Has anyone else noticed?

[ldabigdawg]

I went in to my two local hobby shops today in order ot treat myself. While there I noticed that the amount of displayed lionel tubular track has significantly decreased while the displayed fastrack has increased significantly. I saw one pair of 022 switches and one 072 switch in one store while they had 6 pair of fastrack 036 switches and what seemeed like all the available fastrack items. there was a box of maybe a dozen 40 inch straights and a small box of satraight and half straights. I didnt see any insulated track or uncoupling track at all. one box of die cast bumpers and a box of 031 curves. No 072 curves at all. Is this a growing trend? Is tubular track dying?

[willpick]

I know of one store in my area that has gone for Fastrack in a big way-- and I think that they are selling out their stock of tubular-- as there isn't too much of it left for sale. Another store has lots of both for sale. I personally don't care that much if Lionel stops making it, as I use Atlas O for my little pike. But I know that there are thousands of us O gaugers that use nothing else- So I guess that they should begin thinking about stockpiling it against the day that production ceases[:(]

[pbjwilson]

Is O-27 track and traditional sized cars history? Maybe

But there is used track everywhere, and cheap! I'll take some of that sir!

[Jim Duda]

There is another painless and seamless option for Lionel O gauge track...check out the K-Line "Shadow Rail" (NOT SuperSnap). It mates PERFECTLY with Lionel O gauge, matches up EXACTLY with Lionel O22 switches and, in my opinion, looks far superior to it. Added bonus is the two outside rails are electrically isolated from each other which makes it a breeze to have track actuated accessories.

Here's a link to their catalog page, showing the selection:

http://www.k-linetrains.com/products/viewprd_new.cfm?prdID=1B1761DC-6C6C-11D4-ADA90060B0576B82&secID=B17A068D-6D44-11D4-ADA90060B0576B82

And here is a pic comparing the two: (click to enlarge)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pbjwilson

Is O-27 track and traditional sized cars history? Maybe

But there is used track everywhere, and cheap! I'll take some of that sir!

Don't worry, enough O27 track has been produced to last until the year 2525.[;)]

pax[C):-)]

[brianel027]

The other thing to consider here is that it is hard to determine industry-wide sales performance based on one hobby shop. And that there is SO much product being made today, it is almost impossible for a local shop (without major internet sales) to stock everything... especially track.

Now I know of some small shops who have told me 027 track sales remain steady and strong and very predictable. One dealer ordered a case of Atlas 0 track and sold out all 027 track before the Atlas 0 was half gone.

BUT I strongly suspect again, this does not reflect any national trend. Dealers stock what is asked for and what they suspect they can sell... if their customers are older, big spenders they will adjust on-shelf product accordingly. Dealers also base their inventory on what wholesaler they deal with and what that wholesaler carries. For example, I know of one dealer who carries other hobby items. Because of that he selects a certain wholesaler who carries these other items and also carries trains, but not all brands. So he stocks the brands that wholesaler carries - out of convenience and because of the additional hobby items, meets his quotas to get better wholesale prices.

Although it is interesting to read what is going on around the country in various shops. Lionel is certainly pushing FasTrack right now. But Lionel's history has proven a couple of times this push could come to a sudden dead spur.

[nblum]

I've now used both tubular and Fastrack, and there is no doubt in my mind that the latter is superior and the probable wave of the Lionel future. It's much safer for children to assemble (even adults get nasty cuts sometimes from tubular), it's durable, electrically robust and looks pretty good. The only downside is that it's much more costly and is noisier on non-carpeted floors. I suspect both types of track will be made for some time to come, but that eventually the tubular stuff will be phased out, depending on demand.

[wrmcclellan]

I could be wrong, but I recall that some of the articles about the sale of Lionel's Michigan plant assets stated that they sold off all the tubular track production equipment.

I don't know if that meant all the track production equipment had been duplicated in China or if that signaled the end of tubular track production for Lionel.

The sale occured about the same time as Fastrak was introduced.

Regards,
Roy

[Anonymous]

Fasttrack is being stocked in LHS pretty much everywhere here in most populated areas of Wisconsin, whereas most hobby stores are carrying either o gauge or 0-27 or mth or atlas, but they all have fast track.

[mpzpw3]

My local hobby shop has moved to fastrack in a big way. Their O-gauge tubular is waning, along with the O-27 line, but I have noticed they are charging above retail on some of the tubular track, which is why it probably isn't moving very well. I would say, though, that the fastrack is about the only new O-gauge item they have ordered since 1999, so they must be expecting it to catch on. I also noticed that Hobby Lobby is now carrying Fastrack and K-line supersnap (K-line track is superior in my opinion), and both systems are at 40% off right now.

[jimhaleyscomet]

I can't speak for 027 but since K-line snaptrack appears to use O track tubular rails probably they will both be around for a while. K-line snap track is very nice and easier to work with than MTH realtrak.

[Anonymous]

I did notice that my local hobby shop was out of the 40" long O-27 straights (which I was looking for) and more recently, I made another visit and the bin where they had them isn't even there now.

[lionelsoni]

I have found some new and deeply discounted at recent train shows. Before that, I got my local dealer to special-order me half a case, at a 20 percent discount. If you need a bunch, that might work for you too.

By the way, I believe the K-Line O31 piece is 40 inches long. The O27 is 36 inches. Lionel's O27 is about 35 1/2, or 4 normal sections. I like the uniform tie spacing of the K-Line better than Lionel's replication of the spacing of the shorter sections.

[Anonymous]

I have 2 loops of Atlas solid steel track on my layout. I find that my postwar magnetraction stuff runs extremly well on it after you scrape the black off the top of the center rail. I wi***hey would just make 3 shiny rails. After using this I dont think I would ever use tubular again.

Dale Hz