how to cut lionel fastrackhow to cut lionel fastrack

Lionel tech support informed me that this would not be a problem. Some prices are for mail order only. Once the track and ballast are seperated I cut the ballast with a band saw and the track with a dremel. It is my understanding that FasTracks is much noisier than S-Trax. Clipon wire blocks are also helpful to power the switches. 1 Fastrack LH Switch--12017 (Manual) or 12045 (Remote), 1 Fastrack RH Switch--12018 (Manual) or 12046 (Remote), 2 12023 1/4 O36 curve (included with the switches). The product consists of two short track sections that have an outside rail cut and one straight section with the outside rails isolated and wires that connect to the center rail and the isolated outside rail. It features the same high-profile rails, but has more ties, equally-spaced throughout the length of the track. up bridge I have that is at an angle. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. Expanded Styrofoam would be much better with Homasote 440 being around the best. Lionel offers a "6-12029 Accessory Activator Pack" for operating trackside accessories as a train passes over the track. If you found this post informative or helpful, please share it! exact desired length? The top half of the circle is made of six O48 curves. Prices are subject to change without notice. 2 Fastrack LH Switch--Manual (#12017) or Remote (#12045), 2 Fastrack RH Switch--Manual (#12018) or Remote (#12046). 3 Fastrack LH Switch--Manual (#12017) or Remote (#12045), 3 Fastrack RH Switch--Manual (#12018) or Remote (#12046), 6 12023 O36 1/4 Curve (included with Switches). If you plan reverse loops there is no provision for them. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS. O36--8 sections to a circle (Lionel #12015). Mine is 1/2 inch thick and I overlap it 1/2 inch out both sides of the Fastrack. The layout shows that numerous complex arrangements can be formed with FasTrack. Homasote absorbs much of the sound that gets through the carpet padding. 143 Products . When designing a plan, it is always best to start with the most complex part of the track plan first, and then work your way out. https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/strack-s-noise-level, https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/-for-sound-dampening, https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/lost-thread-on-noise, Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership, Tags: Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content. the adjoining tabs on the other outside rail. It is 5" long. Bring your layout to life with Lionel track and power! Fast Track. Snaps together, no pins, and flipping tracks around is easy! Place it underneath the track section before you secure it to the table. All switches are available in both right and left hand turns. I might end up attaching The product consists of two short track sections that have an outside rail cut and one straight section with the outside rails isolated and wires that connect to the center rail and the isolated outside rail. Thank you Elena Mandin, Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 14 | Details inside the passenger car. In Model Railroading making block sections is part of almost any layout once you move out of the simple loop. I'm sure it will be helpful for me. Chip won't work on your credit card? Does anyone have any tips for cutting Fastrack? A lot easier cutting tube track. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. From rugged transformers to cutting-edge control systems, Lionel has everything you need to run your trains the way you want. back together using styrene strips on the underside to hold the two I start by bluing the center rail (above left photo) with Birchwood Casey Super Blue, using the same process outlined in the tubular track section and following the products label precautions. Note that the top leg of the loop, the one running horizontally across the top, includes 30" of straight track (the two 10" straights plus the straight leg of the switch, which is also 10 inches). It is similar in look and feel to the roadbed on S-Helper Service's S gauge track, but in . With the solid rail it is quiet . The problem is that the hollow plastic roadbed amplifies the sound of the train running above it. Uncoupling tracks (#12020) include a magnet that will activate the Lionel couplers automatically. In this final plan, we see the full integration of all FasTrack components--switches, crossings, short straights, full and half curves, all creating an interesting, fun to operate layout. Rod. I would recommend Fastrack because of the product availability. Yes, Thank you Rod, for taking the time to post your findings and how-to. It generally puffs up, if you do it right, to cover the whole underside of the track and to a height of about 1 to 1.5 inches. After allowing the painted track to dry overnight, I install it on top of a strip of carpet underlayment foam cut to the width of the track. One of the nice features of FasTrack is Lionel makes so many custom length pieces it is possible to build most track plans without cutting track. 8 subscribers Subscribe 3 Share 881 views 3 years ago Disassembling Lionel FasTrack from a simple layout around a Christmas tree. Has anyone cut Lionel Flyer FasTrack to custom lengths for use with their layout? If the answer is yes, good! Blackwater Canyon Line - July 22, 2023 - Burger Hut Kit "Done", May 2021 Atlas O HEAVYWEIGHT PASSENGER CARS Catalog, Hobby Shop Hop: Episode 17 - Tim's Train Shop. I then mix the black paint 1:1 with water to create a wash. Lighted FasTrack 40"x50" Oval Track Pack. Great Job Rod! FasTrack Graduated Trestle Set O Gauge (SKU: 6-12037):- Incremental height grading- For use with FasTrack sections- Set of 22- Gauge: O Gauge- Tallest trestl. I use my table saw with a used blade and just send it right on through the rails and all. 10 + 6 + 5 + 4.5 + 4.5= 30. SKU:2025070. Further accessibility efforts are underway and we continue to update our website to improve accessibility. I decided to seperate the track from the ballast. 1. View Product. The accessory activation track (#12029) is used to activate Lionel trackside accessories. Chuck, who frequently posts here has a layout built with FasTrack and operates engines with DCC. Gargraves track is available as rigid sectional track, or as flextrack. The flashing highway signal (#12052) and crossing gate (#12062) sets are 20" long when fully assembled and take the place of two 10" straights on a layout. MSRP: $43.99 . Lionel also makes a 30 inch straight (#12042), which helps when building large layouts and long straightaways. Pairing up your trains with the right track is important. Simple to do: turn the piece over, bead small strips of Great Stuff along the track underside about 1 inch apart, and let it expand overnight. Add some Lionel Accessories! In an earlier post I speculated about the possible incompatibility of FasTrack remote control turnouts and uncoupling sections incorporated in a DCC-type layout. Not responsible for changes in manufacturer specifications. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. FREE delivery Jul 27 - Aug 2 . When a train passes over the isolated track section, train power appears at the wires. I used Fastrack on my American Flyer layout. FasTrack 36-inch diameter draw curves and crossings to confirm fit in available space Suitable lionel Fastrack switches aren't available to accommodate a spur here Basic lionel Fastrack figure-eight configuration on a 4 x 8-foot table leaves little space for additional track and scenery. Also notice that a pair of O36 1/2 curves (also outlined in red) were used around the 45 degree crossing at the bottom. All other switches are available only with remote control. Wow, I was surprised to see this thread alive again after so long. FASTRACK is available in reels and can be cut to the generous tolerances using a guillotine (also available from Renishaw). Sign-up for email today! Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership. 5.0 out of 5 stars 1. I am completely in the dark about my Beautiful Lionel train set that I use at Christmas. O84--32 sections to a circle (#12061). One section makes a 22.5 degree turn. The two switches are O36, one right and one left. Lionel O Scale 50 Pieces of 612014 10" Straight Track, (50 Piece CASE) Number 612014-50pc-CASE. What is needed is a purpose made mitre box to do the job. From rugged transformers to cutting-edge control systems, Lionel has everything you need to run your trains the way you want. To participate you must either login or register for an account. www.legacystation.com/lionel-fastrack-guide, Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_6) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/15.5 Safari/605.1.15. the swing up bridge. It is a folded-over figure 8, and the inner loop is O48, and the outer loop is O60. O Gauge. Manufacturer Lionel Trains. Possible to use 2 048 switches with 072 Wye Lionel, For sale - two Williams PRR sharknose B-units. I didnt encounter any problems reinserting the rail joiners or unevenness of height. The traditional footprint of a switch track matches a straight and a curved section laid atop one another. American Flyer FasTrack Layouts Whether you're looking to switch up your S-Gauge layout or are creating your first one, here are some track design ideas for your train table or under your tree! The key concept when working with FasTrack is knowing the angles--all of the curves and crossings except O48 curves work off of angles of 90, 45, 22.5, and 11.25 degrees. Lionel offers a "6-12029 Accessory Activator Pack" for operating trackside accessories as a train passes over the track. I have also read on this forum, at least for 0 gauge, FasTrack is much noisier that SHS/MTH S-Trax. Three 'fitter' sizes are available--4 1/2 inch (#12025), 1 3/4 inch (#12026), and 1 3/8 inch (#12073 and #12074). I will gladly pay for such service, I just am not capable of doing it myself, and am holding up my Layout Installation being in need of a Custom Fitter Section of Fastrack. Sign-up for email today! That was a very informative tutorial. Bob, you might also want to search the forum for FasTrack noise, there are a lot of links. Lionel's track, like MTH's RealTrax, S-Helper Service's track, and several brands of HO track, comes with a built-in plastic base designed to look like track ballast. Two 1 3/4" straights are needed, one between the two switches on the inner loop and one on the opposite side of the loop to compensate for the first one. Trains pass over the joint much more smoothly and quietly that way. let me add my thanks for the photos and to Ed for his also. I don't have any FasTrack but this is an outstanding how-to thread. Has anyone here taken Lionel Fastrack sections and cut them to the 4 Phillips-head screws (they need to be at least an inch long), again being sure to leave a little play. Enter your e-mail address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by e-mail. Because the crossing is an odd length relative to all other sections, a special piece is needed to compensate to make the loop match up. Add some Lionel Accessories! Fix it easily. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Wires jump the breaks in the track on the underside of the roadbed. O36 is included with most starter sets. W. It is possible to cut Fastrack, but it is not as easy as cutting basic tubular track. Nylon conducts sound much more poorly than metal. Join Today! They will require cutting gaps in the rails and using a reverse loop controller. Fast Shipping - Huge Inventory Selection - WorldWide Shipping. The two crossings are 45 degrees. +/- an inch is usually close enough. I did this about two weeks ago. Fitting it all together--Examples of FasTrack Layouts. I have used an epoxy glue with hardener and it seems to hold much better than I thought it would. Try this. The next day, when hardened, slidce it off, flush, with a breadknife. Stay up to date on specials, closeouts, discounts, holiday sales, pre-orders, new releases, announcements, and more. Kato has an N-Gauge track system similar to FasTrack with the roadbed incorporated into the track. Used to make an isolated track block. If you have any other questions about FasTrack, feel free to email us at, The O36 switch matches the footprint of one 10 inch straight and one O36 curve, and the wider diameter switches are usually the footprint of one of the matching curves, along with a 10". Same goes for the 20"R turnouts. Blackwater Canyon Line - July 22, 2023 - Burger Hut Kit "Done", May 2021 Atlas O HEAVYWEIGHT PASSENGER CARS Catalog, Hobby Shop Hop: Episode 17 - Tim's Train Shop. Along the parallel leg in the middle of the layout, we also have a 30" straight run, but this one consists of 5 sections of track. This is a great tutorial Rod, well done and thank you for a great tip. Most people consider that it is not possible to make Fastrack fitters, but it can be done, and quite easily at that. You will first need to drill out the plastic filler nubs in the tops of the rail ends using a 7/64" bit in your Dremel. Click here to start with more Fastrack now! Let the light lead the way with Lionel's all new Lighted FasTrack! Studying this plan closely, you will also see that a couple short fitter pieces were used to close a couple small gaps. Rod I saw you were useing a hand file to square the ends. Sale price $3 68 $3.68 Regular price $4 59 $4.59 Save $0.91 6-12029 - FASTRACK ACCESSORY ACTIVATOR PACK. It behaves much the same way as a guitar body. O60--16 sections to a circle (#12056). Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. It is too bad because RR-Track has a great deal of potential but it hasn't been upgraded in years in spite of the ads (also going on for years) touting their "new version". I used a half section and cut itusing a dremel style tool. The trick to quiet it down is to cut a piece of carpet padding, or better yet, a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, to fit underneath the track section. It is however a very nice and complete S gauge sectional track system. ends together. Check out the Lionel FasTrack overview & how many Lionel FasTrack curves in a circle of track in all different radiuses and some helpful videos below! I secure the FasTrack sections with no. then removed the two little plastic tabs on the recessed outside That is certainly my experience and what the O gaugers report. 5 years of Classic Toy Trains at your fingertips! The O36 switch matches the footprint of one 10 inch straight and one O36 curve, and the wider diameter switches are usually the footprint of one of the matching curves, along with a 10" and a 5" straight hooked together. 6-12026 - 1 3/4" Lionel FASTRACK Straight - O Gauge. Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month. Before Lionel offered shorter sections of track, I cut sections to fit. The only other sectional track with wide radius curves is American Models. Pretty straight forward but you have to be careful unbending the tabs that hold the track to the ballast. The geometry does not have to be exact to work well. After simulating via SCARM multiple track configurations using both American Models track and FasTrack, I fully concur with your statement regarding how the large number of lengths the latter product offers facilitates track building with minimal, if any, track cutting. There are a few things you can do to make Fastrack quieter. Solder a wire to connect each middle rail tab and outer Mounting all track on at least a one-inch-thick layer of extruded-foam insulation board [resting on an open-grid benchwork] would certainly help damp out any residual noise. FasTrack offers 27"R turnouts that are a direct substitution for a 27"R piece of curve track. The standard straight section is 10 inches long (#12014), and a half section is available as well (#12024). (The nubs are located directly above each tie.) Bumpers are used on the end of spur sidings to keep cars from rolling off and to give the track a nice, finished look. To improve signal quality cut a hole in your train set table top. Electronic Mighty Sound of Steam off switch? tcripe got it right. Bob, I believe extruded Styrofoam has about the same sound deadening qualities as plywood -- meaning it is terrible. Note: if your track is new, you can skip the degreaser step. Also note that despite this layout's apparent complexity, it only uses 3 pairs of switches. Somewhere on this forum is a lengthy experiment with different kinds of roadbed and noise. If not that just get a roll of thin cork sheet and cut it to fit under the track. Your IP address is listed in our blacklist and blocked from completing this request. . One section makes a 22.5 degree turn. The exception would most likely be to get other than full and half length curve segments. The purpose of this short guide is to provide a basic primer on FasTrack, what the different pieces do, how they work together, and to give some ideas of train layouts that can be built using FasTrack. It is easy to assemble, can be used on any flat surface, and has a more realistic appearance than Lionel's older all-metal 3-rail track. This will help out a lot of us who haven't figured out a good way to cut Fastrack and have it look good! Gloves, please. It is easy to assemble, can be used on any flat surface, and has a more realistic appearance than Lionel's older all-metal 3-rail track. Beyond all the usual methods with any layout (homesite or some such benchtop -- I use acoustic celing tile myself, not using screws that go down into the solid benchtop wood, etc), the particular noise issues with Fastrack (unique to the plastic roadbed resonating and multiplying train noise) are addressed by filling the underside of each piece with Great Stuff expanding insulating foam. still would slip together if I pushed them towards each other face to Or fastest delivery Thu, Jul 27 . Electronic Mighty Sound of Steam off switch? This little layout, which we call the Double Loop RR, shows how to fit a crossing into a layout. Track Lionel Fastrack Lionel Fastrack All Auction Buy It Now 2,576 Results Track Form Gauge Features Color Condition Price Buying Format All Filters LIONEL FASTRACK 30 INCH LONG STRAIGHT TRAIN TRACK SECTION O Gauge 3 rail 6-12042 $24.94 4,187 sold New Listing LIONEL FASTRACK 30" Model TRAIN Tracks. Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following, $12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable). R62 & R142 Subway Sets - Please consider Remaking, Lionel Playtime Playground and Die-Cast Caterpillar Excavator, LIONEL 6-11333 ATSF NORTHERN 4-8-4 SANTA FE #3759 W/WHISTLE STEAM, Cutting Lionel American Flyer FasTrack to custom lengths. Get your questions about railroads and railroading answered. Finally, rather than putting Fastrack right on top of a wooden table, put a layer of Homasote in between the track and the table. Bob, I believe extruded Styrofoam has about the same sound deadening qualities as plywood -- meaning it is terrible. If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below), so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue. ====================================================================. Let's say you've got a ton of old Lionel track in your basement, or maybe someone is willing to give you a bunch for nothing. tcripe got it right. I've cut a number of pieces (including a curve) and it works wonderfully. Norm Jurgen demonstrates how to wire a Lionel FasTrack Switch for a large layout and controlling it using a SC-2 Controller and/or a Lionel Switch Toggle. That is nice for building sectional track layouts without requiring any track sections to be cut to length. This is because the curved sections are all made to where they are either 1/8 of a circle (45 degrees), 1/16 of a circle (22.5 degrees), or 1/32 of a circle (11.25 degrees). ! The two crossings are 45 degrees. Our community is FREE to join. Does anyone have layouts designed for operations? I'm a rookie here and I'm wanting to start a layout. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. And when installing a FasTrack Switch on top of grounded sheet metal remember to use electrical tape on the bottom of the switch to prevent electrical shorting.Please subscribe to this Channel if you wish to learn more helpful Lionel model railroading tips and send your comments to Norm if you have questions. They make an expansion track that works very well. Knowing how the pieces interrelate is important to planning and building a FasTrack layout. Tight is right. They were needed because if we tried to use two O48 curves in their place, the plan would not have lined up properly, because of the different angle of O48 curves (see the above section on curves). Then after that I could drop the swing bridge down and line up I glue the bottom outside edges of the Fastrack to the top of the foam with Foam Glue and the bottom of the foam to plywood with Foam Glue. (If the answer was 'no', read this article twice and then take the 100-question test at the end of the article--just kidding.). Lionel & Broadway Limited Operating Accessories, Roof Hatch covers for K-line K703-8011 operating milk car, MTH TIU does not seem to be sending out the DCS signals to the track, Walkway Over the Hudson..Update July 6th, Atlas Premier Scale Test Car - Conversion to Kadee 745's. At first glance the plan appears to be a figure-8, but it is in fact two reverse loops folded over each other. eventually someone pointed out that I didn't need to do all that. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Also available is a 10" extension piece for the accessory activation track(#12027). Many people are afraid to cut a section of FasTrack. The top half of the circle is made of six O48 curves. The grade crossing section (#12036) is 10" long and has a simulated road and crossing built into it. You may have to cut the pins and enlarge the openings where the pins go in.. I use my table saw with a used blade and just send it right on through the rails and all. rail. Drill a hole, then slide a zip-tie through the hole in the track into the table. This layout is an example of how to connect two different diameters of curves into one layout. This makes it a bit of a challenge to make O48 work in a layout using multiple curve diameters, because the angle of the curves does not match the other curve sections when making partial turns. I use Fastrack and SHS track mounted on 3/4 plywood and the only noise I hear is the slight engine noise if that. He lives in St. Louis with his family. Somewhere on this forum is a lengthy experiment with different kinds of roadbed and noise. O72--16 sections to a circle (#12041). FasTrack is optimized for use with either the FlyerChief or Legacy control systems. FasTrack is surprisingly forgiving if you fiddle with track lengths. http://cs.trains.com/trccs/search/SearchResults.aspx?q=cut+AND+fastrack+AND+userid%3a40731&o=Relevance. Since nearly all layouts require the train to make a circle in order to form a continuous loop, it's important to look at the curved track sections first. I Only use screws at the End-of-track bumpers to anchor them, no other screws hold the track at all and I use all O-36 switches and curves Fastrack, no problems with track coming apart and I would say at least a third reduction in track noise! After bluing the rail, letting it dry overnight, and wiping it with oil, I give the center rail one last cleaning using a coarse dry rag. Ghost White printing on Waterslide Paper Resources? The three crossings made in FasTrack are 90 degree (#12019), 45 degree (#12051), and 22.5 degree (#12050). I have not done it personally, but there are threads on this or the The layout has a pair of reverse loops, a continuous loop, and two figure 8s. You must be signed in to continue. I live in Kansas City, MO,and certainlywill pay Shipping both ways for this task. Gargraves track The third option is GARGRAVES 2-rail track. Thanks, Tom [and others] for raising a red flag about how extruded foam magnifies, rather than dampens, the sound of trains running on FasTrack; I certainly won't use that material. But he also makes it sound (at least to me) that he is trying to shift the blame to Lionel ("Until this feature is included by Lionel") as if adding the software feature is completely out of his hands. I trimmed and shaped a lot of pieces in my time but I'm not into doing pieces for others. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and meeting the needs of all of our customers, including those with disabilities. This second layout, designed to go around a Christmas tree, illustrates the need for half curves to make a plan fit. Why Sign In? The track is set up on tile pavers.Any advice would be appreciated. You must be signed in to continue. I am concerned extruded foam will amplify rather than reduce noise. recessed plastic tabs on the other section. However, O48 is made where it takes 12 sections to make a circle (30 degrees). The block sections, highlighted in red, separate the power between the two loops. An operating track section (#12054) also has the magnet, but it also includes special control rails that activate the Lionel operating cars with plastic slide shoes on the trucks [wheelsets]. Each half section (#12055) make a 11.25 degree turn. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Classic Toy Trains magazine also broached the subject: http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95/t/78190.aspx. As tcripe said, cut out the middle section and just glue the two outer sections together and solder a wire between the rials underneath. It was rather easy. Would someone recommend a Service that is capable of Custom Cutting a Lionel Fastrack "Fitter" Section. I suppose, though, that it would behoove me to buy one of each item to verify this claim before purchasing all FasTrack sections needed for my planned permanent layout. The answer is, "YES"! There a 3 foot diameter circle (O36), 4 foot (O48), 5 foot (O60), 6 foot (O72), and 7 foot (O84). Even after doing these things, Fastrack tends to be a bit louder than traditional track, but it makes the noise tolerable. Save yourself some cuts - glove up. The uncoupler track is 5" long, and the operating track section is 10" long. R62 & R142 Subway Sets - Please consider Remaking, Lionel Playtime Playground and Die-Cast Caterpillar Excavator, LIONEL 6-11333 ATSF NORTHERN 4-8-4 SANTA FE #3759 W/WHISTLE STEAM. You will find that it is easier to make everything line up with you are finished if you follow this method. Aug 23, 2021 - Explore Chris Cross's board "FasTrack o gauge layouts" on Pinterest. Note the use of several fitter pieces on the O48 loop (outlined in red) to achieve the desired distance between the back straightaways of both loops. table saw is next preferable tool. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. Lionel FasTrack offers innovation, variety, ease-of-use, and an incredible prototypical look. We're sorry. Thanks for the advice. It looks good right out of the box, but there are a few things I like to do to make it look even better. Starter sets all include a terminal track section. Because a little basic geometry comes in handy when working with FasTrack. Unlimited Members, sign in to enjoy sitewide access. Note that each curve diameter is one foot wider than the one before it. Our community is FREE to join. Also, note that half curve sections were needed on the outside legs of each loop to close the gap between the turns at the bottom of the layout and the switches (also highlighted in red). to hold these two sections together. I bought actual cork roadbed for under my track. Also, FasTrack is available in many different curve and straight dimensions, and there is an infinite number of layouts that can be built using it. Bring your layout to life like never before! O48 uses 30-degree angles. My Train Store closed (sadly) and I need help. Click the Diagram to see a larger picture. Finally, rather than putting Fastrack right on top of a wooden table, put a layer of Homasote in between the track and the table. Then from the underside, secure a second zip-tie to the one coming from above.