I have not seen this mentioned any place else so I am curious as to what information is out there. In the Lionel 2011 Ready-to-Run Price list there are two new items that I have not seen anyone comment on:
6-49852 -- 10" Straight S Guage FasTrack
6-49853 -- 20" Radious Curve S Guage FasTrack
There are no pictures. Anyone have any additional information they can share? I see only one dealer on-line offering this track.
Is Lionel finally going to start creating a track system for American Flyer with Switches and other track? We can only hope so.
--Rocco--
Rocco - the the forum! After reading this, I didn't know there was FasTrack in s gauge, I will continue to monitor it. So I really can't help you. But to be honest I'm ok with staying with the original AF track. I do have FasTrack for a Lionel set and find it to be noisy.
Good Luck
Ray
Bayville, NJ
Life is what happens to youWhile you're busy making other plans - John Lennon
Rocco - looks like new product that has not been manufactured yet so most likely no one has seen it outside of Lionel. As for switches? Who knows? Probably will depend heavily on interest in the straights and curves.
Rocco,
I didn't know that Lionel was considering S gauge track for doing a Fastrac run. From what I know about the S gauge market, that would be like flooding the market with new track.
There are at least two other companies that specialize in S gauge track, S Helper and American Models. They have switches and track that already has a roadbed built in, and one company has quick disconnects built into the track.
Gargraves also makes S gauge track and switches, but without any roadbed, but more realistic in the number of crossties.
Lee F.
Hello all, I'm new to the forum. I too saw reference to Lionel's proposed new S gauge Fastrack with straights and curves listed. The Lionel shipping schedule shows these items to be delivered in July 2011 however we all know how dependable these dates are. The listing shows the items in the Lionel 2011 V1 catalog which will probably be out in April 2011.
I found several web sites with this track track listed for "pre-order". None have any pictures. The prices vary from $3.35 to $5.49 per section which shows that no one knows what it will sell for yet. As S helper's track sells for about $5.85 a section (and isn't available at present) the new Lionel track may be lower priced when introduced.
My local Train store dealer says he has heard that when the current supplies of the K-Line for AF track is gone there will be no more produced so this lends some weight to the news of a new track.
If you want any of the K-Line track you better get it now.
I'm looking forward to a Fastrack for S gauge as it will make it simpler for new Flyer customers to assemble a starter set oval and will, like O gauge Fastrack, provide a new "on the carpet" layout for Christmas time when most new customers search out train sets for the kids.
Regards to all.
This is interesting news, indicating as it does that Lionel now considers AF S-gauge to be a line worth upgrading. Has anyone heard anything about switches?
I am wondering what the compatibility issues will be. I currently use Showcase Line code 155 track from S-Helper. I suppose it's too much to hope that the Lionel track will be interchangeable.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
The actual rail on Lionel Fast Track is made the same way that Flyer made its pikemaster track. It is not T rail but inverted U shaped rail. That may be an improvement over traditional Lionel tubular track but it would be a step backwards for S-Scale. I hope it will be more like S-Helper track. If it is like the O scale version I for one would not want such garbage, since there are superior alternatives out there.
Sorry Major, but I have to disagree. FasTrack is far from being garbage.If you want realism, you'll never get it in the Toy Train market. No one could manufacturer track that had to be rail plated and IMHO manufacturing track that required 8 miniature bolts per rail side would be insanely difficult to attach.I don't think there is a track system out there that can match the durability and conductivity of FasTrack. I run all Atlas-O on my layout and quite frankly I've been beyond frustrated with it and wish I had gone with FasTrack.
Hello again everyone, I have to agree with lionroar88. I have a loop of Lionel O gauge Fastrack that I use for my American Flyer O gauge sets. It performs perfectly with superb conectivity and the track sections really stay together due to it's built-in locking design.
We're not talking prototype scale representation here. Rember this S gauge track will be included in Lionel American Flyer STARTER SETS. Those of us who pursue scale realism can take the hand-laid track approach. For the rest of us we have an abundance of track choices what with Gargraves, American Models, American S gauge, S-Helper Service, Tom's Turnouts, etc.
Let's wait and see before we pass judgement. Remember, no one has seen this track yet.As long as a major producer like Lionel is willing to invest in product for our gauge I say bring it on. Lionel's original introduction of Fastrack for O gauge was a tentative step to replace their then-standard tubular track in starter sets. Look at the selection of accessory track pieces now available. With any luck the new S gauge track will follow a similar production curve if the public shows interest.
Regards to all,
banjoflyer
Any updates? It has been nearly 7 months. With the train show season soon to be in full swing here I was hoping to see if some vendors had any.
Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/
I gotta go with Lion on this one. FasTrack is an excellent track system so I don't see any reason why the 2 rail S version would be any different. The hollow underside does tend to make it a little noisy though.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Benjamin Maggi Any updates? It has been nearly 7 months. With the train show season soon to be in full swing here I was hoping to see if some vendors had any.
Check out this earlier thread:
Hi Ben, I have a loop ordered from Charles Ro and the website just says "on order" when you search for the lionel item numbers in Charles Ro's website:
AF49854 Terminal section
AF49852 Straight section
AF49853 Curve section
I have heard that the rail on the track is a solid rail with a "T" profile. It should be nice track.
By the way I think Charles Ro offers this track for the least $$.
Regards,
Mark Hieger
For what it's worth, Lionel had what I think was S gauge Fastrack at the York meet last week or so. I didn't spend much time at their booth, it was a bit hectic, so I left planning on going back later. Perhaps later will be April '12.
I'm hoping it's available before Christmas, so I can use a loop of it under the tree along with O gauge Fastrack.
J White
Right on Lionroar88!
I have 300+ ft and 15 remote Fastrack switches [don't tell my wife] and while it's "kinda" noisy with 3+ trains running [fine with 1 or 2], it runs great. No-fail switches, true running track, and easy to connect to from below. The switches have LED lit lanterns [nice effect with the lights out], and they can be switched to either side of the turnout. I'm not a Flyer guy, but I'm glad to see this happening to S Scale.
The Lionel Signature 2001 catalog shows a terminal track, straight and 12 piece per circle curve. The recent 2011 Volume 2 catalog says their reviewing samples....2012 for sure. It will be worth the wait.
I have to say though, that I'd have found a way to dampen the sound echo during installation if I'd thought of it. But it is a toy train right?
Happy Railroading!
Hello everyone, well the long wait is over. Lionel is now shipping their S gauge Fastrack.
I received my order yesterday from Charles Ro and it included the curves, straights and power hook-up straight sections.
The molded roadbed is exactly sized to match S- Helper's roadbed in length, width and height.
The rails are truly "T" rail in cross-section and match S- Helper at about 3.5 mm in height however they look to be maybe a little thicker in the rail web section (THAT'S GOOD!)
The track comes with holes predrilled for attachment to your tabletop and have a builtup tube below the track at each hole to prevent overnailing the track too tight and cracking it.
The connectors on the ends differ from S-Helper so they won't readily mate together however with a little surgery I believe it would be easy to kitbash a "transition" section from S-Helper to Fastrack as the rails themselves match and with an HO style rail connector the sections could be joined.
Best of all is the price. At about $3.75 per section it beats S-Helper by costing about half as much.
I think this development bodes well for our gauge...lets hope Lionel continues making S gauge Fastrack in the fashion of their O gauge line with the vast variety of switches, crossovers, etc.
Does anyone know what code the new af fastrack is?
banjoflyer I think this development bodes well for our gauge...lets hope Lionel continues making S gauge Fastrack in the fashion of their O gauge line with the vast variety of switches, crossovers, etc.
That's the problem, in a single sentence. This new track isn't going to get far without switches and crossovers.
Hello, while the Lionel website doesn't reveal the details about their new Fastrack I have received a loop of the track.
Upon close examination the rail looks (to the eye anyway) to be nearly identical to the rail used on the
S helper Service sectional track. SHS track is advertised as 155# Track (code 131) .
I ran an American Models DC Scale Pennsylvania K4 Pacific on the Fastrack loop and it ran flawlessly
just as it does on the S-Helper track.
The Fastrack plastic roadbed and electrical connectors differ from SHS.
But the roadbed is identical in width and height to SHS track so by cutting up one section of each brand and joining the differing halves (with glue and jumper wires) you can easily make a transition track section.
This way if SHS doesn't make more track we can add to existing SHS track with the new Lionel Fastrack.
Hope this helps.
banjoflyer But the roadbed is identical in width and height to SHS track so by cutting up one section of each brand and joining the differing halves (with glue and jumper wires) you can easily make a transition track section.
I have already tried the experiment., and mechnaically the two brands of track are fully compatible. You simply have to clip off the spring connectors on the S-Trax component, and remove the corresponding mating connection on the Lionel track. For a more premanent connection, you can glue the ends of the ballast together with plastic glue.
There is a cosmetic issue however. The lionel ballast and rail is upainted raw material, in contrast to the S-Trax sections. Without treatment they would stand out on the layout like a sore thumb.
I have had some success with painting the rails and ballast of the Lionel product to match. It's a laborius process, especially painting the ballast between the ties. I can't really imagine doing it to several dozen segments of track. And I still haven't quite found the right shade of paint to match the S-Trax ballast.
Hey...very nice job of joining the two sections together.
I haven't tried to do this as yet. I'm wondering if rail joiners such as those on HO track would be helpful in keeping rails aligned.
As to the paint issue many paint stores carry a line of "Stone Surface" finish spray paint. The paint is multi-colored similar to granite and is available in several hues. Perhaps painting only the outside sloped area of the ballast while masking the tie ends and rail areas would help to make a transition of color. Perhaps adding some multi-colored HO scale ballast material between the rails would finish it.
Again, nice job. I need to try this for myself.
Mark
What I did was mate a 5" section of S-Trax to a standard section of Lionel track to create a track piece 15" long, with S-Trax connectors on one end and Lionel on the other. The existing rail joiners do a very adequate job of holding the two sections together. But as I indicated, you can also glue the two sections together at the ends to get one solid piece.
I've looked at the stone ballast spray paint by Floquil. Again several of the shades are close, but not quite close enough. So far the best results I've had was mixing a few drops of Testor's ModelMaster acrylic "Olive Drab" (4728), into a bottle of "Light Grey" (4765).
OTOH, recently S-Trax straight sections havbe been going for 2 and 3 times MSRP when they do show up on eBay. I don't see paying that kind of $ when there is an acceptable alternative..
Code 137
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Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
My Blog
Hello again. I thought I would let you all know of an update.
Charles Ro just sent an anouncement for AF Fastrack turnouts NEW for 2012.
Lionel's website makes no mention as yet but a google search shows retail prices of about $90.00 each from various vendors.
Ro is advertising them for about $62.00 each.
Also something referred to as a transition piece of track for $7.50 each. Not sure what it transitions with...old Flyer track??
Also the turnouts look odd...the straight leg looks to be about half the length of the curve leg which looks identical to a regular 20 inch radius curve section. Maybe the transition piece completes the straight leg? It looks like the turnout needs a half section to make replace a full 10 inch straight. Or maybe if both turnouts are on the same side of a long loop you could add one straight to the other side of the loop?....who knows yet.
Here's the info from Ro:
AF49856--AF FASTRACK REMOTE SWITCH-RIGHT
AF49857--AF FASTRACK REMOTE SWITCH-LEFT
AF49858--AF FASTRACK TRANSITION TRACK
The notice say Lionel will not make the old tubular Flyer track in 2012 (or probably ever again).
I'm glad it looks like Lionel is going to expand the Fastrack line...we need it.
Good news for flyer fans,
Just received an email from Charles Ro.
Flyer Fastrack remote switches announced. Also Lionel will discontinue the flyer tube track.
Galy
I don't know but in the catalog it shows the curve and straight at $4.79. Not bad, but I just paid from my LHS for new "old fashioned" straight track a lot less (less than $3.99) . I like the fastrack for alot of reasons but...... And I'm not sure but the curve track in the catalog had a radius larger than the standard original track so you would need to buy all new curve track and not just replace some. I brought in one piece to compare and it was a larger radius.
Anyone else?
banjoflyer Hello again. I thought I would let you all know of an update. Charles Ro just sent an anouncement for AF Fastrack turnouts NEW for 2012. Lionel's website makes no mention as yet but a google search shows retail prices of about $90.00 each from various vendors. Ro is advertising them for about $62.00 each.
OUCH! MSRP on S-Helper remote switches is under $55 ($45 for manual). And given that Lionel's strategy on their regular track sections was to under cut S-Trax prices, I'm surprised.
Anything about manual switches?
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