FasTrack Operating Track Question, Cause Found, Solution Needed

It sure sounds like the roller or something else on the loco, thumbtack coupler maybe?, is trying to activate the track.

 

I had a similar problem with an older MTH caboose. It had wider rollers than anything else I owned. I parked it on a siding with an operating track, it buzzed whenever it was on it. 

 

It didn't appear that the rollers made direct contact with the accessory rails, but they were close enugh.

Earl,

   We had so much trouble with with the FT opperating tracks, I finally transitioned in and out of the old tubular and got rid of the FT opperating tracks.  For some reason they never worked well with my Tin plate.

PCRR/Dave

 

Just curious, Earl. Do you operate with track or accessory power?

Denny, 

 

I power the operating track sections with accessory power.  

 

More testing:

 

I pushed the engine through the section with both the track section powered and unpowered and the buzzing still occurred.  I also noted that the electromagnet was activated when I pushed the engine over the track section regardless of whether the track section was powered or not.

 

So then I pushed the engine through the section with ALL power off, and I still heard the buzzing.  The buzzing is not electrical, it is scraping.

 

I then put a straight edge across the track and found that the two additional rails are significantly higher than the other three rails.  So I checked the roller mounting mechanism with a magnifying glass and found a scorch mark on the side of the front roller.  

 

So it appears that the sound I was hearing was the mechanical sound of the roller mounting mechanism scrapping on one of the shoe rails and the headlight dimming was a result of the extra current draw when the electromagnet was activated.

 

Now I need to figure out how to solve the problem.  Since it occurs on multiple engines, the best solution would be to modify the operating track section, either by moving the two shoe rails slightly or lowering them.

 

Any ideas?

 

Earl

I'd like to find a solution as well.  I've had one of those sections with the same issues no matter what I run.  For as long as they've been on the market, you'd think lionel would fix the problem

No solution to offer but I too have had issue with the Fastrack OTS. Quite a few of my Legacy locos seems to short out when passing over the section.

I apologize for not offering a solution--just chiming in to say I've had nothing but difficulties with mine since the day it came out of the box.  Buzzing, activation failure, generally unreliable. 

 

It and all Fastrack lighted bumpers will be done away with on the next iteration of my layout! 

Have you called Lionel Support to find out if they have a solution? Give it try.

586-949-4100

The diagram in the manual shows the control rails lower than the train rails. It may be a manufacturing problem.

 

Pine Creek offered 1 solution.

I have had the FasTrack Operating Track Sections for quite a few years.  I have had many previously unexplained uncouplings near the track sections.  I never knew what caused the inadvertent uncouplings until now.

 

Earl

Hello Earl,

Would you mind placing some tape on the control rails and see if the magnet still gets activated. This way we can determine their role in the problem.

Cheers

Denny

 

Denny,

 

The problem does not occur with tape on the accessory rails.  Additionally, the problem only occurs on one end of the operating track section.

 

I removed the operating track section and saw that one wire of the electromagnet is connected to the accessory rails on one end of the operating track section and the other wire on the electromagnet is connected to an outer rail.  So when the roller support mechanism contacts the accessory rail, power is applied to the electromagnet and it activates.  The accessory rails on the other end of the track section are electrically isolated until a button is pressed on the controller (probably the 'unload' button).
 

Earl

I don't know wheels, but Lionel vs. Williams

1. The flanges are different
2. Are 027 wheels smaller than O?
3. The solid collector support is different than Lionel

here is Lionel PW FA on left and Williams "Golden Memories" , new model 027 FA, on right(notice the scratched, rusted area on the Williams collector support)

 

Hello Earl,

The right side accessory rail and the electro magnet receive power from the power source (track or accessory) when the uncouple button is depressed. I believe that your engine power pickup is shorting power from the middle rail to the right side accessory rail due to possible misalignment. I suggest this based on the fact that power is reaching the accessory rail, flowing through the magnet, and completing the circuit via the outside rail. You have kind of verified this by indicating that you found a scorch mark on the side of the pickup mechanism. I know that you have discounted pickup alignment, but evidence points differently.

But, I think that you can  make another test to confirm one way or the other. How about removing tape from the control rails and this time place some tape on the side of the pickups and see what happens.

Cheers

Denny