I just set up a loop of the new Lionel Fast Track…very happy with the look, and the way it stays tight at the joints. Electrical connections are a snap with each piece of track with lugs on the underside.Track is a little noisy but after all thats part of the fun of 3 rail.I give Lionel a lot of credit for their research on this product and bringing it to market.
Nice product I hope Lionel will go forward with this product line[:)]
4567Martin
No question, it’s a nice looking product. However, the noise factor is the reason why The Rock hasn’t converted his layout to it. He’ll wait until Lionel fixes that problem before he buys it.
BigBoy posted a list of threads the other day regarding FasTrack. You might want to do a search for it for more information.
If Lionel did a little more research they would have made it with a rubber road bed (non slip & less noise) and weathered the rails.
Then they would have something.
Maybe Fast Track II for the high rail modeler??
I like the look of the roadbed - nice tie spacing! but I’m disappointed in the rails. Surely Lionel could have produced a rail with a better cross section than an inverted U. I’ll stick with my trusty, slightly rusty O-27.
I agree gang. FasTrack is good for floor layouts and not much more. If Lionel was really serious about this track for “beginners” they would make in smaller NOT larger radius curves. For the traditional first 4’x8’ layout, there are scant few layout possibilites with the current FasTrack line.
I’m another person who thinks Lionel could have done better by improving the already proven 027 track. The layout featured in the winter issues of Classic Toy Trains isn’t possible with FasTrack.
And for folks who want more realism with track other than 027 and traditional 0, there is no shortage of other (and better) alternatives. Gargraves for one. Atlas O for another.
This is slightly off topic here guys, but if Lionel wanted to make the best sectional track, they should have redone SUPER O, adding all of the component selection found in modern track systems. Now that would be a winner. Al of the advantages, with none of the disadvantages. the K-line system is pretty close.
And we ain’t even gonna get into my testing of FasTrack. TWO THUMBS DOWN for the serious modeler. For play? Sure! Go for it!
Will not be using it and actually have never held any in my hand. Did I hear it was hollow underneath? If so, fill with expanding foam insulation [when set up, trim off access] and then attach to underlay sheets of foam. That would be the answer for those who prefer the Fast Track. [Isn’t it nice that not everyone’s taste is the same. Would be a dull world]
The foam idea is a good one, and i do think it will reduce the noise. The only real problem is that you would need to attach the power feeds before applying the foam. I’ve seen the track, the roadbed is fine, imho, using a inverted U shape for the rails was a mistake.
For the newbie’s to this forum look at the work (previous post’s) Amtrack has put into silencing the track.
I am convinced with his work it cannot be done.
I am a newbie to the hobby and like the fastrack but seriously considering a change.