Fastrack on grade

[overall]

Has anybody tried to use Fastrack on a grade? It seems to me that this track would be too rigid to bend in a vertical curve to make the transition from flat to incline. I like the Fastrack in general. The appearance is great. I just wonder about that part.

Thanks,

George

[FJ and G]

George,

IMO Fasttrack is made for flat carpets. If you are planning a table-top layout with grades, I'd use either tubular, Atlas, or Gargraves.

But if you've got a bunch of Fasttrack, I would get the smallest sections available and try putting those together at the bottom and top of the slope so there's more segments to flex.

I don't think fasttrack, or realtrac, for that matter, are made for doing what you propose.

[FJ and G]

Another idea you can try if you have a bit of spare Fasttrack you don't mind destroying.

Soak a section in hot water and wearing rubber gloves, try bending it. Shouldn't take much bending to get a fairly good grade.

Just a thought.

I've done it before, actually; Realtrax, using a propane torch. The plastic in Realtrax doesn't melt right away; don't know about Fasttrax

[wrmcclellan]

Overall,

I have done it on a display layout where the Fastrak is screwed to plywood subgrade that rises in accordance with earlier posts where the rise is no more than 4% or the trains just will not make the trip.

If there is no support such as a subgrade, then you will have to do as FJ&G suggests to get the intro and exit points to stay in shape. I also like Fastrack. It would be nice if Lionel introduced a non-ballasted version for just this sort of application.

Regards

[lionelsoni]

It might help to make a few cuts in the skirt along the sides.

[overall]

I don't have any at all yet. I am going to buy an oval of it to use under the christmas tree this christmas. This will give me a chance to really test it out and see whether I want to invest in it somemore. I have a large layout built with several different track types. My Atlas 0 seems to perform the best out of all the brands I've tried.

Thanks,

George

[Big_Boy_4005]

George, in my opinion, stick to the Atlas for your layout. The Fastrack is fine for the
Christmas tree.

[3railguy]

Fastrack is no more rigid than tubular. You can make a transitions with the first piece or first two pieces at a pitch that is half or a third the grade pitch. Eg: If your grade is 3/8"/10" , pitch the first piece 1/8"/10", the second 1/4"/10", the third piece 3/8"/10" which is your grade.

[overall]

Thanks to all for taking the time to reply. I really like the Atlas O switches. My trains operate through them reliably better than Lionel 072 and MUCH better than Gargrave.
I will probably stick with it for my layout and use the Fastrack for my Christmas layout and for the small train board that I am going to build for my great nephew who is now in pre-school. If he decides he likes trains, he will be the first family member I have ever brought into the hobby.

Thanks,

George