How to put in operation Lionel 3656 Operating Cattle Car with with Corral using FasTrack

[JS2013]

I decide to change my layout  and I will use FASTRACK instead of the traditional 0 Gauge.

Since I have a lot of accessories and I like its very much, my granddaughter love it.

So, my problem is how to put in complete operation the accessory  Lionel 3656 Operating Cattle Car with with Corral. There is a special Fastrack to this.

Thanks for help

Jose Santoro

[TrainLarry]

Welcome to the forum.

You use regular '0' gauge track in the platform as you have been, but you need (2) Fastrack transition tracks, one on either side of the '0' gauge track.

Larry

[JS2013]

Sorry for my mistake. I forgot to say that I decide to replace all my '0' gauge track to Fastrack.

Sirry and Thanks

[TrainLarry]

The corral cannot be used with Fastrack. You need to use the '0' gauge track for the corral, and one Fastrack transition track on either side of the corral. The rest of your layout can be Fasttrack. The corral is the only place you will have one '0' gauge track piece.

Larry

[JS2013]

Thanks, Larry.

I will try to do  as you told me.

Have a nice day.

[TrainLarry]

You are welcome. Let us know how it works.

Larry

[rtraincollector]

Larry question I know it probably be a lot of work but if you removed the stuff where the track go and somehow hooked them up to a 5 rail fastrack would it be possible ( I don't have fastrack just curious ) 

[TrainLarry]

If you want to take the time to modify the Fastrack unloading track to fit the corral platform, I suppose it can be done. The mountings in the corral sub base for the power blades will make modifying the track very difficult. Easier to use the '0' gauge track the accessory was designed for, and just use the transition tracks.

Larry

[ADCX Rob]

TrainLarry

The corral cannot be used with Fastrack...

Sure it can. Just detach the roadbed as needed from the Operating Track Section:

[TrainLarry]

Rob,

Will the Fastrack section sit in the corral sub-base properly? What about the power blade mounting clips, will they keep the Fastrack from seating flush? If you want to modify the corral base to use Fastrack, it may work. Research has not come up with one instance of successfully using the postwar corrals with Fastrack.

Larry

[JS2013]

Thanks ROB,

It´s a good news.

I bought in Ebay Market this operating Track Section Nº 6-12054. I wait receive it until October 10. So soon I will put it in operation will go inform you of the result. In that middle time I will test the Cattle Car 3656 using, the other option, the Transition Track.

Thank you very much for the help.

[JS2013]

Hi Larry.

I don´t know how this operating Track Section Nº 6-12054 woks with Cattle Car 3656. I don´t know It will put the Cows to walk and left the car and at the same time the Cows will walk in the Corral and return to the car.

So, when I receive and test this special track I will inform you.

Thanks again

[ADCX Rob]

TrainLarry

Will the Fastrack section sit in the corral sub-base properly?

Use it w/o the sub base. The Operating track can be wired to the corral base binding posts, or for better control used w/ its controller and regulate the stock car action with varying the track voltage(or to separate acc voltage tap). The other advantage is that the corral base can be adjusted to the optimum height for the track on self-stick foam pads, enhancing the operation as well.

The other option mentioned, using the original sub base and a regular $5 FasTrack straight section and cutting the appropriate notches for the operating blades and track clamp bracket, looks very nice but raises the track a little too high. This is corrected by milling the entire bottom of the track section where it meets the sub base by the thickness of the sub base sheet metal. This will bring you back down to the height of O-Gauge, if you must use FasTrack for the entire layout.

[wyomingscout]

The corral cannot be used with Fastrack. You need to use the '0' gauge track for the corral, and one Fastrack transition track on either side of the corral. The rest of your layout can be Fasttrack. The corral is the only place you will have one '0' gauge track piece.

Larry

This is the way I installed mine, except it is on a siding, so only needed one  transition track.  It works fine.  Well, fine for that accessory anyway; it still needs help from the 'cowhands'.

wyomingscout

[BigAl 956]

You will have to do extensive modification of the stockyard corral to use it with FasTrack. IMHO not worth the effort. There are a few other Lionel PW accessories where the control track was built into the accessory that make them incompatible with FasTrack. Rather than destroy them, which is what you would be doing to use FasTrack, it would be better to simply use transition tracks as suggested.

[ADCX Rob]

BigAl 956

You will have to do extensive modification of the stockyard corral to use it with FasTrack.

It's easier to modify the track, for ~ $5, some ingenuity, and a little time.

[servoguy]

Here is a link to a post I made a while back re modifying the cattle car and corral so that they work.

http://www.modeltrainforum.com/showthread.php?t=15882&highlight=cattle+pen

I have two corrals and cars modified,and the cattle never stop going around and never fall over.

[BigAl 956]

servoguy

I have two corrals and cars modified,and the cattle never stop going around and never fall over.

Wow, call me Mr. skeptic but in my lifetime I have never seen the stockcar and corral work this well. Do you have a video on you tube that shows these cars in operation? 

[servoguy]

No video, and no layout right now.  Stuff is all packed for moving.

If you modify the corral and car as I have indicated, it will work extremely well.