Lee - I guess that is my point. I had a bunch of FasTrack from designing a Christmas layout and I wanted to go for a more Hi-Rail look on my new layout, so I sold all the FasTrack and used the money to go Atlas... and boy do I regret that decision! Atlas looks great, but it is just as expensive as FasTrack and the switches look really nice, but are, IMHO, junk. My next layout will be ALL FasTrack.As for the noise - come on Bob we've been through this 1,000 times on this forum. MOST of the noise issues are due to poor layout construction.I understand the cost issues...And I just LOVE how people KNOW what and how decisions are made at Lionel... LOL!
For some of us to change over to another track system may kill our budget for new train buying for a couple of years.
I have a rather large layout, 11 ft. by 8 ft. with three main tracks, and use only tubular track; 027, Gargraves and 042 tubular. Also the track power connectors are a differant style. While the common track power connector is used for O gauge and 027, Fastrac uses a differant type of connection to the tracks.
The other thing to consider is the accessory contact tracks or trip devices that were made for use with O gauge and 027 track. You need to modify or change out the accessory activating device that connects to the track. What about the older Cop & Hobo cars? How is the overhead (over the track) platform going to get hooked up to Fastrac?
While there may be benefits to using the new track system, you need to count all the costs of using the newer track system in the long haul!!
Lee F.
End of an era. Truly. But boy, is there lots of 027 (my preference) tubular track out there. The Fast Track is what it is - I got a few transition pieces so I could use those pieces that came with the various Thomas expansion sets I've gotten. It works well.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
No matter how you slice it, but pre-war tinplate just looks stupid running on Fast-crap I mean Fast-track. I guess that's the point tho, Lionel has decided to focus strictly on their products, no getting weepy eyed about the past. It's the guys like me who really enjoy the old-timey feelings you can only get with tubular. I'm sure Fast-crap err Fast-track has its real positive aspects, but no matter how good it is, it still looks awful in my eye. It just is what it is I guess. I wonder if we'll see tubular prices on Ebay start to climb like they did when LGB stopped production ...track went thru the roof. I hope not but Evilbay is a universe unto itself.
Have fun with your trains
Ready-Made-Toys got the K-Line Super-Snap track system.
The Super-Snap track system ties looks better than the old steel ties on Lionel tubular track.
Andrew
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
I am going to be in the minority here, but I am a user and advocate of Fastrack. It works for me and my layout very well along with the club loop that gets put up and torn down once a month at the train club that I belong to with no issues whatsoever. I have used tubular track for years and still used my leftover O27 for two tabletop layouts, but Fastrack just works better in my experience.
As to the tubular track from the magazine survey I think that the readership is already biased towards tubular (especially if a based some the the sample size from the opinions written here) I am not surprised. What really would be interesting to see would be what do new to the hobby users want? They all get Fastrack for their Lionel sets and when my son and I bought our set years ago he loved the Fastrack and hated the tubular, even more so after seeing his dad slice his hands open on the tubular I bought base on my past experiences as a kid. I would bet the survey would have been different. But then how many readers actually built the feature layout or used the ideas?
Okay, so you all can flame away now....
Founding member of the All Aboard Fastrackers! See us at: www.allaboardfastrackers.com
I can see this issue from both sides. Part of me hates to see tubular track go out like this, but then I think of the quality of modern Lionel tubular. It is flimsy compared to PW tubular due to the lighter gauge steel, and the modern 022s are overpriced and lack the feel of quality compared to the PW 022s.
The only thing keeping me from Fastrack is the $4.79 per section. I got a 40x60 oval from a set breakup, and I really like it, but I can't afford the amount I'd need.
Another way to look at the discontinuation of Lionel tubular is that Lionel and Flyer collectors are in the same situation if they want original track.
Andrew Falconer Williams by Bachmann has apparently gotten the K-Line tubular track...
Williams by Bachmann has apparently gotten the K-Line tubular track...
Except for SuperSnap.
Rob
What I find discouraging is that, with the exception of Dick Maddox's brief tenure there, Lionel seems to be increasingly disconnected from the hobby and their customers.
I use FasTrack myself, but I can't see this as anything but a bad thing. How can anyone be pleased at reduced choice for the end user? Toy-train users have been running on tubular track for, what, over a century, now? And yet we're supposed to believe there's no market for the stuff? Somebody's way out of touch, and it's not the customers.
lionroar88 I for one am glad to see it go.Tubular track was wrought with problems, the ends would warp and become so loose you couldn't get a good consistant electrical feed, the paper insulators would wear out causing track sections to short out, continual connecting and disconnecting track sections would cause the track to losen and cause the rails to come out of alignment... etc, etc, etc and don't get me started on what happens to the track when you accidentally over tighten the track screws!
I for one am glad to see it go.Tubular track was wrought with problems, the ends would warp and become so loose you couldn't get a good consistant electrical feed, the paper insulators would wear out causing track sections to short out, continual connecting and disconnecting track sections would cause the track to losen and cause the rails to come out of alignment... etc, etc, etc and don't get me started on what happens to the track when you accidentally over tighten the track screws!
Actually, I'm very happy with "O" gauge tubular track with 042 curves - have had it on the layout since 1996 with zero problems. I added wood ties and ballast to make it look a bit better and painted the sides of the rails "rail brown," Although I can understand why some modellers might prefer FasTrack, I haven't seen any compelling reason to change.
What I find discouraging is that, with the exception of Dick Maddox's brief tenure there, Lionel seems to be increasingly disconnected from the hobby and their customers. The decision to discontinue production and support for the original TMCC line without offering some form of upgrade incentive ("bring in your old Cab 1 and get x% off') was fairly poor as is the sudden decision to discontinue support for tubular track, switches, etc.
2011 ......... I say to myself: "Hey, Traindaddy, get with it. Everything is changing. You can't live in the past. Go "Fas". .... Well, then I say to myself: "OK, lets see. "Fixed income, over a hundred pieces of track, switches, new or modified configurations..........." Guess this "older" guy will stick with the tubular (old, recleaned, used or new from a non-Lionel source). It still "floats my boat".
Penny Trains It's amusing that Lionel announces(?) the discontinuation of tubular track while CTT is in the middle of the "Reader's Choice Railroad" feature. (Feb 2011 pg. 45: 32% of 1,000 of respondents desired tubular track and 53% opted for traitional transformer control.) Wouldn't this particular sampling of Lionel's core audience demonstrate that not only is there a market for simplified rail systems, but also that a respectable number of O gauge model railroaders are turning away from high tech and back towards simple reliability? I just don't get it I guess. Why not read the magazine's your company advertises in and see what the buyers really want? Just my pair of Lincolns. Becky
It's amusing that Lionel announces(?) the discontinuation of tubular track while CTT is in the middle of the "Reader's Choice Railroad" feature. (Feb 2011 pg. 45: 32% of 1,000 of respondents desired tubular track and 53% opted for traitional transformer control.) Wouldn't this particular sampling of Lionel's core audience demonstrate that not only is there a market for simplified rail systems, but also that a respectable number of O gauge model railroaders are turning away from high tech and back towards simple reliability? I just don't get it I guess. Why not read the magazine's your company advertises in and see what the buyers really want?
Just my pair of Lincolns.
Becky
Now I like Tmcc but I also like some conventional running ( IE my standard Gauge set.) But agree 100% with you that they and the rest of them if they don't, need to pay more attention to what these magazines seem to dictate thats going on. Now I have converted a couple of my conventional engines but still have plenty that are, infact 7 of my 13 engines are conventional yet. and when I get my layout up I have a modified figure 8 inside a loop which will run 2 trains in conventional mode. so I have no plans of changing a few of my engines. this requires the use of my tubular track or get more expensive controlling devices but like my 153C for doing this.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
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Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
After using tubular track all my life, I went with Fastrack on my new layout and am happy with it. The one thing I find difficult is attaching accessory wires to the bottom. You have to go out and find the proper connectors elsewhere and I think Lionel should sell them as part of their line as well. Otherwise, I think Fastrack is a good product and my trains run fine on it.
There are tons of used tubular track available on the market so I don't believe anyone should ever have difficulty finding it in the marketplace.
To me Fastrac is too diffcult and too expensive to make any fancy designs with!! Also for me Fastrac discolored too easily and lost good decent electrical connections.
Tubular track can be cut to fit very easily.
At least two or even three companies are still making tubular track, so I will go with one of the companies that makes tubular track. I prefer Gargraves track and switches over Lionel anyway. You don't have to worry if something will go through a Gargraves or Ross Custom switch!
On this subject, I will say to each his own poisin.
Williams by Bachmann has apparently gotten the K-Line tubular track. That system has to have better switches than the Lionel track.
If you really are into that type of bent metal track, go all the way and get Ross Sectional track and switches.
Williams still sells tubular track. It is just as good, if not better, than Lionel.
Chuck
To me this just makes for more users to goto gargraves as a lot including me do not like fast track even thou I used it for a temp layout this past Christmas and made a carpet central railroad. I knew it wasn't for good. I have enough O-27 to do the one layout for the center of my table. the others will be gargraves/Ross combination and just little by little. The only good use I can see for fast track is the straights I have as there good for display shelves. For those who like it more power to you. I just don't care for it.
Disappointing, but not surprising given how much coin they've put into the plastic junk.
Well I hope someone continues the 0-27 track to their their product line...as for switches I'll stick to the old Marx stuff. Like said above, the used market is alot like the use parts market for VW Beetles...never ending.
Progress-schmogress...I WILL NOT EVER use Fast-crap I mean Fast-track so Lionel can roll that in their pipe and smoke it.
Look at the up side – there is 70 years of O gauge track production out there and much of that tonnage can be found cheap, Williams by Bachmann is still making tubular track, and Aristocraft/RMT is offering the K-Line snap track (traditional tubular rails with a more realistic plastic tie base).
So for track in general, the end isn't here yet – though traditional switches may become even more pricey than they already are.
Bob Keller
On the other hand, Fast Track is fraught with its own problems. It's noisier than tubular. It's much more difficult than tubular to cut to fit. And it's much more expensive than tubular. On the other hand, I gather that, unlike tubular, it is impossible to damage by overtightening the mounting screws.
But hey, I wouldn't want to prolong this tired-out argument; so I'll follow Brent's example and won't say anything about the relative merits of the two track systems!
Bob Nelson
I for one am glad to see it go.Tubular track was wrought with problems, the ends would warp and become so loose you couldn't get a good consistant electrical feed, the paper insulators would wear out causing track sections to short out, continual connecting and disconnecting track sections would cause the track to losen and cause the rails to come out of alignment... etc, etc, etc and don't get me started on what happens to the track when you accidentally over tighten the track screws!FasTrack is far superior to Tubular track. It doesn't wear out, the switches are far more reliable, and now come with TMCC control built-in (if you buy the Command Control version). Tubular track was never 'realistic' in look either...But hey - let's keep dragging this tired out argument through the woods... yawn!
A shame. A shame indeed. a Lionel Tradition, about 100 years old, down the tube. Well, I shan't be buying any fastrack thats for sure.
Nick! :)
The following e-mail reply is from Lionel to a poster on another forum.
Unfortunately, we no longer manufacture tubular track. I am told however that you may still be able to purchase some through various dealers, as to who I am afraid that we don't have that information.We apologize for the inconvenience! Thank you!Lionel Talk To Us
Bill T.
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