Fastrack 031 curve

I just ordered eight sections of the O31 FasTrack for use on my whiskey-cask tinplate display that I have decided to keep in place in my living room (a partial photo of it will be in my column in the April issue).  I have O31 tubular on there now, but plan to replace it with the FasTrack for a slightly more "finished" appearance.  I just need a simple circle that will fit on a 36" round table top.  Will add a couple of accessories to the center portion--115 station, perhaps, and a couple of operating tinplate signals.  I thought this might make an interesting year-round display.

Alan,

  Some times I swear you are reading my mind, I love Tin Plate on FasTrack, now if you could convince Lionel to re-engineer their FasTrack switches to accommodate

all my Tin Plate, I could actually use modern low voltage switches.

PCRR/Dave

Had hopes of running the new 031 just inside the 036 to make a real cool Christmas layout. Running both the original Lionel 263E & the MTH 263E Repro P2, in oppsite directions at the same time.  Looks like getting rid of my 031 RealTrax was a foolish mistake.

Note:

The RRTrack.com FasTrack library has been updated to version 4.60.023 to reflect the actual dimensions of the new O-31 curvature track ( 6-37103 ).  Earlier versions of the FasTrack library had this track piece defined, but to a size that did not match the piece as it was delivered.

This track fits with the FasTrack theme of measuring center-rail to center-rail, although that means it is different from the the old tubular track.

  --Joe

Allan, you may have to file down the track ends on the Fastrack 031 Curves to make them mate properly. For some reason the sections I got wouldn't quite snap together snuggly, and I discovered that the rails were slightly too long. Bought a flat micro file, filed the ends of the rails down to size, and now they snap together and stay together just like the rest of my Fastrack.

Good Luck!

Bruce

Hi, Bruce!

I used my O31 FasTrack sections on my tiny Christmas tree layout.  They went together just fine, with no filing or other adjustment necessary.  The circle is still up and running on my former Whiskey Hollow Short Line (a Large Scale pike) in my living room, although the Christmas tree has long since been packed away.

wouldn't quite snap together snuggly

My batch of O31 FasTrack shows that sympton slightly.

In the past when snapping other FasTrack together, the plastic roadbed fits together so well, that it is difficult to find the break.

This batch is "off" by about 1/32 inch.  Either the rail is tad long, or the plastic base is a tad short (or both).  Anyway when track is snapped together adjacent rails butt together tight, but there is a tiny gap between the adjacent bases.  

One can see this gap from farther away than the previous FasTrack.

I've not had a chance to experiment snapping O31 to earlier pieces.  That might tell us which part is just a little bit off.

  --Joe

Does anybody from Lionel know if they and when are going to make 031 Fastrak switches? anytime soon?. FYI to fit 0-31 inside a loop of 0-36 on a 4x8 plywood I use a 4.5 inch straight and. 1 3/8 straight in the middle of my 0-36 curve, it makes the trains run nice too, and I run a figure 8 0-31 circle inside my 0-36 circle, it fits nice that way. I  Just wish I had or knew if or when Lionel plans to come out with the 0-31 switches?. I use my sons Thomas and polar express & my scale switchers and Atlantic's in the middle on the inside and I can run some larger scale trains on the outside loop like Pacific's , Makaidos and scale Lionel SD 70 MAC's  ? If anyone from lionel could let us know about switches I would appreciate it.?        

Daniel Marlowe TCA, LRRC 

I made a single 5x8 sheet out of 3 4x8 sheets of Luan board. Glue 2 sheets together so you have a 1' overhang. Fill the 1' gaps on both sides with strips cut from the 3rd board. Add some 1"x2" bracing to the bottom, and support on saw-horses.

I have the not snapping snuggly issue. Does sanding down the rails a little take care of this problem? for so what should I use to this.

thanks

Gentlemen,

    This was the best way I could use the 031, it needs to be RealTrax inside the 036 FasTrack, for everything to work out properly.  Now if Lionel starts making 027 FasTrack with a different base, then I might be able to run all FasTrack, as Steve previously pictured, the 031 FasTrack will not run inside the 036 FasTrack due to the track base. 

PCRR/Dave

That' exactly what I was wondering.