My LHS (Parma Hobby) May newsletter says:
"As you all know, Lionel introduced the FasTrack several years ago. They kept the tubular track, both O-27 and O-31, but the demand for this type of track has been decreasing. Distributors and hobby shops received this note from Lionel in mid-April:
Tubular track will remain in the catalog and Lionel is estimating a 3 year supply. While we plan to have the track in stock for several years, we are encouraging customers to order soon, as the primary focus going forward will be on FasTrack. Lionel introduced it's tubular three-rail track in 1906. After more than 100 years, it's time for a more modern track system to take the lead.
The current Lionel catalogs show the tubular track with "Limited Quantities" notation."
So, it appears that the rumors are true and Lionel is indeed planning to cease production on 1906 style tubular rail. This section of Parma Hobby's newsletter was prefaced with "Here are two bits of news no one probably wanted to read about." and the Lionel news was the second bit following an update on the Model Power situation.
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
That is really too bad. I like it because it gives the classic Toy Train Look.
I know a lot like the Fastrack and realtrac systems but I personally don't the plastic base makes for a very possible louder than needed layout. I have O and O-27 But mainly run Gargraves for the realistic look. Not to worry thou there's enough O and O-27 track around to last for a long, long, long time I'm curious thou if others who make it will continue to use it.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Geez, will they stop making modern tinplate trains too? To me, tinplate doesn't look right on FasTrack.
SO whats gonna happen to the secondary market prices on tubular track online started going UP when fasttrack entered the scene
Consider that it is still not that hard to find Marx O34 track after all these years.
Bob Nelson
I recently switched to Fastrack. Liked it pretty well until I tried to run my Lionchief Polar Express on it. It derails easily on the turnouts (& I have 9). It runs a great circle under the Tree on 031 tublular. Fortunately, all my Post War stuff runs fine on the Fastrack. I hope any more newer stuff will, too.
Gargraves seems the best way to go for realism, if you can afford it.
wyomingscout
phillyreadingI have tried Fastrack and don't like it because it gets dirty and I had to supply electrical power just like tubular track to it, and I can't do a free lance layout with it without eating up my wallet completely! Never heard of a Lionel train derailing on Fastrack before, so I guess that's another strike against Fastrack!!
https://brentsandsusanspicutures.shutterfly.com/
FasTrack is just way too expensive to replace tube track. Maybe Lionel thinks if they stop making it that will force layout builders to FasTrack.
At my hobby shop they think Lionel is crazy to stop selling it. There is never enough tube track around especially at the holidays to meet demand. So why does a company discontinue a top selling product in high demand?
The only saving grace here is there are probably millions, if not billions, of used t-track sections around. It's going to be the spacial sections, O42, 54 etc that will probably be harder to come by.
If anyone has any plans to build a layout with tubular track, it seems to me they should be accumulating track switches right now, such as the number 022 O gauge O32 switch, both right and left hand . As others have said, the track itself will be available for a long,long, time, but the switches may be another matter.
George
overallIf anyone has any plans to build a layout with tubular track, it seems to me they should be accumulating track switches right now, such as the number 022 O gauge O32 switch, both right and left hand . As others have said, the track itself will be available for a long,long, time, but the switches may be another matter. George
Do you mean like T-Rail or Super O? Both systems were made for a very short time and in very little(comparatively) quantities, and neither is difficult to obtain even 73 and 48 years(respectively) after the end of production. Super O is still available new if you want it, and it costs less than FasTrack.
Rob
I guess brand new 022 switches (whatever they are called now) might become hard to find. However used 022 switches, as well as uncoupling tracks, are very common. I like to use 022 switches from before 1950, made with a screw base lamp socket. I think they work better.
If they make it for 3 years and stores stock up based on needs, then consider the almost limitless supply in the secondary market, I think tubular is a good way to build a layout for the next 10 to 20 years at least. I love Fastrack but only use it on my Christmas layout due to size, noise, and cost. My "permanent" layout is all tubular and can't imagine using anything else.
I only meant that, because of the relative complexity of the switches compared to the track, i.e. moving parts that wear out etc.,it might be prudent to collect some brand new ones and leave them in the box, just in case you would like to build a layout with it someday. Incidentally, I have been told by some very knowledgable train guys that the new scale articulated steam engines will flatten out the rail on the fastrack over time, so if you are running these big engines, tubular track will be a better choice for the long term.
overallI have been told by some very knowledgable train guys that the new scale articulated steam engines will flatten out the rail on the fastrack over time
They obviously have not examined the construction of FasTrack, then. If they did, they would realize that 1) FasTrack IS tubular, and 2) the rails are supported with plastic forms in the roadbed.
At least Becky's got an LHS. There were three where I live, all are gone, two retirements, one moved lock-stock-and-barrel to Charleston SC. There's "HobbyLand" but they're a general interest place heavy on the RC planes and cars.
POTRZBE If they make it for 3 years and stores stock up based on needs, then consider the almost limitless supply in the secondary market, I think tubular is a good way to build a layout for the next 10 to 20 years at least. I love Fastrack but only use it on my Christmas layout due to size, noise, and cost. My "permanent" layout is all tubular and can't imagine using anything else.
The way I read it was that they had a 3 year supply and when that's gone that's it. But I could be wrong, the quote of the memo is a bit vague.
I never thought I'd see a "totally tubular" subject on this forum. I wish they still made the K-line 027 profile 72" circle track. I have about 3 circles of it and I see it listed on ebay now and then. I'd also take the K-line 027 profile 042 switches any day over Lionel. I still think Lionel could still use the same plastic bases to their track and switches but retool the rail which looks like uhhhh, a large rounded metal trim piece on a 50s automobile. I think they could make rail which actually looks like a rail and fit it down into the slots in the current plastic road base.
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
If there is enough demand maybe MTH will make it. They do for standard/wide gauge.
Not likely. MTH has enough irons in the fire right now, and with tubular available from Williams and RMT plus all the old stuff out there there wouldn't be much point.
As it turns out, the title of this thread is FALSE and is based on speculation. Here is the TRUTH from Mike Reagan at Lionel:
Mikado Hi All, while I typically jump on the forum every morning to find what I am doing all day. As most folks who speculate on many things "Lionel" seem to know what I am doing BEFORE we do! i would like to take this opportunity to tell you what is REALLY happening with our tubular track line. The strategy is pretty simple, sales for tubular track have declined over sales for Fastrack on a pretty steady annual basis. As such, it has become a challenge to produce tubular track annually and hold price where it has "traditionally" been (no pun intended) year over year. So, to help us ease this struggle we have devised a plan to help us cope with the challenge; purchase tubular track on a 3 year rotating cycle. Some SKU's in 2014, some in 2015, then the balance in 2016. The goal is simple; produce a quantity that yields a decent price on our end and in turn allows us to maintain the same MSRP on your end (Without having to raise the prices!) The success of this approach will be dictated by sales and sales alone (which equals demand). If product comes in and moves out quickly, we know we have something that we need to continue making, however that has not been the case with tubular track for years. Perhaps our tri-year strategy will change that, perhaps not? So, the plan is not to kill it, it is to approach the challenge from a different angle, rightfully expecting different results. (Yes, we know the definition of insanity!). if folks wish to see tubular track continue, it needs to sell! Poor sales=no reason to carry the liability! Hope this clears things up a bit. Now, I need to search the forum to determine what I'll be doing next week! Thanks everyone for keeping us abreast of what we're up to! LOL Mike
Hi All,
while I typically jump on the forum every morning to find what I am doing all day. As most folks who speculate on many things "Lionel" seem to know what I am doing BEFORE we do!
i would like to take this opportunity to tell you what is REALLY happening with our tubular track line.
The strategy is pretty simple, sales for tubular track have declined over sales for Fastrack on a pretty steady annual basis. As such, it has become a challenge to produce tubular track annually and hold price where it has "traditionally" been (no pun intended) year over year. So, to help us ease this struggle we have devised a plan to help us cope with the challenge; purchase tubular track on a 3 year rotating cycle. Some SKU's in 2014, some in 2015, then the balance in 2016. The goal is simple; produce a quantity that yields a decent price on our end and in turn allows us to maintain the same MSRP on your end (Without having to raise the prices!)
The success of this approach will be dictated by sales and sales alone (which equals demand). If product comes in and moves out quickly, we know we have something that we need to continue making, however that has not been the case with tubular track for years. Perhaps our tri-year strategy will change that, perhaps not?
So, the plan is not to kill it, it is to approach the challenge from a different angle, rightfully expecting different results. (Yes, we know the definition of insanity!).
if folks wish to see tubular track continue, it needs to sell! Poor sales=no reason to carry the liability!
Hope this clears things up a bit. Now, I need to search the forum to determine what I'll be doing next week! Thanks everyone for keeping us abreast of what we're up to! LOL
Mike
Actually, the thread is based on a quote from a Lionel memo as printed in a small hobby shop's newsletter.
The quote was used to twist the truth, because it does not say this is the end of tubular, only that FasTrack will be the lead system going forward. Lionel is NOT ceasing production, just changing the production cycle.
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