Yippie!!! No more “Carpet Express”!!! It’s been just about 2 months since we got the Pole Ex., and since that time I’ve had to unpack and pack the entire thing in its box whenever we used it, trying desperately to not break of any of the pieces. But, oh what a difference $35 at Lowes makes. It’s not done yet, because I’m going to add a 2" piece of Owens Corning insulation board under the surface board, maybe next week. But, then as we all know, even that won’t make it “done”. [;)]
Well you are either two months behind The Chief, or your are 20 years ahead… since it took him that long to get off the floor (or so Buckeye says).
Looks nice… keep the pics coming!!!
Brent
Congratulations! Now the fun really begins as you add track, buildings and accessories to your railroad. I imagine you’ll spend a bit more than $35 before you’re through! [;)]
Thanks, and yeah, my guess is that $35 won’t look like a drop in the bucket after awhile. Heck the O-22 switches that I’ll be adding cost more than that! However I did find them under $40.
Ohhhh… that polar express set is just “asking” for a Lionel freight expansion set. 3.5 straights plus a .5 operating track, an action car, two more freight cars, plus a tractor/trailer. Hobby lobby has a 40% coupon online this week!
Jim H
Actually, what I hear it saying to me every time I see it, is that it wants about 30 more feet of track, with about 4 remote switches.
Is the insulation board to help absorb the sound of the fastrack? We have ours setting on a ready grass mat on top of a 8x4 corkboard type table and I’m looking for something to help quiet it down…
LOOKS GOOD, now to expand?[;)] Keep up the good work.
laz57
2 weeks ago I got my set off the floor and on a 4 X 8 layout and it made the 40" X 60 " track really look small so I purchased alot more track and 4 remote switches and now I have enough track to let my train run. I really like the FasTrack and the switches work great. It is nice to get the train off the floor and see it run at eye level. Now I need some scenery and some acessories. I know alot of people on this forum and others really like tubular track but as this is my first train set and have never used tubular track I really like the features of Fastrack. I think alot of new train enthusiast will share my feelings towards this track as it is a really good way to get the train up and running fast. I think Lionel has a good thing going with it. Congrats on getting your train off the floor. I think it makes it much more enjoyable.
Yes, the insulation is to help quiet the sound as it travels through the benchwork, without it the table is basically a 4x8 foot drum. I’ve looked at the Homasote but, I’m going with the insulation board because I need this table to be semi-portable as I know I will be moving at least every few years. And the insulation board will remove a ton of weight while still giving me plenty of rigidity on the table. After I add the insulation board, I will buy a bunch of O-31 tubular and begin to use the whole table, switches will come later.
As for the Fastrack, its nice and I will be buying another 40x60 oval to combine with this one, but it will be for the Christmas tree layout, I will be going all tubular on the permanent layout for three reasons, 1) I want a semi-post war look to my layout, 2) family tradition, 3) $$$$. I can’t see paying twice as much for a switch in Fastrack as I would pay in O-31 that just doesn’t compute in my brain.
Thanks everyone for the compliments, and I will keep the pics coming as I add new pieces to the layout. And it is great to see the train at eye level, instead of laying on my stomach watching it come at me.
Oh, I will also be adding a guard rail of some sort to help limit the damage of the eventual derailment. I don’t need that Berkshire finding its way to the floor via the Express rail.
ATS, I use clear acrylic plastic about 1/8 inch X 6 inch x 48 inch on my corners. Don’t even know its there and you can see through it.
laz57
Excellent, thanks a ton Laz that is a great idea, makes a good barrier and preserves the sight lines of the display, very nice.
Where do you happen to buy yours, and the all important question, how much $$$?
WOW, 2 weeks!!! Sure was a long time. [;)] Only took me 2 1/2 years. [(-D] Good job. Keep on going.
I have pertty much always been a floor runner, and I enjoy the flexiblity of it.
Triple R where ya been?
I don’t mind the idea of being on the floor, but with two kids (5 and 2 yrs) I don’t have the luxury of being able to leave my train permanently displayed or even displayed for longer periods of time, so I’m forced to pick it up every time, and I’m afraid something will get broken. Plus, I like to run the train for 5 or 10 minutes or so, and it takes twice that amount of time to pack and unpack the set from its boxes, so it really is more hassle than its worth. Plus, I really want to work on a permanent layout with scenery and everything, this becomes difficult with my situation.
I can’t wait to get some tubular and have it snake around my new table, that’s going to be the between step, prior to adding the switches; gotta have something other than the 40x60.
I got mine from a local hardware store a “Do it Best” hardware, they sell it in sheets of 2ft x 4 ft. Can’t recall price. But took it to school and cut it in 6 ich x 4foot sections then screwed to sides. Allowed about 3.5 inches of plastic come above layout. Hope this helps?
laz57
Thanks, I think I will go this direction that way. Thanks for the help.
Openin new forums and givin y’all a break from me.