I need to isolate a section of FasTrack on my layout but the place where there has to be a gap in the rail is a curved section and Lionel only makes straight block sections. Can I cut the rail in a curved section of track to isolate a section of track?
No need to do that...Turn the track upside down. There are tabs holding the 'splice' between the outside rails. Once you release the tabs, the splice will fall out and you can raise the rail so you can remove the pin.I've done this a number of times and it works great. The only thing you may need to is file back the rail end because they are very close, as long as you can fit a piece of paper between the railends you'll be isolated... OH and you may be concerned about alignment... don't be the plastic roadbed will keep everything in alignment.
Could I do that same thing but instead of removing the rail to cut it, could I remove the rail and take the pin out?
End pins are paired. Removing one from one side will not isolate anything and will result in some loss of physical stability as the pins are meant to mate to make a secure connection.
You can use a Dremel cut off wheel to slice the rail to make an isolation block. If you need to isolate outer rails you will need to remove the jumper straps on the bottom of the track. Since the rails are tin plated you can easily solder a jumper wire to reconnect any piece you cut at a later time.
ttt Could I do that same thing but instead of removing the rail to cut it, could I remove the rail and take the pin out?
Earl
Be sure that the rail you cut is the center rail, not the outside rails. You can burn out coupler knuckle springs if you shut off a block using the outside rails.
Bob Nelson
Bob - That is interesting because the outter rail is the one that is cut on their isolated blocks.
chuck End pins are paired. Removing one from one side will not isolate anything and will result in some loss of physical stability as the pins are meant to mate to make a secure connection. You can use a Dremel cut off wheel to slice the rail to make an isolation block. If you need to isolate outer rails you will need to remove the jumper straps on the bottom of the track. Since the rails are tin plated you can easily solder a jumper wire to reconnect any piece you cut at a later time.
lionroar88Bob - That is interesting because the outter rail is the one that is cut on their isolated blocks.
The center rail is cut on the block sections (6-12060), the outside rail is cut on the accessory activation tracks(6-12029). Although all three rails are cut & jumpered on the (6-12060), I don't see a quick use for using the outside rail gaps except in a scheme as put forth by Bob Nelson for starting/stopping using the outside rails & without relays, or to extend the (6-12029) through a block transition. At least Lionel gives you the option if you want to use them that way.
Rob
ADCX Rob lionroar88 Bob - That is interesting because the outter rail is the one that is cut on their isolated blocks. The center rail is cut on the block sections (6-12060), the outside rail is cut on the accessory activation tracks(6-12029). Although all three rails are cut & jumpered on the (6-12060), I don't see a quick use for using the outside rail gaps except in a scheme as put forth by Bob Nelson for starting/stopping using the outside rails & without relays, or to extend the (6-12029) through a block transition. At least Lionel gives you the option if you want to use them that way. Rob
lionroar88 Bob - That is interesting because the outter rail is the one that is cut on their isolated blocks.
You would want to isolate one outside rail to create a control rail, for activating some accessory.
You would normally want to isolate the center rail to be able to shut off power to a block.
You can shut off power by isolating both outside rails. However, if you do it this way, you need to take into account the fact that the trucks under the train can reconnect the outside rails by conducting current through the truck frame and through metal couplers. When two trucks with metal couplers are on opposite sides of the rail gaps, it is almost inevitible that that current will at some time be conducted from the coupler body, through the steel knuckle spring, and then through the knuckle. The spring is made from very fine wire. It will be overheated and lose its temper or, more likely, burned out. This is why, in an earlier topic about automatically starting and stopping trains, I advised insulating any metal couplers when this method is chosen.
ttt I need to isolate a section of FasTrack on my layout but the place where there has to be a gap in the rail is a curved section and Lionel only makes straight block sections. Can I cut the rail in a curved section of track to isolate a section of track?
Yes. I didn't see a clear yes/no response to this question in the preceding posts.
Roland
I think that's because he didn't make it clear which rail(s) he proposes to sever. I tried to explain the electrical consequences of the various possibilities.
You can use a small diameter cutting wheel for a Dremel to cut ANY of the rails wherever you want/need to isolate a rail. The section you slice can be bridged back together if needed/desired by soldering a piece of wire from one side of the cut section to the other side. There are little tabs on the bottom of the track that holds the U shaped rail channel against the plastic nubs that fill in the "hollow" rail. You can easily tack solder from one tab to the other to "repair" the cut. This seems a lot easier to me than taking the track apart but others may feel differently.
lionelsoni I think that's because he didn't make it clear which rail(s) he proposes to sever. I tried to explain the electrical consequences of the various possibilities.
It appeared to me his question merely dealt with whether one could cut curved track since lionel makes no curved block-track sections. I assumed he already knew which rail(s) he intended to isolate electrically. Your points were germane; just didn't seem to answer his more basic question.
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