Question Z Scale PCC Trolley

jshglass Dec 5, 2017

  1. jshglass

    jshglass TrainBoard Member

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    Does anyone model public transit in Z scale? Light rail, subways? Do trolleys even exist this small? I remember running a PCC trolley in HO like the one below when I was a kid and think it might be fun to wire one to run point to point on my layout, which is a mix of elements from my childhood/current life.

    That being said, any tips on wiring point to point in Z scale?

    Phila._1968_-_PCC_trolley_on_route_50_meeting_a_Brill_trolley_bus,_7th_&_Snyder.jpg
     
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  2. Raytl

    Raytl TrainBoard Member

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  3. ViperBugloss

    ViperBugloss TrainBoard Member

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    I have a couple of Marklin railbuses, a 8802 Powered Track Cleaning Car and a 88313 Rail Bus with Two Freight Cars. They look good on a little layout but in Z scale the motor protrudes into the passenger cabin. Perhaps this is one reason why there are not more such items.

    Personally, I would like to have some three car commuter trains, with a driving car at each end.
     
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  4. mdvholland

    mdvholland TrainBoard Member

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    Not the newest edition, sold as Marklin 88166. It has the new generation motor and leaves free view through the windows.
    [​IMG]
    There are a few more streetcar (or similar) in the market. If you are willing to spend big bucks, check N-tram.de, who recently entered the Z-market with a beautiful "dampftriebwagen":
    http://www.n-tram-shop.de/epages/17779503.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/17779503/Products/Z-15102a

    [​IMG]

    (yes, this is Z...)


    Half the price, half the details, still pricy, but a real streetcar:
    [​IMG]
    http://www.hoedl-linie8.de/?seite=produktauswahl&kategorie=4&produkt=420

    Walt makes a nice nostalgic stand alone model in 3D printing:
    https://www.shapeways.com/product/GLXMUVSGK/sintra-tram-z-scale?optionId=58983165&li=user-wishlist

    If you look through the shapeways website, you will find more trams/ streetcars in Z scale.

    [​IMG]

    Ben (Animek) of course makes a lovely SF streetcar kit:
    [​IMG]
    http://www.animekmodels.com/Vehicles.html

    Cheers,
    Matt
     
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  5. jshglass

    jshglass TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, Matt.

    I was actually looking at Shapeways. It’s nice Märklin has trams, but I’m not really going for a Euro-vibe to my layout. Worst comes to worst, I can make due.

    How much will Shapeways run me if I supplied the CAD design for a PCC trolley? I can just put this on some powered trucks, right? (Coincidentally, where can I find powered trucks?)

    Also, any tips on wiring Point to Point?

    I love the SF cable car model. Came across that a while ago. Sadly, it does not move. I’m looking for something to run down the streets of my tiny town.

    Of course, all of this is way off in the future. Gotta focus on my main lines first. Just fishing for information at this point.

    Thanks,
    Josh




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  6. markm

    markm TrainBoard Supporter

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    Josh,
    You could run the cable car just like SF does. Look for Loren's threads about his highway with moving cars.

    As far as point-to-point it depends on your skills. Barrier screw terminal stripes are the easiest. All you need are wire strippers and a screwdriver. They work well when you plan on adding connections at a future time.

    There are also compression connectors. You usually need a crimping tool. I find them a pain to debug when the crimp isn't done well.

    I'm old-fashion and like to solder and use something called a western union or T splice. You need a soldering iron, solder and learn the to solder.

    Hope this helps,

    Mark
     
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  7. mdvholland

    mdvholland TrainBoard Member

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    Josh, check out their website, I've never uploaded designs to shapeways, but many guys do, including some active on this forum.

    Best option is probably a 3D printed shell of your choice, either designed by yourself or from one of the individual shops at shapeways.com, and then motorize it with marklin railbus, rokuhan shorty or - if you opt for narrow gauge and a 4 axle trolley/ tram - with an T-scale chassis. You can get those at https://www.tgauge.com/product/187/28/16-metre-motorised-chassis

    [​IMG]
    As far as point to point wiring, I am not sure I understand what your question is. Others probably do and will no doubt have suggestions :rolleyes:

    Matt
     
  8. Pig Gap

    Pig Gap TrainBoard Member

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    As for the point to point issue, there is a French seller on E-Bay (JLK-Trains) that offers an assembled circuit board which should do that. This is the link to his "Store" http://stores.ebay.com/JLK-TRAINS?_trksid=p2047675.l2563 I been thinking about using his JLK48 board with Rokuhan A0008 feeders for the diodes connections for a basic 3 ft display track. BTW- SEPTA in Philadelphia was still running those PCC's when I left 6 years ago.
     
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  9. jshglass

    jshglass TrainBoard Member

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    Good to know this exists, but I have no idea how to install it. Not very well-versed. Does it come with instructions? A wiring guide? Any online video guides?

    Yea, SEPTA is still running the vintage PCC's on Girard Avenue. Sadly, all the other trolleys are Kawasaki's from the 1980s. Still fun, but not as romantic.
     
  10. jshglass

    jshglass TrainBoard Member

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    Interesting. So are you telling me T gauge is to Z, as Z/Nn3 is to N? It won't look out of scale? I like the clear body on this chassis. Should make 3D printing fairly easy, no?
     
  11. Pig Gap

    Pig Gap TrainBoard Member

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    It looks easy enough according to the diagram some on on of his US eBay listings.
    upload_2017-12-15_22-18-15.png
    I use to ride the Kawasaki's all the time when I was working in Philly. I loved the tunnels.
     

    Attached Files:

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  12. mdvholland

    mdvholland TrainBoard Member

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    Well, yes. Mind you, 3 mm in Z is 660 mm (or some 26 inches) gauge in real life, so we are talking very narrow gauge.

    Check this video, the maker used a t-gauge chassis in the passenger car to motorize this Z scale narrow gauge railway. In the back, for reference, you'll see Marklin Z scale loc and cars.



    Cheers, Matt
     
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  13. jshglass

    jshglass TrainBoard Member

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    Fascinating. This really makes me want to see a T scale forum come to fruition. But don’t trolleys run on regular gauge in real life?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  14. mdvholland

    mdvholland TrainBoard Member

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    There was and still is little standard in trolleys / trams / streetcars as far as gauges are concerned.

    Check this listing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tram_track_gauges

    But indeed, t-gauge is in fact too narrow for a streetcar. You would ideally have a trackwidth of about 4,5 mm. 3,5 mm suits fieldrailways and small industrial operations mostly. In z scale, you got to make do, right?

    Btw the pcc cars ran in major cities in Belgium and The Netherlands as well - be it that they were modified to fit European streets (shortened and narrower carriages). Some were regular gauge, some narrow gauge. They were sent off as a kit and assembled in Europe.

    In the city I work in (The Hague) they were used for decades. I believe this picture dates from 1975, but in upgraded form they were used until some years ago.
    [​IMG]

    So you understand that even for european modellers, a pcc car would be a nice asset in the z collection :)

    Matt
     
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  15. animek

    animek TrainBoard Member

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    Last edited: Dec 16, 2017
  16. jshglass

    jshglass TrainBoard Member

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  17. animek

    animek TrainBoard Member

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  18. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    I plan to use one of Ben's trolley kits as a load for a flatcar. Destination Seaside Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME. His work is top notch. I've built several. Snowdon theater is on of my favorites. Maybe Ben can design a z-scale PCC shell suitable for powering. I know the detail would be there. I'd buy a couple of them. I live on the MBTA's Mattapan line. Cedar Grove station is at the end of my street. The PCC's have been restored and are used by 7-8000 riders a week. It is a simple dog-bone layout with 7 stops. It passes thru Cedar Grove cemetery along the Neponset River. It has bridges, junctions, grade-level crossings and some pretty nice scenery. It would be a nice layout. Merry Christmas, Jim in Boston
     
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  19. jshglass

    jshglass TrainBoard Member

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    Any contact info? A website? Would love to see his work.
     
  20. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    He is Ben. at www.animekmodels.com. Jim
     

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