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Atlas track w/ FasTrack switches?

S SeattleSUPOGR Forum Member

Ready to dump my FasTrack with the exception of the switches (don't have an extra $500+ laying around to replace them and to Lionel's credit they have been very reliable). I want to switch my track out to Atlas O while retaining my existing FasTrack switches. I've seen a few people post and say they've done this but my question is exactly how? Only "official" solution from Atlas/Lionel that I can find requires transition pieces that would take up too much room. I noticed Atlas makes transition joiners for tubular track - any reason I can't pull the connector pins from my FasTrack and use the Atlas transition joiners? How have others done this?

 

 

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S SeattleSUPOGR Forum Member

With ballast and weathering it wouldn't be too bad. Unballasted it would be pretty fugly. My N scale layout is mostly Kato Unitrack but I also have some Atlas sections. You have to look very close to see where one ends and the other begins. Granted the actual rail shapes in N scale are not as different. Also most of my switches would be partly or entirely hidden from view behind buildings or terrain. 

MK Matt KirschOGR Forum Member

I just recently discovered the "trick" of transitioning from tubular to Fastrack. It works quite well with cut sections, especially when transitioning to O-27. The O-27 pins are a perfect fit. Full-on O takes a little jamming

 

I'm not sure about a whole section, though... One outer rail is a little long, and one is a little short. on a "factory" end. There might be a gap.

S SeattleSUPOGR Forum Member

I emailed Lee and he's using the Lionel transition pieces. That will work for most of my layout but there are two points where I have curved sections attached to the straight and of my switches and don't have the 5" of room for a transition piece. At those points I'll probably trim the ends of the FasTrack by 1/4" so the rails are even and use Atlas transition joiners since it sounds like the pins are the right size. 

S SeattleSUPOGR Forum Member
That's a good point. I don't have any Atlas on hand yet to compare the two. Hopefully nothing so bad that it can't be smoothed down with a few swipes of a file. My N scale layout mixes Kato Unitrack and Atlas track and there hasn't been any problems though N scale stuff is far more cross compatible than O gauge stuff. Have to say lack of compatibility in O gauge is super annoying. 
 
 
Originally Posted by trestrainfan:

Aesthetics aside, I'm wondering if there might be any operational side effects over time such as wear and tear on the wheels and traction tires as the engines and cars go back and forth from the Atlas squared off rails to the FastTrack rounded rails.

 

ADCX RobADCX RobOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Originally Posted by SeattleSUP:

Ready to dump my FasTrack with the exception of the switches (don't have an extra $500+ laying around to replace them...

I hate to snub the effectiveness and convenience of the forum sale board, but in the interest of helping a fellow hobbyist, you can probably recover all or more of your cash outlay for all of your FasTrack if you sell it on eBay. This comes up over and over, but there are buyers on eBay often paying list or more PLUS shipping for good(or even worse) condition FasTrack.

 

I used to be able to buy large lots for bargain prices(~ wholesale pricing). They go for twice my maximum bids now.

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