Marty,
I am not sure how to effectively say this...but I truly want you to succeed.
Cause I wish to do the same.

We once had a fundamentally successful Can't & Nary System in Muddville, California.


It even was able to run during floods, for it was an apparent concept to have a secondary gasoline engine on board as well.

So it was noted the entire electrical grid for Muddville, would shut down but the Street Cars were still running.
What we today might refer to as a Hybrid System.
===
For me...I used a Bachmann Acela to get it all up and running....with some success, before proceeding with even more troublesome models.
So for me...I went through this whole test with Kato Unitram track set back with actual asphalt. to the outside rails.
Asphalt between the rails doesn't work even in prototype, but a rubber like mat between the rails does.
===
Dust it with dirt or not depending on the era.
Just getting it all to run was my first challenge.
===
Running the Can't & Nary system was a whole other approach to both Mathematics and Physics and testing then more testing.

More adjustments besides attempting to do the math.

I wanted to eventually go to a single electrical line and single pole from the trolley.
This then took even more work and reconstruction to each of my trolleys.
Ugh!
Which is how it got it's name...Reminded me a of Mule a Contrary, not a Catenary.
I get more cooperation from Cats leaving the Canary alone than I can get a mule to water.
At least without a lot of cussing. I was for a time a Civil War Re-enactor and I swear, mules only understand a few choice cuss words.
====
While at University I rode the San Francisco System for many years and was greatly impressed with it.
:)) Mark

Modeling Muddville, ?founded by an ancestor of Harcourt Fenton Mudd, cousin to Dr Samual Mudd.
Two D's are needed where as one was good enough for God.

Here is circa 1900 picture of Lindsey Slough...which later was a-forded an underground drain pipe system and became Harding Way or not.
I often find photographs which are miss-marked.
Look to the other side of the bridge/road - El Dorado Ave.....Note also the bent track.

Here is yet another earlier view....with Mud and more Mudd.


The entire town was set to these horse-trolley rails and bridges.
This may be yet a different than marked street...with my 1908 House to one side. The house facing with the pillars in front has changed somewhat and moved and now faces mine.
Maybe?
Or I could be entirely wrong.
Cause....
The neighborhood was not fleshed out so to speak, but in a constant state of construction from 1878 to 1940 and beyond.
During all this time....?
Floods and more floods.
Houses were moved at times, even after construction.
Foundations were often weakened by flooding and had to be totally reconstructed with the house above taken to another location, while a new basement/foundation was constructed; and then set with a different house.
...And I had thought this time...we had placed the foundation/basement on the hard-pan (Clay) below.

A trolley ran directly out front.

In order to model it properly to before 1885-1900 and the beginning of asphalt....
They began as Horse Drawn Systems but began to be electrified with more robust rails and ballast circa 1878.
Round Top streets as high as 23 inches to the center above the gutters were created so the Trolleys could appear to walk on water.
Asphalt began in the 1890's but was not entirely in use until after the 1906 earthquake; when much of the rail throughout the area had to be again replaced.

Hi all,
? ? ? ? ? Marty,compact but how big overall?Two should do it but plan for 3,M catenary is very reliable for the layouts I have built.
All the best,Kevin

Marklin catenary has various fixed lengths to? the sections between poles, they are formed pieces with upper carrier wire and lower running wire and, formed ends that snap onto arms on the masts. On my Japanese track (Crown) the roadbed is notched at 55mm which is the center of each piece of track, 110mm straight or 195 and 220mm curve.In the Crown system the wire is not live just an illusion.

Hello,

I'm building a compact Z Marklin layout with a loop of catenary.? What is the recommendation for catenary feeder spacing?? I have seen 1m and 1.5m, but that seems too far apart given the small contact area at the masts between catenary wire sections.? I have a lot of track feeders.

Thanks,
Marty

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AMERICAN Z LINE

April 2021 New Releases Part 2

?

NEW BODY STYLE – EMD E7s!

?

The EMD E7s are here! This is the first time the EMD E7s have been offered as an injection model in Z scale. For AZL’s second 2021 release, we have Chicago & North Western. Two road numbers are available.

?

64613-1 C&NW EMD E7A 5017

64613-2 C&NW EMD E7A 5018

?

The EMD E7s feature AZL’s 7mm motor, dual flywheels, metal steps, directional controlled LED lighting, optional front truck with mounted coupler, blackened metal wheels, AutoLatch couplers and they come DCC ready.

?

See the American Z Line site for more information on these and other AZL products.

?

?

Rob Kluz

Ztrack Distribution

?

开云体育

AMERICAN Z LINE

April 2021 New Releases Part 1

?

NEW BODY STYLE – EMD E7s!

?

The EMD E7s are here! This is the first time the EMD E7s have been offered as an injection model in Z scale. For AZL’s first 2021 release, we have Baltimore & Ohio. Two road numbers are available.

?

64610-1 B&O EMD E7A 1415

64610-2 B&O EMD E7A 1422

?

The EMD E7s feature AZL’s 7mm motor, dual flywheels, metal steps, directional controlled LED lighting, optional front truck with mounted coupler, blackened metal wheels, AutoLatch couplers and they come DCC ready.

?

NEW BODY STYLE – 1917 8,000 Gallon Tank Cars!

?

The 1917 8,000 gallon tank cars are here! ?General American tank car company introduced these cars in 1917. Designed for bulk liquid shippers, the cars were non-insulated. These cars carried a wide range of products from oil to foods. The cars feature blackened metal wheels, add-on parts, fine pad printing, Bettendorf trucks and AZL’s AutoLatch couplers.

?

The second release is for VIRGINIAN GASOLINE & OIL CO. ?A four-pack, two-pack and single car are being offered.

?

915001-1 Virginian 8000 Gallon Tank Car VGOX 136 Single

915031-1 Virginian 8000 Gallon Tank Car VGOX 138, VGOX 140 Two-pack

905001-1 Virginian 8000 Gallon Tank Car VGOX 134, VGOX 135, VGOX 127, VGOX 139 Set

?

R-70-20 REEFERS – Burlington Northern – Western Fruit Express (BNFE)

?

Cars are available in a four-pack, two-pack and single car.

?

914810-1 BN R-70-20 Reefer 9465 Single

914840-1 BN R-70-20 Reefer 9341, 9346 Two-pack

904810-1 BN R-70-20 Reefer 9328, 9329, 9334, 9339 Set

?

See the American Z Line site for more information on these and other AZL products.

?

?

Rob Kluz

Ztrack Distribution

Hi Klan,all,
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?I still like it! Every layout I have built has had a??Bahnbetriebswerk,kind of obsessed with?drehscheibe und ringlokshuppens. :-)
Remember,that those repair/inspections pits are also inside the shed itself.Just an FYI.Make sure you can remove the roof!
Great work!

All the best,Kev

Ah, my only pix available did not show it in place. I figured there were more pix, just couldn’t get them to show.?
--

Jeff
SF Bay Area Z
a.k.a. 'The BAZ BoyZ'

Kevin, I've not measured any of the angles. I just used a 110+55 Marklin track. It seems to be the perfect length of track needed from the turntable into the stalls.
The track on the left side of the shed is a repair pit (from Archistories #801131) hard to see but it adds another level of detail.

Jeff,
I think it's the track bending. These two photos show the permanent position of the house and track. You can see the slight bend in two of the stalls.
I have used a styrofoam hot wire cutter on the entire layout to lower track and to create a more realistic look. The roadbed on the Rokuhan is too high and needs to be more at ground level. I'll post some pictures of that modification some time. You can see some of the pink foam cuts in the attached pic's.?

Hi Klan ,all,
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Looks really good! Is that an M TT?What's the angle(degree) of the TT tracks and the roundhouse? Now,I have seen this track bending on a lok shed? with a TT.Of course the shed was farther back.The degrees,at least on model railways determine the distance between the TT and the RH.Most roundhouse are (in HO) 15°,this is to save space on the layout as the TT&RH can be closer together.Great job!

All the bast,Kev

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AMERICAN Z LINE

March 2021 New Releases Part 2

?

?

EMD F7 – Western Pacific – Two versions!

?

For March, AZL is releasing two versions of the Western Pacific EMD F7. The silver and orange version is available in both a A&B set as well as a single A. The green and orange version is available as As only, each with a different road number.

?

Silver and orange:

?

63008-1 WP EMD F7A & F7B 920A, 921B A - B Set

63008-2 WP EMD F7A 920D

?

Green and orange:

?

63015-1 WP EMD F7A 918

63015-2 WP EMD F7A 921

?

The EMD F7s feature prototypical details, a 7mm motor, directional controlled LED, blackened metal wheels, optional replacement truck with truck mounted coupler, draw bar (A units only) and come DCC ready.

?

See the American Z Line site for more information on these and other AZL products.

?

?

Rob Kluz

Ztrack Distribution

?

I see that the Engine house doesn’t align with the turntable. Is that from 1) just setting for the photo, 2) angles different between products (requiring track bends) or designed to be mounted directly to the table to make aligned?
--

Jeff
SF Bay Area Z
a.k.a. 'The BAZ BoyZ'

I've used the Archistories??Roundhouse "Bw Torrnstein" kit with M?rklin track leading directly from the stalls to the turntable. I used Rokuhan track on all the other access tracks. Since Rokuhan track with the roadbed stands too tall for stall head clearance to each stall. So I used the M?rklin track to give additional overhead clearance for each stall. You also need to "bend" some of the track and move the roundhouse closer to the turntable (2-3 inches from the turntable) for it all to fit neatly (See picture). The Achistories kit is more realistic, IMHO. And it definitely works with both track manufactures.

Hello all,

I'm working on a compact Marklin Z layout. One loop will have both analog and catenary operation with two transformers.? So the polarity on the rails is important.
The 67014 transformer I have outputs positive voltage on the red terminal when the speed control is turned to the right.
I am hooking the red terminal to the right rail and the brown to the left rail and this gives proper train motion to the right with the speed control turned to the right.
My eloks also run correctly (with the arrow to the right) with the red output to the catenary and the left rail connected to the brown terminal, which will be the common ground for the two transformers.

However, older Marklin publications and even some current users manuals online at Marklin's site (eg the feeder mast manual)? show the opposite, with the red terminal connected to the left rail, brown terminal to the right rail and brown terminal used for catenary.? I found one online manual for an elok that shows red to the right rail, brown to the left rail, which is fine, but then it shows brown connected to the catenary too.? Huh?

Did Marklin switch the red and brown polarity of their Z transformers at some point?

Any help appreciated,
Marty

开云体育

AMERICAN Z LINE

March 2021 New Releases Part 1

?

NEW BODY STYLE – 1917 8,000 Gallon Tank Cars!

?

The 1917 8,000 gallon tank cars are here! ?General American tank car company introduced these cars in 1917. Designed for bulk liquid shippers, the cars were non-insulated. These cars carried a wide range of products from oil to foods. The cars feature blackened metal wheels, add-on parts, fine pad printing, Bettendorf trucks and AZL’s AutoLatch couplers.

?

The first release is for ROMA WINE. ?A wo-pack and single car are being offered.

?

915000-1 Roma Wine 8000 Gallon Tank Car GATX 4584 Single

915030-1 Roma Wine 8000 Gallon Tank Car GATX 4585, GATX 4586 Two-pack

?

EMD GP38-2s – UP – NEW ROAD NUMBER!

?

We have a new road number for our Union Pacific GP38-2s! We are excited to be able to offer road number 2002!

?

62508-8 UP GP38-2 2002

?

The AZL EMD GP38-2s feature a 7mm coreless motor, dual flywheels, traction tires, standard PCB board, DCC ready, directional controlled LEDs, and AutoLatch TM couplers.

?

R-70-20 REEFERS – Union Pacific Fruit Express (UPFE)

?

Cars are available in a four-pack, two-pack and single car.

?

914801-1 UPFE R-70-20 Reefer 457524 Single

914831-1 UPFE R-70-20 Reefer 457567, 457575 Two-pack

904801-1 UPFE R-70-20 Reefer 457900, 457901, 457523, 457566 Set

?

See the American Z Line site for more information on these and other AZL products.

?

?

Rob Kluz

Ztrack Distribution

?

FYI... The Fire Station is still in stock with at least one particular dealer ...

https://zscalehobo.com/website/microstru/z901.html

These items have been SOLD! Thanks! I have 8 different etched brass micro structures kits from Miller Engineering.? I have built a few of these and they go together well and make structures to be proud of on your layout or diorama.? These do require modeling skills, patience, and a knowledge of working with sharp edged pieces.? They glue together with ACC type glues and also go together well with solder if you have the skills and patience to do so.? I'm parting with duplicates that are more than I need (more than I'll ever build) and hope that someone is looking for some or all of these for their enjoyment.? The kits that are available for a downtown setting are #404 Triangle Hotel & Bar for $50, #701 Town House #1 for $45, #801 Town house # 2 for $45, #901 Fire Engine Co. #2 for $50, #1010 Train Station for $50.? The Victorian Homes available for your residential setting are #303 Queen Anne for $55, #606 the Victoria for $55 and #701 The Marlet House for $55.? All are in original packaging with al the frets straight and the brass untarnished.? Because they are flat they can be shipped in a large padded envelope (with cardboard reinforcing inside) via priority mail.? If someone wants all of these they would be $400 including shipping.? Payments accepted are PayPal (prefer F&F), check, M.O. or credit card through my Square account.?? Photos are of the actual items and the 2 partially built houses are the N-scale versions if a couple of the Z houses. You can contact me with any questions you may have.
John Lauer, Topeka, KS 66611 (785)