Fastrack survey and questions.

[Boyd]

I've tried doing a search on fastrack to no avail. I just find bits and pieces of experiece with it here and there on this site. Lay it on me,,, whats your opinion of this track and compare it to all other track you have used. My 36" curved track is 36" from center rail to center rail,, so is 72" and 48" curve track also measured that way. One person noted fastrack is noisy. There must be ways to quiet it down? I just like its simplicity, its looks, as it doesn't look so terribly out of scale-height wise and I won't have to make/build my own roadbed. I'm more of the put it together and run it type of person. I don't want to spend a lot of time on the little stuff.

[ChiefEagles]

My experience with it is it came witht he Polar Express. A guy named Amtrac Jack tested it earlier on. He was the one who said it was noisy on the layout. I ran mine on dining room table and it was noisy. I think that and RealTrrax are the thing of the future. Roadbed is built in. I'm going with Realtrax. There are some pictures of Buckeye's and Jonadel's layouts with RealTrax that has ballast added and it looks real. I'm sure you can add ballast to Fastrack. I do know that Lionel has now gotten more curves and switches than earlier. That was an earlier problem. I'm sure as the popularity grows, more of these things will be offered. Enjoy.

[nblum]

It isn't noisy on carpet or other soft surfaces (rubber roadbed, cork, etc). It is particularly sturdy and positive in its electrical and mechanical connections. There have been no reports of issues with poor electrical performance due to displacement of the copper "fingers" that have been reported with RealTrax after multiple connects and disconnects. The only disadvantages I've been able to determine or heard about are (1) not all the sizes and switches are yet available, (2) it's expensive compared with tubular track, though similar to other high end track such Gargraves, RealTrax, Atlas, etc., (3) on hard surfaces such as wood floors it can be noisy.

If you're planning on a permanent layout, with no changes, any track system will probably be fine. For temporary layouts or layouts that may be altered, Fastrack is probably the state of the art for integral roadbed track, IMO.

[brianel027]

My advice to folks with young kids is and has been the same: FasTrack is good for the holiday floor layout and that's about it unless you can devote more than a 4'x8' space for the layout. I've advised several folks to either save the FasTrack for the holiday layout or ditch it in favor of the more practical, economical 027 track. I tell folks there's limitations to what you can run. And most folks with young kids agree, they can't afford many of the larger scale items anyways - and like the more practical cost of 027 track.

And currently so much more can be done layout wise with 031 track and 027 track. Most beginners who are not already experienced train folks (or know of one) are not going to start with layouts bigger than a sheet of plywood. Other track systems are more affordable and offer more. This may change if Lionel decides to offer FasTrack in a tighter radius curve, but all the talk is of larger radius curves. Time will tell what happens.

[jimhaleyscomet]

Let me second Neil's opinion. I reroute my tracks often and almost always have one or two connections bad in MTH realtrax. I think the spotwelds underneath tend to break. I correct the problem with a wire shunt but it is a pain. I have only used Lionel's Fasttrack a few times but it does seem more durable and easier to assemble / dissasemble. Except for its wide footprint (not a problem if you want wide curves), it is lightyears ahead of tubular track in ease of use and durability.

Jim H

[Anonymous]

I HATE IT. I got a Lionel "Riding The Rails Hobo Train" Set for christmas. The Fastrak was hard to put togeather and it cut my handswhen I was putting the stuff togeather (I had two hands covered in Bandages until today, made it hard to eat).

It is also very noisey, even on the carpet. Not only that, but in my opinion it dosent look right. I amsticking with Lionel Tubular.

[ben10ben]

I bought some as a set break-up about two months after it was first cataloged, and, as such, was the first person to report any experience with it on the OGR forum. That means that I've had mine close to two years now, and I really like it.

Mine has the black center rail, which I prefer over the silver rail.

Electrical continuity is excellent.

It was a bit hard to put together at first, but after a few times, it became quite a bit easier(and still stays together quite well). Mine is currently hanging fully assembled in my closet.

I did find the sound to be quite annoying. I've never run it any place except for the floor, and it's still been extremely loud; a whole lot louder than tubular track. I can only imagine how loud it would be on a hard surface.

Although I do really like mine, I already have enough invested in tubular track to even consider using it.

[ChiefEagles]

Funny, I found it easy to assemble. I had my breastbone sawed into Nov 10 and so any real force with both hands pushing together give me some "tingle". Went together and did not "winch" a single time. Guess I have the right touch.

[Boyd]

If I don't use Fastrack on my layout then I'll have to use Gargraves flex track to get the 36-38" curves I'm limited to climb between main table and upper deck.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Gargraves is a lot cheaper, you can get a 3 foot section for the price of a 10" piece of Fastrack. People either love it or hate it, I think its junk, but I'm not in the market for track.

[Anonymous]

We have a medium size layout of RealTrax/DCS that we started on 3 years ago. At the time thought RealTrax was great as it was ready to go as long as we placed in on something not hard/solid. Now with Fastrack I see where the wire connections on the bottom, lighter color gray, stays closed between tracks are a big plus over Realtrax. On the other hand Realtrax has a higher rail profile, center rail looks a little nicer, has more of a supply in 1/2 tracks, remotes switches, etc., but that will change before long. Sooooo the bottom line, get some of both, work with them and you will know which suits your fancy the best.
Sophia

[thor CNJ]

From drawing about 20 each of RealTrax and Fastrack track plans the last week, Fastrack needs a lot of room. You cannoy use it in any area less than 40' wide, thanks to the wide curves. Realtrax can fit into tighter spaces. and is more versatiles. Given the choice, I'd go for the more versatile track geometry of RealTrax.

Of course, right now I use tubular. on my own railway. It works for me.

[3railguy]

I sealed my fastrack to the table with silicone gasket maker and charged it with 15 PSI compressed air. It quiets the track considerably. When kids come to see the layout, I crank the air pressure to 100 PSI. It's quite a sight to see the track explode.

[laz 57]

I really like it under the tree for Christmas because no oil or grease will end up on the carpet. For that resson alone is good enough to have for Christmas. If they would have had come out with this when I first got into the hobby I would have had to think about this type. Instead I started with and still have 0-27, 042, and 054. I won't change now too much invested.
Laz 57

[nitroboy]

I run fastrack under the tree. On the layout I use good old Lionel tubular. If anyone is interested in getting rid of their fastrack, let me know, I will be expanding the Christmas tree layout and need some more sections.

[Anonymous]

FasTrack is noisy on hard surfaces, but it does hold together very well. I hung a loop on the wall at work and would just take it down when a staff/faculty member's kid stopped by and wanted to play with the trains.

If you paint the outer rails with rust colored paint, track looks very nice/

[Boyd]

I wonder if that silicone gasket maker is giving off some funny fumes???

Well I decided, its Fastrack I'm going with. At least for the upper level and track going from the lower level to the upper level. If I change my mind on the layout, it will be easier to change it while using Fastrack than Gargraves. I will just have to find a good cheap sound deadener to put under it that is not a material that gives off fermeldahyde or other type of chemicals.
I too am looking for more Fastrack for my layout. I'm east of St.Paul Mn, very close the the Wis border. Cash or to trade, I have a $100 RC tank with 30 minutes on it plus and extra battery pack that cost me $15. PM or email me.

[Anonymous]

My 11 year old son, who is pretty big and strong for his age, had difficulty putting the Fastrak together (it came with his Polar Express set). I imagine it will get easier to assemble when it has been taken apart and put together several times. It is quit a bit noisier thatnRealtrax on the same floor surface.

[Anonymous]

I bought a few pieces of it for an under the tree layout for this year. Nothing fancy, just an oval. I got it because it would keep any oil from the train from getting on the carpet. It does hold together well.

One thing about it holding together. We don't really have that much room in the corner of the living room where the tree is located. The track actually lays on top of parts of the tree skirt, including the area I have to open to get at the water bowl. I have to lift that section of track up when I tuck the skirt back in after watering.

Well, there have been a couple of times I've lifted a little too much & a section pulled apart. This is with the weight of the train on one end of the straight away in question. The track went back together fine & is holding up quite well. Of course, the train hasn't been run in the past few days -- Luke's too busy playing with his new toys, and dad's been trying to get over a headcold, so I haven't had much desire to watch the trains go around the tree.

Thing's coming down this week, and so will the train.

Tony

[Anonymous]

i setup my test layout on the ping pong table and it was loud for sure. I bought some of the materials for my workbench - 1/4" sheets and 3/4" foam board and that helped some. I need to but some tubular to compare it so though b/c without the comparison, I'm not sure how much louder it is.

has anyone tried using the green foam board that's commonly used in silk plant arrangements? this might also be a good surface for modelling topography as well but I may try it for the sound qualities as well.