Track Question

[PBWizard]

Am I correct in assuming that an engine rated for 48" curve will not run on an Atlas O 45" curve?  Also a Lionel train rated for a 54" curve will not run on a fasttrack 48" curve?

Thanks.

[lionelsoni]

No.  Just because a manufacturer says that a particular piece will run on a particular curvature doesn't mean that it won't run on a tighter curve.  This is especially true if the train manufacturer doesn't make the tighter curvature that you're interested in.  For example, MTH never admits that any of their stuff will run on O27, even though much of it will, since they don't make O27 track.

[phillyreading]

I had some Lionel Fastrac for a while before I traded it and some other stuff for an engine that I wanted. Fastrac 036 curves may run some stuff labelled for 042 curves, example is K-Line's heavyweight passenger cars that are 18 inches long or the Interurban sets that are 18 inches long. What won't run on 036 Fastrac is Atlas's 21 inch Amtrac passenger cars, they may run on 048 Fastrac, they claim to need 054 curves but I run them on GarGraves 042 curves which is closer to 43.5 inches.

What you can do with Fastrac is to put a small section less than two inches in between the 048 curves to widen the curves just a little instead of using 072 Fastrac or buy half curves in 048 if they make them and add a one & half inch section between them as this will widen the curve just a little.

K-Line's Super Streets in 16 inch curves will run some smaller Lionel engines or K-Line sets; like the Plymouth switcher set, and the Septa trolley by MTH.

Lee F.