Automatic brakeman on fastrack - solution!

[wyomingscout]

I measured the inside distance of the track clip (part of the tell tale of the automatic brakeman system) subtracted the width of the center rail & divided that by 2.  I placed masking tape on each side of the center rail.  Then, using my micrometer set to the .220" arrived at from above, I marked the masking tape at four adjacent ties on each side of the center rail.

Using my Dremel tool with a narrow, circular cutting disc, I cut  grooves in the Fastrack.  Then I cut the track clip to use only each end of it (about 1/2" long).  Pushed that up from underneath, taped it in place, & soldered a wire from it to an outside rail.  I get two track clips from each original clip this way.  This should also work for the giraffe car.

It works, it's cheaper than buying operating track, and you don't have to modify the old Post war cars.  I used the 027 track clip (3424-85), I might try the 0 size to see if it is too high without trimming.  These clips are available on line for about $2 each.

wyomingscout

[RRaddict]

Some guy on youtube has a great video for making these track sections without cutting your railings. It really works great. I don't remember the title off hand but just search Making a Lionel fast track insulating track section and you will find it.

Regards,

Kev

[wyomingscout]

RRADDICT., thanks, but if you meant the track clip for 'railings', I wanted to cut the track clips as that gives me two track clips for each original one.  I did not cut any rails on the fastrack,  only slots through the roadbed on each side of the center rail.

I have made eight pieces of track to operate my automatic brakeman without altering the PW brakeman car at all.  I had already purchased four of the track clips, so I didn't even have to cut my original ones that came with the car back in 1953.

One thing I didn't mention in my original post - I did file a small curve on the upper edge of the track clip where I cut them apart.  This allows the collector shoe to slip up on the track clip as it does on the uncut edge.

wyomingscout

[lion88roar]

This would make a whole lot more sense with some pictures... just sayin'

[wyomingscout]

'Nother site said that, too.  I'll see if I can get some posted here.

wyomingscout