Lighted FasTrack bumpers - do they ever work??

I had the same problems too.I bought new, none worked. I didn't mess around and returned them. I went to a local trainshow picked up seven for the same price as new, all worked for a time. Following this thread, I went back and checked the track connection. After bending themthem alittle bit, they all worked. So my thinking is to run a wire to the third and outside track power connection,and this should solve the problem. Bottom line as none of us should have to modify these to get them to work. Lionel should have taken the hint and fixed the issue. For what they charge new, they better work. As for lighted bumpers being not correct. I have seen lighted bumpers in Union, CNW, and Illinois Central( Randolf street ) station in Chicago. For my use, They tell me which track has power in the yardyard since I run a mix of coventional and command control .

Larry was good to his word, he sent me two bumpers, and they're both non-working as promised!   Thanks Larry, I now have some victims for a mod tutorial!

FWIW, both of these have an identical issue, the same as all four of mine did before the mods.  The LED doesn't contact the pot metal arms properly, which is simply very poor design.  I can apply power and wiggle the LED around and it'll blink on and off.

Given that Fastrack generally makes good connections when assembled, I have to say that I don't believe many of the issues with these would be track connection related, but rather farther up the current path.

Rick, if all goes well, you'll have to read it in OGR.   Since you're a premium member, you can read it in the electronic copy.

Of course if Allan decides it's not worthy of a spot in the mag, I'll post it here.

Are these #260's the tinplate ones that Pine Creek RR posted? They look similar, but I can't see his very well in the picture and they looked red to me, so I thought they might be different?

You have to fiddle with them a little with the Atlas-O track as I recall, but once you get them properly in place they fit pretty good. Definitely heavy-duty enough to stop a train! Well a slow moving one anyway.

N.Q.D.Y,

I've never seen the Williams one before, will have to do some further checking on those. Probably a bit less expensive that the Lionel die-cast. They look kind of like the Atlas-O bumpers with no lights that I started out to use.

Well we will just have to insist on it being an article! LOL

I only spotted them recently too when I was looking at the latest WBB catalogue. I'm not sure how long they've been around, and I've got no idea how well they work. But at around $10-$13 a pair they might be worth a try if you aren't happy with the Lionel ones.

But do they light?

 It does say lighted on the packaging.  

But as my Lionel ones are still working just fine, I won't be needing to try any others. 

I bought all 8 of my lighted fastrack bumpers back in 2005 time frame.  May be the newer manufactured ones are more flaky than the older ones that have been on my layout for years with no issues at all.

I'm not defending Lionel like the other poster said, just posting that all 8 of mine worked out of the box and are still working today.

I'm hesitant to buy more because of so many people complaining about the recent ones DOA by members, but I'm sure once Jon posts his article in OGR, this can be overcome.  There really isn't much to these bumpers if you look underneath.  I'm sure Jon has an easy to fix for those loose / sloppy connections.

May be these lighted bumpers just need a "redesign" from Lionel since so many are experiencing problems with how they are being manufacturing now.  At a minimum, Lionel needs to be made aware that more QA testing needs to be done before they are boxed up and shipped out. 

Remember the Fastrack flashing grade crossing with gates had issues with its plastic gears getting easily stripped.  Lionel recognized the problem and pulled them from the market for about a year or two before the redesign was re-released and the problem was fixed.

Some people sent them into Lionel for repair, and were given new redesigned ones when they were available rather than just a repair that could happen again.

If you have DOA lighted bumpers, take them back to your dealer where he can report the issue and replace it if they have more stock (may be even test in the store), or contact Lionel so they are aware of the issues, and/or just fix it yourself if you are inclined.

I know you shouldn't have to do that, but unless enough people let Lionel know, how would they know to fix or redesign it?

Hopefully, they will see the posts on this forum, but I would contact Lionel directly to make sure.

I'm fully confident you'll do it up right, John!  

A dose of confidence, just what I need.