Fastrack elevated trestle

[Pittsburgh]

I have very new to model trains and I'm trying to use the Lionel fastrack elevated trestle in my design and am having trouble using the pin connectors.  Is there a better solution, ex. screws of some size, that can make my life a little easier.  Thanks.

[Stourbridge Lion]

Pittsburgh - Welcome to trains.com!

[waynewiz]

Hi,

I just bought the elevated trestle set and have found it to be junk.  The pins don't stay in and the trestle

wobbles in the base. Plus assembling the thing is a challenge. The spacers don't seem to add any

real strength.  I'm thinking of gluing it all together with plastic cement. Anyone else have any ideas ? They look nice, so I would hate to trash them.

[Anonymous]

I found they are NOT suited for temporary layouts. They are easier to use when you assemble the trestle first, then secure it (temporarily), then assemble the track.

They are definitely NOT junk.

[Anonymous]

Replace the plastic pin with a self tapping screw.  Joe Stachler mentions this in the video where he built a layout with Fastrack.

[overall]

TM videos has a very good instructional DVD called" Building an O gauge layout". They address the design flaw in the Fastrac trestle set by using a self tapping screw as described above. The size and threads per inch is on the DVD. It is a shame that Lionel doesn't modify their trestle set by sim\ply packing some of those screws with it. Oh well.

[KRM]

Thanks guys for this post. I too like the look and I was thinking about using Lionel Fastrack for my elevated line but now will reconsider.

 Brent and Jim,

 How is Realtrack? or other options?

[waynewiz]

Thank you everyone for your comments and help. Using srews is a good idea.

Also I glued one of the trestle parts to its base using good 'ol Testors plastic models cement

to see how it would hold.  It is solid as a rock.

 

[Anonymous]

Kev,

           Spend the extra $$ for Fastrack.  I've worked with both Fastrack and Realtrax, and Fastrack wins hands down. 

[KRM]

waynewiz

Thank you everyone for your comments and help. Using srews is a good idea.

Also I glued one of the trestle parts to its base using good 'ol Testors plastic models cement

to see how it would hold.  It is solid as a rock.

 

Wayneewiz,

 I am not a big fan of the new Testors plastic models cement. I have had good luck with low heat hot glue. With care you can take it back apart if you just spot glue it.

JMHO