FASTTRACK TRESTLES ?

Pete;

The metal clips which attach to the sides of the Fastrack easily pop off - the ends bend easily. Be aware that there are also long flat metal bars that connect the metal clips, under the Fastrack - they use a plastic pin to connect to the clips, and they can also be easily disconnected.

Paul, I think I know of a workround idea for the long metal strips. What does Lionel

suggest if you are using curves or 30 inch sections? Thanks for the response.

UnclePeteRR

Pete;

My trestles are primarily on curves. Not sure that Lionel suggests anything. As I remember, the directions just show how to assemble the various pieces. For the 30" sections, the spacing is determined by the metal bars - roughly every 10" or so. I have minimum O-72 curves, and there, the spacing is also determined by the length of the metal bars.

How substantial are the trestles?  They strike me as being somewhat on the spindly side.  

Mitch 

Mitch, I use a set on my layout and they are sturdy.  The base is sturdy, the post are sturdy and the metal clips have just the right amount of snap to hold the Fastrack base.  I think the key though is to screw the bases to the layout.  If left unattached to float around I think they could be a little "spindly."

I had a set of graduated trestles.  Returned them.  The grade was too much for my engines.  Didnt have any with speed control at the time.  So they would creep up and fly down!

Jim

I have the trestles and don't have them screwed down to my layout. To keep the bases from being wobbly I screwed in from the bottom 2 screws and washers to lock those two together. For the top instead of using the plastic pins I also got some screws to screw in there as well. Makes for a very tight connection between the trestles when using the metal spacers. I don't have any pictures handy but will post them if you're interested.

I mixed a box of graduated trestles and fixed height elevated trestle set together and this seems to be sturdy enough in use.   Spaced say 6" apart give or take, no issues over carpet or another uneven table top surface -- but heaviest engine is a SD70 style diesel.   I dispensed with the metal straps that go between the trestles (which I found to be ungainly) and used a nail of the appropriate diameter to hold the metal clasp that sits at the top of each trestle in place instead of the provided plastic pin (note: nail is snug but not tight... this stuff is plastic after all).  The clasps can also be bent somewhat and adjusted as needed.

Even though my creation works, I use it, I have it out now in fact -- and I hate to be so blunt about it but I think their trestle sets are junk.

On the other hand, I don't have the time or interest to build my own and I'm not aware of other better ready made solutions at a similar price point -- so from that point of view... they are ok.

I have to agree with Steims... the Fastrack trestles can be wobbly if they are not screwed down. For full disclosure, I have a thing about large steam, and my trestles are primarily of the graduated variety, and they are, for the most part, on curves. Here are a couple of pics...

Here is the best I could do on the underside... the black bands are small zip ties I added to keep the trestles, metal clips, and metal bars snugly connected - I think the train coming up the "hill" into the curve was causing the connection between the trestle and track to come loose over time.

Severn posted:

Even though my creation works, I use it, I have it out now in fact -- and I hate to be so blunt about it but I think their trestle sets are junk.

On the other hand, I don't have the time or interest to build my own and I'm not aware of other better ready made solutions at a similar price point -- so from that point of view... they are ok.

I don't think I would be as blunt/critical as Severn, but I unerstand where he is coming from...

I am assuming from the OP's question (that he plans on running a trolley) that he would only need the elevated set of trestles, not the graduated. If that is the case, if I remember correctly, MTH makes a set which looks a bit beefier which will work with Fastrack. I liked the appearance, but I needed the graduated and about half of an elevated set. The MTH set elevated set was higher than the Lionel, so I would have had a steeper incline (since I couldn't make it any longer) and that just didn't work for me. Maybe someone who uses the MTH trestles could chime in.

Paul, correct, I am only using elevated set,not the graduated ones. I need to put up /take down in 15 mins or so. I plan to make a wooden or plastic horizontal  strip to attach to the 2 holes at each end of the track. I would Dremel out the center red trestle support and cut out a slight indentation in homemade strip to accommodate the Lionel metal clip. The  base would be attached to a 4 inch diameter thin wooden base. One end of the line would have the new "talking trolley stop" 6-84373. One commenter mentioned the graduated set being too steep. Space permitting, you can always double 'em up; e.g. 2 "C's" in a row, 2 "D's" in row and so on.  Thanks for the comments. UnclePeteRR   

Thanks Pete... I actually thought of that (or just spreading the trestles further apart), but that was problematic due to a series of switches which are in the way. The switches allow me to cross between the two innermost main lines on my layout.