Help - Lionel S-Gauge Fastrack with American Models Amtrak set

[statistician]

Hi.

I'm not at all familiar with S-Gauge.  I have 2 F40PH's and Superliner cars made by American Models (hi-rail version) and am wondering if they will run OK on the new Lionel/American Flyer Fastrack?  It looks like Lionel only offers 20" radius curves which may be too tight for the engines.  The train set came with track, however does not set up well on the floor for a temporary layout.  The coupler draft boxes are mounted to the truck (they appear to be scale couplers).

Has anyone tried this Amtrak set with Fastrack?  Thanks!        

[Firelock76]

Have you checked your owners manual for any specified minimum curve radii? 

[statistician]

I should clarify the set is new, however contains no instructions of any kind.  The add-on F40PH does have a 1 page instruction sheet that does not mention minimum radii.  

The locomotive trucks do not turn much at all, and am not sure if the cars will handle the curves either.  I do not want to  purchase Fastrack only to have to return it... If anyone knows, would greatly appreciate...

[stebbycentral]

I beleive the easiest way to answer this question would be to set up a circle of the track that came from the set and measure it.  Also, in S scale they seem to measure the track from outside edge to outside edge, not center to center as is the practice in other scales.  This means that 20" radius track is really 19" center to center.

It is true that Lionel currently only offers one selection of curved track in their Fasttrack line.  There is a similar alternative in the S-Trax line from S Helper service.  They have curved track available with radii of 24" and 29" as well as the standard 19".  They still have the 24" track advertised as available direct from the company website.  And you can usually find it for sale on eBay.

[statistician]

The set was sold with S54 - 27" curves... the train appears to barely be able to turn itself around on that...

Even if the train can technically negotiate a tight radius, I'm thinking that it would drastically slow into the curves even with 2 power units but if anyone has first-hand experience I'd like to know.

I'll check out S-Trax from S_Helper (I never heard of any of these companies) or just wait for Lionel to release wider radius Fastrack curves.  Thanks for the info and for the replies.    

[Major]

I have Three of these sets.  The come with 24" radius curves however they will easily negotiate flyer 20" radius.

[rtraincollector]

just an idea how about curve straight curve straight thru your curve area if you have the room that would take some of the sharpness out of it. It would be better if you could get 1/2 curve 1/2 straight

[statistician]

Thanks Major... that's what I was looking to hear, confirmation... 

[statistician]

appreciate all of the advice, thanks again

[Major]

One of the sets I converted to an El Capitan.  It is on S-Helper 19"radius track and ran just fine.  Attached are a couple of pictures prior to completing the lettering.

[lionelsoni]

I have posted this method before, for finding the actual radius to the centerline of a single piece of curved track.  However, that description used a measurement of the center rail of 3-rail track.  Here is a revision that works for 2-rail track.

Measure the chord length between the ends of each rail.  Add these two measurements together.  Divide by a number that is 4 times the sine of half the angle that that piece would occupy in a circle, to get the radius to the center of the track.  That is, with 8 pieces to a circle, divide by 1.530734.  With 12 pieces to a circle, divide by 1.035276.  With 16 pieces to a circle, divide by .780361.

Be sure to measure the chord exactly between the centers of the ends of the railheads (excluding any track pins, of course).  This method is not very sensitive to whether the track has been bent a little to another curvature, especially for the gentler curves--it will tell you the original or intended radius.