Track layout

[themattman]

This may sound dumb, but when i look at older plans for a layout how would i convert it to fast track. I am a little confused with o72 and so forth,

Thanks

Matt

[willpick]

Matt, Fastrack has 36, 48, 60, 72, and 84 inch DIAMETERS.   All of the older(postwar Lionel) plans would have used the diameters then made-- 27, 42, 54 for O27 height track. O31 height track came in 31, 42, 54 and 72. If the plan was designed in the 1980's or more recent, It could be using Ross or Gargaves or K-Line sectional track, which have the same diameters as lionel, but can also have diameters up to 120 inches.

So, imho, translating older plans to Fastrack can be done, but it will be larger than the original, as the O36 is the minimum diameter. Also, the switches are the same as the track--O36, 48, 60, and 72. Imho, your best bet is not to try to copy a plan exactly, but to use elements of a plan to get as close as possible to the original.

 

HTH---