Lionel_FasTrack_System Yahoo Group

[lionelsuperotrack]

Lionel FasTrack has turned into the toy train operators track for the 21st century. It lends itself to temporary as well as permanent layouts. Its operating characteristics make it user friendly and it is offered in many new Lionel train sets and offered at most hobby shops. Hence, it is readily available.

Come along and share your experiences with this NEW track system. Our group is interested in your experiences, ideas, thoughts along with layout photo's and diagrams and other information that you would like to share. What have been your experiences with FasTrack? Are there areas for improvement? What are its best characteristics? Could this be the NEW alternative for tubular track?

Lionel_FasTrack_System
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lionel_FasTrack_System/

If Lionel FasTrack is an interest of yours why not come along for the ride!

Very best, Mike

[overall]

It took me more than one try to join. That word verification at the bottom had some unrecognizable characters in it. Anyway, I finally got in.

George

[LS1Heli]

It's nice to see a group for the finest O gauge track available. Now hopefully Lionel get rid of that 027 and 0.

[Anonymous]

Why does it seem to take so long for Lionel to expand the selection of track components? The FasTrack sections can not be cut to suit as the old O and O27 could. It is also irritating for the price of the components to be escalating so quickly, and the needed parts tough to find at a reasonable price. (I am frugal, not cheap!) But why pay retail if the product is available at a discount.

[LS1Heli]

You need to be a smart consumer when buying FasTrack. Online places like Island Trains have great prices.

Places like my local hobby store sell for retail. Can't believe people buy full price.

FasTrack is fairly new and engineering is coming at a pace.

After using it for only 3 months I can sit here for an hour and talk about how much better it is than 0 and 027. You would be green in the face after I got done.

[Brutus]

I also noted that ebay prices are too high, but many websites have it discounted pretty well.

[danrunner]

I got into Fastrack, but now wonder if I made a mistake. I really miss my MTH Realtrax. Anybody know of a place where I could barter my fastrack for the stuff I want and get a fair trade?

D

[Frank53]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LS1Heli

Now hopefully Lionel get rid of that 027 and 0.

Why? Some folks prefer tubular track for any number of reasons. The fact Lionel still offers O and O-27 doesn't impact FasTrack users in any way.

[Anonymous]

Definitely don't ditch the tubular. It would work great in freight yards or in tunnels. Save the fancy track for the mainline.

[Anonymous]

I'm a FasTrack user...but why "ditch" O27 and O ? FasTrack does not offer O27 and O31 curves, and many like the "traditional" look for pre and post-war trains. Joe

[jimhaleyscomet]

danrunner,

Email me at [e-mail]. I have a lot of MTH track I would be willing to trade.

Jim H

[HopperSJ]

I think I joined...

At least I went through all the forms, set up a profile, entered the funky characters in the box, but then it returned to my profile page and said "you are not presently joined in any groups." Is that because I need the "group owner" to approve me now, or did it screw up in some way?

[Jumijo]

I kept my O27 track, even though our layout is all FasTrack. I'll use the O27 stuff for a little door layout I want to build for the kids. They will be able to bring it where ever they want to run trains. What ever is left over will be used on shelves as storage tracks for our stable of rolling stock.

Jim

[dwiemer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LS1Heli



Places like my local hobby store sell for retail. Can't believe people buy full price.

.

So, you can't believe that people are paying full price at the local hobby store? Problem with this thinking is that if you don't support your local store, you won't have one. My nearest train store is 3 hours and another state away. I wish I had a local store. My only saving grace is that I have a store that I know well and can order from. I gladly pay a little extra for the great service and knowledge that I can just call them up and have my questions answered.
Dennis

[HopperSJ]

QUOTE: So, you can't believe that people are paying full price at the local hobby store? Problem with this thinking is that if you don't support your local store, you won't have one.

I want to be with you on this one, but I just can't afford to, not when it comes to fastrack. My local hobby store is $79 for a fastrack turnout. On-line it's $46. If you buy 5 of them that's a difference of $165. I can't absorb that difference. if it was a "little extra" as you mentioned I jump on it. I love my local. I go in everytime I'm in the next town over with a few minutes to spare. My kids love it, but I can't justify the "lot extra" that it is. I buy rolling stock there. I buy other hobby supplies. I've even bought my woodland scenics stuff from them, but large orders of fastrack is 40%-60% cheeper on-line. I just can't do it. [V]

[LS1Heli]

I could careless if I have a local store or not. I don't need one but what I do need is a great price in an expensive hobby. I don't play favorites and I don't need questions answered.

I remember back in 2003 I purchased online the Lionel PWC Wabash F-3 freight set.

Retail price from Lionel was $699.99

Island Trains $569.99

A "local hobby place which answers questions" $999.99.

That insults my integilgence and anyone who would have bought that is a moron.

I have been buying mailorder and online for the past 20 + years and I have NO intention of moving.

#1 motivator- PRICE.

I am glad that Lionel has moved on an is offering FasTrack. I am tired of this hobby working backwards and people promoting the use of a track that was designed and has remained the same since 1915.

[Anonymous]

I like FasTrack--a lot--but I also dislike Yahoo groups--a whole lot. I belong to several of them already, and they are about the most poorly constructed forums going, in my opinion. I know they're all over the place, and probably very popular, but I find them a pain to follow and wade through.

Anyhow, best of luck with the FasTrack group. It is a pretty darn decent track system.

[dwiemer]

Hopper,
I know what you are talking about. We have a Hobby Lobby that offers the K-Line Plymouth engine and caboos for $179., That is not the type of local dealer I speak of, Yes, I too would shop on line if the difference was as great as you mention, but for the most part, I can get the items for close to the same price. Too many of us are abandoning our local hobby shop to save a few dollars and these shops are becoming a thing of the past. John mentions above a local store selling for several hundred dollars overLionel retail, certainly this is not the type of honest dealers we speak of.
Dennis

[Anonymous]

I think we all realize that the small, local hobby shop is on the way out. I don't think anyone here can really dispute that. The local shops are being killed off because we're the ones killing them. I doubt that can be disputed either, especially when one reads posts on these various forums over a long period of time.

The larger, better stocked, and more savvy dealerships will certainly survive, but I think it's rather obvious that most people in the hobby today--and most American consumers in general--are far more concerned with price than they are with service or proximity/convenience.

We can lament the passing of the local hobby shop as much as we want to, but we really have only ourselves to blame.

[lionelsuperotrack]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DJSpanky

Just joined - I'll see if the invite is in my Yahoo email account when I get home.

Anyone having trouble joining the Lionel_FasTrack_System Group let me know. Be glad to assist.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lionel_FasTrack_System/

Very best, Mike ([e-mail])
List Owner & Moderater

[lionelsuperotrack]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Allan Miller

I like FasTrack--a lot--but I also dislike Yahoo groups--a whole lot. I belong to several of them already, and they are about the most poorly constructed forums going, in my opinion. I know they're all over the place, and probably very popular, but I find them a pain to follow and wade through.

Anyhow, best of luck with the FasTrack group. It is a pretty darn decent track system.

Who has something better then the Yahoo concept?

Mike