sections.

Track sections are assembled with plastic clips, metal pins in the outside rails, and a clip connecting the center power strip. Track ends are symmetrical and non-directional. The arrangement of rail pins allows track sections to be assembled with curves in either direction, so there is no need to remove outside-rail pins.

Straight track sections are available in 10", 5", and 2.5" lengths. Track sections may also have markings for pedestrian crossings and similar features. Special 2.5" straight track sections are used to "transition" straight-to-curved and between-curved track sections.

Curved track sections are available in 16" and 21" diameters. Eight curved track sections make a complete circle. These diameters may be nested for parallel road lanes.

Special track sections are available for intersections, and a "wye" (which is not a track switch.)

SuperStreets can be connected to tubular or FastTrack systems with special 10" transition sections. There is also a SuperStreets / FastTrack crossing track section.

Click Index for: K-Line by Lionel SuperStreets

SuperStreets Construction and Wiring Details

SuperStreets Isolated Outside-Rail Accessories

Isolating SuperStreets Track Outside Rails

Providing a Break In A SuperStreets Outside-Rail

Providing A Break In A SuperStreets Center Power Strip

The SuperStreets Track Crossover

End-of-Track-Section Rail Isolation

Enhancing a SuperStreets Layout with Three-Rail Controllers

Section Isolating SuperStreets Track Outside Rails describes how to isolate one outside rail from its opposite.

Two techniques for providing rail-to-rail and center power strip isolation: Providing a Break In A SuperStreets Outside-Rail and Providing A Break In A SuperStreets Center Power Strip . Also see End-of-Track-Section Rail Isolation . This technique requires fashioning a wooden rail pin to replace the metal one.

Train power for center pickup is provided by a tin-plated steel "center power strip." A metal clip provides an electrical connection in assembled track sections.

A gap next to the outside rails provides clearance for wheel flanges. The gap is .12 inch deep. This is reduced to .08 inch on the crossover track section.

The gap is .1 inch wide on straight track sections, but .235 inches wide on curved track sections. Hence, the need for "transition" track sections.

Outside rails are attached to the plastic base with bent-over tabs on the underside of the track section. Outside rails have a metal "bridge" piece held with the rail tabs and soldered in place. The center power strip is also fastened with bent-over tabs. A metal piece is also attached to the center power strip.

Curved track sections have only an outside rail bridge; there is no metal piece for the center power strip. 2.5" track sections have neither outside rail bridge nor center power strips. Other special track sections may have one or both metal pieces. Construction does allow for metal pieces to be added in alternate locations for most track sections.

The underside metal pieces are also used for wire connections to track outside rails and the center power strip. Each end of the metal pieces accept a slide-on connector available with special "hookup wires." Wires are #22 AWG, 20 inches long.

A "knockout" in the plastic base adjacent to to metal piece ends can be removed with a knife to accommodate wiring flush with the track surface.

The metal piece ends can be bent to accommodate wiring through the track base.

The SuperStreets plastic base naturally insulates rails, including the outside rails. Outside rails are isolated for use as control track sections by cutting a break in the metal piece "bridge" between the rails OR by removing the metal bridge piece. Either rail can be designated as a control rail. (One rail, of course, must remain providing train power.)

A hookup wire can be connected to the designated isolated outside-rail metal piece and run to any Three-Rail Innovations' controller input.

If no wire connections are needed, a metal bridge piece can be removed completely to create an isolated outside-rail. A thin blade can be used to lift the metal tab while heating the solder joint. Pliers are then used to bend the tab vertical and remove the bridge piece.

Save any bridge/connection pieces removed. They can be used on other track sections to provide additional wire connections.

One or more isolated outside-rail track blocks are created by isolated outside-rails of any number of track sections and providing "outside-rail breaks" to define the track blocks. Any type of SuperStreets track section can be used for isolated outside-rails. An isolated track block can be of any length and can contain straight, curved, or transitional track sections.

Rail tabs are loosened by lifting with a thin blade then bending vertical with pliers. Any metal bridge piece must also be removed.

Alternately push the rail tabs to gradually lift the rail, then use a screwdriver blade between rail and base to lift the rail from the base.

The best area for a rail break must be determined. A rail break should allow each rail section to have at least two tabs so a rail piece will be held securely to the plastic base. The rail break location must also consider the use of a metal bridge piece to make a wire connection.

A rail is cut with a rotary abrasive wheel or other means and deburred with a rotary wire brush or fine sandpaper. A small gap should be created.

The rail is installed back in the plastic base and the rail tabs bent flush to hold it in place. Note that the positions of rail tabs are not symmetrical and a rail can only be returned to its original position.

Any metal bridge piece for wire connections will also have to be installed and soldered in place. Note that the track section has a number possible locations for the metal piece. A location may be selected to supply outside-rail power or a connection to the isolated outside-rail. More than one metal piece can also be used in different locations to access both outside-rail sections created with the cut rail.

Remove the center power strip by lifting with a thin blade then bending the tabs vertical with pliers. Unsolder the metal piece. Alternately push the rail tabs to gradually lift the rail, then use a screwdriver blade between rail and base to lift the rail from the base.

The best area for a break in the power strip must be determined. A break should allow each power strip section to have at least two tabs so the power strip will be held securely to the plastic base. The rail break location must also consider the use of a metal bridge piece to make a wire connection.

Cut the strip with snips and deburr, creating a small gap.

Restore the center power strip to the plastic base. Make sure it is flush and even, especially at the break created.

If a wire connection is needed, also restore the metal piece and solder it to the center strip. Note that the track section has a number possible locations for the metal piece. A location may be selected to supply power to the part of the center strip desired. Two metal strips can also be used for connections to each part of the center power strip created with the cut.

All outside rails of both track routes through the crossover are bridged together. The center portion of the outside rails employ wheel flange pickup for outside rail power. The crossover's construction really precludes isolating any part of the outside rail.

The center power strips for each route are separate, that is, not bridged together, so each route through the crossover can have different transformer powering.

There is a gap in both center power strips at their intersection, so any vehicles will require two center pickup rollers to negotiate the crossover.

The crossover has no provisions for wire connections.

The inability to isolate crossover outside rails and the short wheelbase of typical SuperStreets vehicles could result in a break in isolated outside-rail coverage and a conflicting train being started while a train is still over the crossover. This situation can be managed by placing isolated outside rail breaks at the track join with the crossover. The unavoidable break in the isolated outside-rail blocks is thus minimized.

Note, at right, that adjacent outside rails are still touching even with the track pin removed. Center power strips do, however, have a useful gap with the track clip removed. This gap can be enhanced by removing a very small section from strip ends and/or by bending the strips slightly in opposite directions.

An outside rail can be isolated at the end of a track section by shortening one rail and replacing the metal track pin with one that doesn't conduct electricity (in this example, wood.)

In the example, a short rail piece on the crossover is removed by bending rail tabs vertical and unsoldering one rail tab. (Use caution with the soldering iron, the plastic under the tabs is very thin.) The outside end of the rail is ground off a little and deburred.

A replacement rail pin is fashioned from wood. Rail pins are .07 thick x .11 tall x .42 long.

The short rail piece is restored to the crossover, rail tabs bent down, and the one rail tab soldered. The wooden, isolating, rail pin is inserted. Any center power strip clips are removed. A section of track with the corresponding outside rail isolated from the opposite rail (as shown in Isolating SuperStreets Track Outside Rails ) is attached to the crossover. Any wire connections are made to the attached track section.

This process of rail isolation is repeated for all four sides of the SuperStreets crossover. A Two-Relay Controller can now be installed to manage trains at the SuperStreets intersection using the configuration illustrated in Crossover Safety .

This same technique for end-of-track-section rail isolation can be used for any type of SuperStreets track sections.

A SuperStreets vehicle can be made to start and stop simply by connecting center-rail power through a Two Lighting Relays controller. This simple start and stop action can be further enhanced by establishing an isolated center-rail track block which is connected to the Two Lighting Relays controller. A vehicle will then stop only in a designated track section.

The Two Relay Controller with an isolated outside-rail and center-rail track block can be used to implement an improved Train Stop and Wait feature. A vehicle will stop in the track block for a designated wait time, then continue.

The Automatic Train XChange controller provides an enhanced Train Stop and Wait feature. A vehicle can be made to pass the stop block a number of times, then stop and wait for a designated time. The Automatic Train XChange controller Both Trains Released feature also forms the basis for running more than one vehicle on a single SuperStreets track loop.

It seems a shame to lay down all that SuperStreets track and only run one vehicle. Our Train Block Controller can be used to run many vehicles on one SuperStreets track loop. Even a simple track loop can be enhanced to run multiple vehicles .