I'm now in the market to purchase track for my recently acquired Lionel Santa Fe F-7 A-B-A Set(6-24589).The set requires a minimum 0-31 minimum curve. The set will be pulling Lionel Santa Fe Superliner (High Level) passenger cars (6-39129). Also included is the Santa Fe Superliner StationsSounds Diner, which requires a minimum curve of 0-42; this car's length is 19 and 1/4 inches. Here's my question:
What is the minimum curve I should purchase, 0-32 or 0-42? Also, which track system is preferable - Liionel's FasTrack, Atlas, or something else. I'm looking to construct a simple oval for a Christmas display with a tree in the middle. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Pepe
For "19.25" passengers? 054. (Anything less would look rather silly). As for track brand: something that can be assembled a few times and stay together w/o being mechanically fixed to your floor.
Welcome aboard !
For economy I would go with the tried & true "O" gauge track, black ties, in a minimum of 42" curves but the wider the better the appearance will be.
It is more expensive but if you will be running on the "carpet" then I would give the fastrack very serious consideration. The plastic roadbed will protect the carpet from oil/grease that may come from the engine or rolling stock. Another big plus is that it is much easier to assemble than the tubular track and less apt to come apart. However it can be very noisey on bare floors or tables.
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PEPE,
I agree with 11th ST, anything less then 0-54 will have those cars sort of cutting the corners. I have just started a new layout and decided to go with all Lionel Fasttrack all in 0-72. I like the look but some say that this has lots o noise. I had this half on my other layout and I really didn't mind it at all. You can go to You tube and check out how you can easily change the look with pastel chalk to give it a dirtier look and if yo don't like it just wipe it clean. Also it is great to run your trains on carpet with the fastrack. Hope this helps?
laz57
One more thing
to DA FORUM!!!!
At the last TCA show in York I picked up a pre war M10000, What is the minimum radius it needs to run?
Major At the last TCA show in York I picked up a pre war M10000, What is the minimum radius it needs to run?
Cataloged from 1934 to 1941 it was only sold with O-72 track.
Don U. TCA 73-5735
Pepe!!!!
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Like others have said, anything less than O54 will look a bit silly.As for the track, either FasTrack or Atlas 21st Century track system with road bed. Both can be assembled and disassembled multiple times without losing continuity.They are more pricey track systems, but they are the most reliable, easy to use, and come in a wide variety of radii and switches.
For under the tree, and with this set, use 048 FasTrack. IMO, nothing looks "silly" when it comes to a Christmas layout (except maybe no layout at all).
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