Setting isolated blocks with Lionel Fastrack?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how to do this with Fastrack? I'm a rookie here and I'm wanting to start a layout.

Thanks!

[wrmcclellan]

mattk330,

See my response to your post about the 153C.

BTW - Welcome to the CTT forum!

Regards,
Roy

[jkerklo]

Lionel offers a "6-12029 Accessory Activator Pack" for operating trackside accessories as a train passes over the track. 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. When a train passes over the isolated track section, train power appears at the wires.

Lionel also sells an "insulated" straight track section. It looks the same as a regular track section, except there is a white sticker with the word "insulated" stuck underneath.

Fastrack's plastic base naturally insulates outside rails. Regular track sections have a metal "bridge" across the outside rails. It is easy to remove the bridge to insulate the outside rails. Or, cut the bridge and use it to make wire connections. An outside rail can be isolated by using a Dremel cut-off wheel, or any other means, to cut the rail. There are numerous forum posts on how to do this.

Using an isolated outside rail to operate accessories is really the best way and is a real advantage of three-rail track. An illustration can be found on this web page:

www.three-rail.com/3ROAITR.HTM

It is best to plan where your layout will have trackside accessories and to establish isolated track blocks for operating them before track is laid.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com