Fastrack or O? Magne-traction and radius questions.

[FEClionel]

Well I've sold all my 027 track and now its time to make that decision on O or Fastrack. All but one of my engines has magnetraction and I was wondering which is best for my aplication. I have limited space for track however I want something that I can use with all my accessories cars. I know Fastrack is developing a remote control track and electric switches and prob will be released in the 2004 catalog. However, is Fatrack here to stay? I noticed in the Lionel 2003 book all there drawings of the TMCC trains use the Fastrack System. Is this track better for TMCC? Also I'm worried that Fastrack will not be availible in 72" or 54" diameter curved pieces which I would use to make an elongated "S" for my firecar or trolley. I know O is proven but after being away from the hobby since I was a child and now using "traditional" track again the loose connections bother me(however I've only used 027 stuff). What shoud I do?

[brianel027]

FEC, glad to see you're moving along. I'm sure Lionel is committed to FasTrack. Then again, 1957 I'm sure they were committed to Super '0' as they were in 1973 or '74 to TruTrack. But in those times, Lionel was the only game in town. Now it's different. Part of what Lionel is doing now is trying to be the innovator to the future, so my guess is that FasTrack will be around.
Each track system has it's ups and downs. Tubular '0' is probably better for MagneTraction. But I know a guy who had the newer '0' and ended up looking for used good condition '0' as there was a higher content of magnetic metal in the track (so he was told) and the MagneTraction did work better with the older track.
I use 027 as you probably realize. Once you build a layout and secure the track, I've never had any real problem with connections. Once in a great while I end up crimping a joint, but that's it.
Maybe you could take the MagneTraction engine to the train shop and try putting a piece of the various track types under the wheels and see which track gets picked up the best. You can always put small straight sections between sections of curve track to mimic larger radius curves.
FasTrack does have some advantages, but one of them is not space efficiency. If you are limited in space you might want to stick with tubular. Take a look at the K-Line Super Snap - it is basically 0 tubular with a blackened center rail and ties. Plus there is the snap connection - plus you can use regualar 0 with it as they do make an adaptor track (which you might not even need - but I don't know for sure). The roadbed on the FasTrack is big.
But you'll figure it out and that's part of the fun. Keep us posted what you are up to.
And tell me you haven't been mulling in the back of your mind getting one of those William's diesels in your favorite Florida East Coast road name? Must be another tempting idea - although I'm sure you want track laid out first!

[FEClionel]

Thanks again for you responce brianel027! I'm sure your sad that I have choosen to abanden my O27. I just couldn't take anymore of the O27 switches I really think its time Lionel upgraded however, I doubt they will now with Fastrack being used in starter-sets. Anyway your right, the roadbed of Fastrack has kept me from really jumping for it. O is cool because its retro and it gives my engines a better look plus the switches offered are far superior. I'm going to be running a small pike so bang for the buck turnouts and track on the board is really important to me. I might even run a combination of O and 027 if I'm not able to get what i want out of Fastrack or O alone. Another big worry for me is that Fastrack might look stupid when elevated on tressels which I plan on adding to my layout.

Oh yeah and yes those Williams FEC locos are tempting however the set I want/affors isn't even in stock and they won't give me a straight answer as to when it will be.

[brianel027]

I'll tell you I'm curious to see the FasTrack switches though. I've had the brainstorm idea of tyring to use them with 027 track by sanding down the bottom of the roadbed to see if I can shorten the height... just an idea. But most of the things I've done and have actually worked started with a crazy idea just like that one.
Naw, FEC, you have to use what you like best. Yep, those 027 switches annoy me too. I use the manuals activating some of them with fishline and spings. I've also chooped the heck out of 'em, making the base the same footprint as the track. BUT it's alot of work too. I guess it's worth it on a small layout though... really frees up more space. If I build another layout, I may even go with Gargrave switches in place of the Lionel ones, but still using 027 track.
On Williams, they do tend to do smaller runs since they offer so many roadnames. So your dealer probably doesn't have a straight answer himself. Check www.mapajunction.com AND ALSO www.justrains.com (I think it's one "t"... might be 2 if the first address doesn't get you there).
these guys along with WOW trains are big Williams dealers. I'm sure the FEC units will be back in stock at some point.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Well FEC, the question as to whether Fastrack is going to be around for a long time is really up to people like you. It really comes down to money. Can Lionel convince enough people to buy enough track to make it worth continuing to produce it.

Another piece to the puzzle rests with the hobby stores. Do they want to devote money and space to stock all of the components of this new system. Their answer will be driven by your answer. If you don't buy it, the stores won't re order it, and that will be the end of the line for this latest experiment in track by Lionel.

I was at one of the local hobby stores the other day, I hadn't been there in quite a while (I actually used to work there 12 years ago). I spent some time looking at the Fastrack and all of the components, and even broke down and spent $3.49 (plus tax) and bought a single piece of straight track to take home for reference.

The first thing I noticed when I was standing in the store was how expensive the stuff was. That 10" straight was as much as a 3' piece of Gargraves! The hookup wires were $2.99 which I thought was INSANE.

When I got home I took a much closer look at the track, and after a little head scratching, came to the conclusion that the total cost to produce, import and distribute this piece of track was under 50 cents. Where did the other $3 go ?

Further inspection revealed some interesting design elements, which were probably done with two things in mind, production cost savings, and deliberate incompatability with other systems. It is the incompatability issues that I find most disturbing. Some modification and be done by consumers, but many of the things that can be done with tubular track are difficult or impossible with Fastrack.

For my own use, I would never consider it, but my needs and your's are probably VERY different.

I'm not on the jury, you are, and you vote with your $$$$$$$.

[Anonymous]

FEC,

I like the Fastrack for its ability to set up anywhere and stay together. I am building a layout with Tubular for a variety of reasons, but If we want to run some trains upstairs or in my kids bedroom if they are sick, the fasttrack is the way to go. It never becomes uncoupled, looks good and its easy to store as one whole piece!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RedCaboose522

FEC,

I like the Fastrack for its ability to set up anywhere and stay together. I am building a layout with Tubular for a variety of reasons, but If we want to run some trains upstairs or in my kids bedroom if they are sick, the fasttrack is the way to go. It never becomes uncoupled, looks good and its easy to store as one whole piece!

All that is fine, but if you are wanting a PERMANENT LAYOUT, you should know that you'll be wasting your money on railsounds because FasTrack is too noisy! See my post on the subject. No one wanted to switch to FasTrack more than I did, just ask Big Boy, but I did the testing and it's just too loud.

[FEClionel]

I have to agree that the stuff is loud no matter what type of surface it is on. However, I still believe that its a great product b/c it allows me to run trains on the floor with out worry about dust, dirt and hair getting caught in expensive engine gears. When I build a layout I will probably go with O27 or Fastrack. I have noticed that loudness depends on the engine. My F3's are quite and my one 4-4-2 but the geeps are really noisey, it almost sounds like the inner wheel flange is rubbing with the road ties to make noise.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Please don't kid yourself about hair and carpet fibers not getting into your tarins just because you use Fastrack. I was recently at the hobby store and the guy behind the counter said that they were seeing an increased number of engines being brought in with "Hair Balls". Just keep an eye on your gears.