This IS the least expensive cure, although the “volume control” section works well. I would also recommend the CW80 transformer add-on with the “works/doesn’t work” switch (6-88075, $12.99). Normally, I try to avoid FasTrack and CW80 forum topics for fear of loosing my mind. Joe
I think there are two big reason for all the discussion about the noise level of FasTrack. One reason has been discussed before and that is the onboard sound systems. There once was a time where simply the noise made by the trains on the track, along with a simple air whistle or bicycle buzzer for a horn was more that enough realism. Now it’s not.
The other reason, not mentioned nearly as much, is that more folks are putting layouts in other rooms other than basements. Again, at one time I think nearly anyone’s train layout was in the basement. Homes have changed and people’s lives have changed. More folks live today in condo type apartment housing, duplexes, apartment complexes, etc. Layouts are not necessarily in the basement any more. When one considers other household members or downstairs neighbors, noise levels become much much more of a factor.
Now I haven’t talked with Dick Maddox personally, but since he was the former head at Bachmann (who made E-Z track for HO and made HO under-the-tree on carpet layouts possible), it is more than reasonable to conclude that FasTrack was intented for all practical purposes to be the new modern equivalent to tubular 027 track.
That FasTrack has become so popular with other more seasoned modelers I don’t suspect was necessarily foreseen by Lionel. Especially since Gargraves was already well established and Atlas had introduced the highly acclaimed and well received Atlas 0 Track. Does anyone really believe that Lionel expected to have a go with these other track types. I think not. FasTrack was intended for the starter set and beginning modeler.
I fail to see how the supposed “cheap” Lionel starter sets like the Polar Express are all that radically different from other trains as far as noise level goes. I dare say that a premiere quality scale solid die-cast bodied car with steel trucks will make more noise rolling on a layout than a current Lionel starter car with a plastic body and trucks. Most of us today (including those who are so
gvdobler
Lot’s of good suggestions above (and quite a bit of ribbing!). I have a friend that mounts his track to plywood cut exactly to the shape of the track. Perhaps you would want to try the carpet pad mounted to homosite and cut to match track size? Just an idea.
Let us know what you try and what works for you.
Jim H
He wasn’t serious? [:O]
Okay, you guys want some comedy… though this won’t be view as funny by some, so please lock and bolt your doors and put the children in a basement away from windows.
Me and a friend tried this, and it truly does work and is probably the cheapest, least time consuming and simpliest - but least desirable way to quiet the overall noise level from FasTrack… drumroll please
Replace your metal wheel sets with MPC-era plastic wheel sets.
Really kids, bellieve me, this absolutely works and it works better than any other solution I have read about. And you thought that the MPC plastic wheel sets were a sign of cost cutting cheapness… now you find out they are an innovative way to the future of FasTrack noise levels! Amazing!
On cars with spung steel trucks, this is a bit of a pain. On plastic trucks, it is a snap. On postwar stample assembly trucks, you can still use the metal wheels, but insteady make your own axles out of two pieces of Plastruct Sytrene Plastic. One piece is small enough to let the wheels go through (as with the previous metal axle) The other piece goes over the other “axle” and is cut to serve as a “gauge” to keep the wheels at proper distance from eachother.
You can also drill out the staple rivet that holds the truck to the car frame and replace it with a nylon screw and a stop clip. On cars, like box cars with sheel metal frames, you will also want to drill out the original metal rivet and replace that also with a nylon screw and snap clip.
Of course, your illuminated cars may not work so well now. Neither will your operating cars. And if you use insultated rails to trigger accessories, those will now be useless too. But think of all the money you will save not buying illuminated/operating cars. Why you can even use a smaller lower wattage transformer
That may be one solution, Brian, but it’s not something I would ever want to do (or even attempt, in some cases). I’m a firm advocate of metal wheels on all of my trains, ranging from Z through Large Scale. In fact, when I buy Large Scale rollng stock with plastic wheels, I invariably buy a set of metal wheels to make the exchange, and just consider the new wheels as part of the overall cost of the car. My feeling is that the track tends to stay a whole lot cleaner with metal wheels on metal rails–a feeling that dates back to my early days in N scale years ago when much of the rolling stock was issued with plastic wheels.
But since I’ve never found FasTrack to be overly noisy–at least in my situation and applications–changing wheelsets is not something that I would ever need to do with my O gauge stuff.
Might be a viable solution for others though, so I’m sure some here that are overly bothered by the noise will welcome the tip.
Lee,
You can look up the FasTrack Volume Control Track part number for yourself in the newest Lionel catalog, online, OR call Lionel and ask them the part number.
Have a nice day!
Jim
Another alternative that hasn’t been mentioned is to pump all of the air out of your train room, since sound will not travel in a vacuum. The only disadvantage of this would seem to be that any air whistles that you have will become inoperative. (Other whistles on the other hand will still work–you just won’t be able to hear them.)
Well I don’t really know what to make of all this…so far I have only heard about 3 suggestions…homastote, insulation and carpet. This topic comes at a perfect time seeing that my layout is still in its planning stage and not too much damage has been done…yes, I am going to use FasTrack on my layout. Personally, the actual noise of the FasTrack is not a problem for me AT ALL. Isn’t that amazing? It must be personal preference then. I have the Polar Express, and it doesn’t even sound loud. Well, it IS, but that’s just the way it’s supposed to sound, isn’t it? My other trains don’t sound that bad, either. And get this - I have been running my trains on hardwood floor.
Now I did notice something during Christmastime last year. I had my FasTrack set up under the Christmas tree, and of course I brought out some of those “snow” fabric coverings and laid the track over it. This stuff wasn’t very thick, yet it decreased the sound level dramatically to a very satisfying level. On my permanent layout, I’ve been thinking of laying my track on a plywood subroadbed which, on top of that is some cork. Is that overdoing it, or is the plywood enough? I heard someone say that cork really doesn’t change much. Or maybe I should buy some more Christmas snow covering? Menards has it already…[sigh]
Bare plywood is about the worst subsurface to use, either witb Fastrack or any other track. At the very least, you’ll want to cover the plywood with Homasote, cork, or a carpet material (or even the “snow” bunting that you mentioned).
There have been a number of idiotic responses posted to this thread, so you’ll just have to sort through–and ignore–the lame attempts at humor and select from the responses from folks who are truly trying to be helpful.
Bottom line is: FasTrack is probably the best track system yet designed for a toy train (as opposed to Hi-Rail) or on-the-floor O gauge layout. If the alleged “noise” bothers you, you can always experiment with some different brand or type, but my guess is you’ll quickly see the advantages of FasTrack in these types of applications.
I have to agree with Allan on all his points. FasTrack is probably the best track system for toy trains.
And as for all of you who posted those “idiotic responses”, and “lame attemps at humor”, I’ll just add that this is a very, very serious matter we’re discussing here. There is no good reason to throw fun and levity into such a gravely important topic of discussion such as reducing the noise caused by TOY trains running on FasTrack. You know who you are, silly boys. Shame on you! No more nonsense. Shape up or ship out!
Jim
spray DAP under the layout. It’s a type of insulation foam found at all building supply stores. Don’t spray too much or it will expand all over the place.
Lee,
How do you expect me to take you seriously when you post in pink type? Hmmmm? Now everyone quit the foolishness and get back to the mature subject of TOY trains. [;)]
There are NO track systems that are absolutely quiet. I use a heavy felt material on top of plywood. I installed the heavy felt for asthetics rather then noise reduction. One nice thing about FasTrack is it stays together well so you don’t need to screw it down which will eliminate another source of noise transmission to the plywood sub-structure.
The FasTrack noise is a non-issue for me. The positive aspects of FasTrack far out weigh any noise issues.
Earl
Actually I wasn’t being silly with my last suggestion. Though I started off with that jist in my intro, it’s only because I know how much most operators abhor plastic wheel sets.
But as I said above, they actually do work. Even if you were to only replace one wheel set on every truck with a plastic wheel set, that would help reduce noise. Also, some noise is undoubtedly made worse via the metal nub that goes through a sheet metal frame and attached with a c-clip. Using a nylon screw instead does act as something of an insulator to help deter noise transfer to the sheet metal frame of a box car for example.
Earl above, does make a very good point of one of FasTrack’s big advantages, in that it stays together very well. As he said, not using screws into a layout subboard will also help reduce (if not make worse) any noise level created by FasTrack.
And as I said earlier in my comments about FasTrack being for beginners (outside of the large radius curves it is only offered in), the benefit of FasTrack staying together so well makes for track that can be placed on a carpeted layout surface board, and then changed or added on to easily.
Truly, as many of us have said, the noise level is a matter of personal preference. Though living in an apartment or condo may allow the neighbors to also vocalize their opinions over the noise level… but that can also be the case with ordinary tubular track too. Layout board construction is as much a determining factor in over all noise level as is any choice of track type.
First off I want to say that I’m a long time runner of 027 trains and love using FasTrack instead of tubular. Don’t be so quick to dismiss people’s concerns, after all, each to their own.
The problem I’ve encountered in the past is that my Christmas layout is too loud to leave running when there are people in the room trying to have a conversation. That’s led to my pursuit of trying to quiet it down. It has nothing to do with where I live or annoying my neighbors with excessive noise. If I want to do that, all I do is crank up my DJing system. 240w through the mains and 575w through the subwoofer is enough to get the police called on me. PS: working from home today and have Mas Tequila blaring though my computer system. That alone is enough.
[quote user=“SchemerBob”]
Well I don’t really know what to make of all this…so far I have only heard about 3 suggestions…homastote, insulation and carpet. This topic comes at a perfect time seeing that my layout is still in its planning stage and not too much damage has been done…yes, I am going to use FasTrack on my layout. Personally, the actual noise of the FasTrack is not a problem for me AT ALL. Isn’t that amazing? It must be personal preference then. I have the Polar Express, and it doesn’t even sound loud. Well, it IS, but that’s just the way it’s supposed to s
HUH ? !!
I thought this was an O-gauge toy train forum, not the serious HO one !!
Jim : please continue with silly !! I don’t think we have any gutter thinkers here either !!
Thanks, John
Maybe we have regressed to the other forum that counts rivits. [;)]
What is the old saying…" People who live in glass houses, shouldn’t throw stones ". [2c]
Philly, old bean,
You are probably the only person on this forum that took what I wrote seriously. IT WAS A JOKE. I was chiding Allan with the remarks above. Lighten up - just a little. We’re here to have fun.