Fastrack questions and operations

Paul, welcome to the forum.  I'll try to answer some of your questions.

1. The answer to activating postwar accessories depends on the type of accessories you want to connect.  Could you elaborate?

The Signal bridge, banjo signal, and gateman are most commonly activated using sections of track with an insulated outside rail. This works like tubular track, electrically, wherein as the train wheels pass over these track sections, they bridge the common from one outside rail to the other insulated outside rail which is connected to the accessory's common connection.  

You can either purchase 10" sections of Insulated FasTrack or make any piece be one by removing the metal strap under the roadbed whose sole purpose is to electrically connect the 2 outside rails.

There are also other ways of activating these accessories including using either homemade or commercially available infrared or ultrasonic triggering devices.

2. An operating milk car can be activated using a 6-12054 FasTrack Operating Track section.

3. Most postwar trains do work well with FasTrack switches.  Some locomotives with very large wheel flanges may have issues traversing FasTrack switches and Grade Crossings.

4. There may be an issue with the tender's center rail pick up roller or its connections that could be preventing good conductivity when it's on the track.

Addendum to answer #1: the 6-12029 Accessory Activator Pack includes 2x 5" straight sections each with a gap in one outside rail and a 10" straight, all with insulated outside rails.  This will make it easier to get you started with an insulated track.

I hope this helps.

Steve, Thank you for the information. I sounds like my accessories will work on the fastrack. I next need to find a 4x8 layout and get the track.