Converting an old lionel train to fastrack

[Anonymous]

Please forgive this question since I'm new to this type of system. I am considering buying an older (2000) lionel set that does not have fastrack, but like the convenience of the fastrack. Is it a problem to use the older train with fastrack. I'm not sure how the transformer would match up, etc. Are there any special things or converters that need to be used? Thanks for your time.

[Big_Boy_4005]

[#welcome] to the forums. The answer to your question is it doesn't matter which style of track you use, there are so many these days. The critical dimension is the "gauge", the distance between the rails, and in that regard all of the 3 rail tracks are the same.

In the future, the place for questions about Lionel trains is the Classic Toy Trains forum. You'll get more resposes over there.

[BR60103]

Lionel make a transition piece to mate FasTrack with traditional O gauge track.

[TheK4Kid]

I just converted a Lionel 1935 Vintage over to Lionel fast Track. I don't really have a layout for these old trains ( I have two) but set it up around the Christmas Tree for my nieces and nephews to see when they come over.
Works just fine!
I have a 1935 0-4-0 steam engine with tender pulling 3 -1935 vintage passenger cars, and a 1935 Commodore Vanderbilt pulling several 1935 vintage freight cars.
And yes the engines are original motors and have been cleaned up and some special maintenece done several years ago by a guy who restores old Lionel Trains.
A more modern Lionel transformer is in use.
These trains are all metal with the older Lionel couplers of that era.
I am however working on an HO layout of the late 1940's to mid 50's era, with a Pennsylvania RR theme, as my dad and several Uncles worked on the Pennsy when I was a kid.

They belonged to my dad who passed away several years ago.
My Grandpa bought hem at Sears in 1935 to give to my dad on Christmas day 1935.
They have ben around our Christmas Tree for many years!
70 years old and still running fine! GOOD Lionel stuff lasts a long time!

Both trains have been appraised at about 800 dollars each.

And NO they are NOT for sale!

[fwright]

Just about everything made since WW2 works well on any of the present track systems. The only incompatibilities I have ever seen or heard of are:

1) Lionel made before WW2 generally had really deep flanges that often will not go through modern switches correctly, but will work fine on regular straight and curved track. What little prewar I have sits on a shelf for that reason (and broken flanges).

2) The Marx 027/034 switch flangeways did/do not match up well with other manufacturers wheels. There is a simple modification that helps prevent this problem.

3) Some Williams locomotives have problems on Lionel Super O track. This is usually caused by the center rail rollers being too narrow and/or mounted too vertically.

There may be some better answers on the Classic Toy Trains forum.

yours in old toy trains
Fred

[fwright]

Transformers of all eras - if in good condition - work just fine until you get into command control (TMCC or DCS). The newest Lionel (CW-80) and KLine transformers are more problematic with older (pre-1990) locomotives because they are electronic power supplies rather than just straight variable transformers. Mostly, the CW-80 works fine but there are occasional problems with the start/neutral/reverse system (e-unit) and whistles on locmotives with the older mechanical e-units and motor-driven whistles.

yours in transforming
Fred