I just finished covering my train table with 1 1/2" foam. The table is 6' x 14' with a U shaped 3' extension. I had intended to convert from tubular track to Lionel fast track. I recieved a "Polar Express" for Christmas and liked the look and security of connection with Fast track.
Just finished hooking up two loops. A fast track and a longer tubular. WOW! What a difference in the noise level. I knew that fasttrack was somewhat (?) noisier, but the difference is SIGNIFICANT! Its made me think again about a changeover. I don't mind some noise, but as I plan to run three loops at the same time it may be too much.
My questions: Has anyone changed over satisfactorily? Is there a better track system that gives the advantages of Fastrack? Opinions, experience, recomendations, are ALL welcome.
How did you secure the track down to the foam? What did you mount the foam to? FasTrack is, and probably always will be "louder" than tubular, due to the plastic roadbed. MTH's Real Trax is also "noisier" than tublar, but there are ways to deaden the sound chamber under the track. The various methods used have reduced the noise factor, but not eliminated it.
One basic thing that i've gleaned from the noise discussion is the importance of two things: Ridgid benchwork, never using fasteners long enough to penetrate the substrate(foam/homasote/homabed/vinylbed/etc.) and into the plywood. The quietest layout i've ever heard used a viynl carpet on homasote over a VERY ridgid frame. The track was not screwed to the viynl, it was glued. The viynl was also glued to the homasote. He also had the idea to put fiberglas insulation under the table to adsorb any sound that made it thru from the tabletop. This was an O scale layout that I saw back in the early 90's when I visited an old college pal in upstate NY. We had both been HO/N scalers back in college, he got into O scale because he couldn't bring himself to run O gauge.
I know this was way overkill, but he wanted a quiet layout, so he could hear the wheels clickity-clack from the other side of the room.
A Day Without Trains is a Day Wasted
Differances between Fastrac and Lionel tubular O gauge track show up at the curve diameters, 031 will take up 32 inches for a circle while Fastrac's smallest curve will take up to 50 inches for a circle. If you have 031 currently maybe you can use adapter tracks and incorporate both tubular track and Fastrac on the same layout. Have no idea how the Fastrac switches behave. Also you can cut tubular track with a hacksaw and not have to worry about any fancy electrical connectors being cut-off.
This is from my experiance and that is I have replaced my 031 Lionel switches with Gargraves switches and am using Gargraves track. The other reason for going with Gargraves track is the diameter verses the diameter for Fastrac. The reason for going to a differant switch is that Lionel switches for me kept acting up and Lionel refused to acknowledge any problems with their switches, so I got rid of the Lionel DUDS!!
Lee F.
Bob Nelson
Boonter wrote: Just finished hooking up two loops. A fast track and a longer tubular. WOW! What a difference in the noise level. I knew that fasttrack was somewhat (?) noisier, but the difference is SIGNIFICANT!
Just finished hooking up two loops. A fast track and a longer tubular. WOW! What a difference in the noise level. I knew that fasttrack was somewhat (?) noisier, but the difference is SIGNIFICANT!
More scientific evidence in support of tubular!
The only compromise I know of between fastrak and tubular is K-line snap track. It is tubular track on top of a realistic looking plastic multi crossmember piece. It is as quite as tubular and almost as nice looking as fastrak.
Jim H
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Buckeye Riveter wrote:We have heard rumors that clear silcone under Fastrack has deadened some of the noise.
I'll have to try that next time Pamela Anderson stops by . . .
OK so the diameter is not 50 inches but it is a lot wider than tubular track, almost nine inches wider than 031 tubular track and over 11 inches wider than 027 curves and that can mean a lot on a smaller layout. Other facts to consider are the differant sizes for curves and straight tracks, prices of switches, what can go thru Fastrac switches which limits you to newer locomotives(no pre war stuff, possible some post war stuff has problems too).
willpick wrote: How did you secure the track down to the foam? One basic thing that i've gleaned from the noise discussion is the importance of two things: Ridgid benchwork, never using fasteners long enough to penetrate the substrate(foam/homasote/homabed/vinylbed/etc.) and into the plywood.
How did you secure the track down to the foam?
One basic thing that i've gleaned from the noise discussion is the importance of two things: Ridgid benchwork, never using fasteners long enough to penetrate the substrate(foam/homasote/homabed/vinylbed/etc.) and into the plywood.
You don't need to fasten FasTrack to the layout at all. FasTrack stays in place without any screws. My permanent FasTrack layout is not fastened to the table at all. I prefer it that way because I can easily change the layout, which I like to do.
FasTrack can be quite noisy if you run your trains fast. If I run the modern trains with cruise control slowly, I cannot hear the FasTrack noise at all. If I run postwar trains, which are inherently fast, it can be quite noisy. My entire layout is covered from a thick felt-like material which helps reduce the noise.
To me, the noise is just part of the nostalgia of running postwar equipment. It's kind of like the buzzing of the postwar solenoids and the smell of ozone.
Earl
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month