Lionel expands Fastrack Line for 2014

I would agree, although I don't believe that has been stated or even suggested. The only comment I saw was from Charlie at Nassau Hobby who said he had "heard" they would be less than the current command switch.

The "roadless" straights you think would be doable, but then whey not "roadless" curves for bridges on a curve?

 

Maybe we can use some of the Fastrack Expander 6-0I812 on the 30" straights? The more you apply the longer it gets?

 

Please do not get me wrong, I would love to see longer straights, but think of the size for shipping and or display storage at your LHS might be prohibitive.

 

If they could do it, might as well make the flexible also!

 

 

Lionels Fast Track pricing needs some adjusting.  A 10" straight sells for $3.69 and a 5" piece is $3.29 as is a 1 3/4' and 1 3/8" piece.  The O84 curve 32 to a circle and O72 curve 16 to a circle is the same price $5.29.  The half curve O72 is $4.99 at a local dealer.  What really gets expensive is when you need a odd length of track and you have to use all the little pieces.

 

Yeah, I have to agree...seems as much for a 10" straight as it is for a 1 3/4" straight-

-however, I'd have to figure as well that firing up an injection molder to make the base would cost the same either way, hense the pricing. More proportionate pricing per inch would be nice, in a perfect world.  

So far I have 265 pieces down and seven O72 turnouts, just to get the basic double loop track plan.  This doesn't include a 15' X 3' staging area and additional sidings along the main.  103 of the pieces are O84 curves and 21 of the little short pieces.  When I went in I went all in.

 

As much as I like the Lionel Fastrack I thought it was poor planning when their O-31 curved track doesn't fit inside of their O-36 curved track! Because of limited space I had to put Fastrack transition track to MTH Realtrax Adapter Track at both ends of their O-31 curved track so I could do a 180 degree turn inside my O-36 Fastrack 180 degree loop. Because I don't screw my track down, to keep the Fastrack transition track piece tight to the Realtrax adapter track piece I super glued the 2 pieces together, problem solved! It's those fitter pieces that eats up your budget quickly.

Gentlemen,

   Right now I am looking seriously at adding the Command Control switches to my FasTrack inventory.  Now it looks like I will wait a little bit to see what these new

switches will look like, I know right now the Command Control switches accommodate

my Tin plate trains, I will need to see if these new FasTrack switches will also. 

If they do not I will need to purchase the Command Control FT switches that are available now.  Hay if the new FT switches work correctly with my Tin Plate and they are less expensive that is fine by me. 

Is there any word on what sizes Lionel plans to build these new type remote switches.

PCRR/Dave

 

81253 031 RH 

81254 031 LH 

81946 036 RH 

81947 036 LH 

81948 048 RH 

81949 048 LH 

81950 060 RH 

81951 060 LH 

81952 072 RH 

81953 072 LH 

81954 072 Wye 

I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to plan O-96 layout modifications. I'm betting Late Dec 2014 for the O-96 curves, 2015 for the O-96 RH, LH and Wye switch preview and Dec 2016 for switch delivery.

I'm curious how the command switches differ mechanically to accommodate different equipment.  I have both O72 and O36 remote and command switches here.  I've looked at each type side by side and I see absolutely no differences in the rail configuration.  The only way to tell it's a command switch is the little button to program them.  Am I missing something?

If these new remote/command control switches will work with DCS I would buy them. 

 

As stated earlier in the thread, the Command switches have always been remote-capable out of the box.

 

 

I realize that Matt, my question is what on the remote or command switches differs mechanically that would allow tin plate stuff to run on the command ones and not the plain remote ones.  My comparisons here don't show any difference mechanically that I can see.  I realize they're different electrically.

 

Thanks Charlie,

 

Any word on new S scale FasTrack? New wide radius turnout? Numbered turnout? Flex?

"If these new remote/command control switches will work with DCS I would buy them."

 

They will not work with DCS unless you control them with an AIU.  MTH chose not to implement those parts (trains, routes) of the TMCC repertoire.

The only bad thing about fastrack is the price. My local Lionel Dealer told me that the price will go up by $1 on all pieces fastrack (curves and straights) at least that what lionel told him.
O 96 curves yes.

Thanks
Adam

gunrunner,

   John I can not tell you what the difference actually comes down to, it maybe something very small, I could not use the original FasTrack switches with my original and repro 263E type engines & 800 series rolling stock for contiuous running, everyone is telling me the new 072 Lionel CC FasTrack switches get the job done.  I will need to test these new switches myself before I invest in them.  I have been waiting a long time for this to actually work.  I believe the 072 type switches will accommodate the Tin Plate, the same way my old Lionel original 711 type switches do, and they will be completely remote controlled.  I purchased a lot of FasTrack down thru the years, and have a bunch of it, these new completely remote control switches, are a big time advancement to my layouts, if they really work correctly.

We will see!

PCRR/Dave 

If they were smart they would sell sections of bridges and viaduct that already contained "specialized" rail on them.  The FASTRACK elevated trestle is just rediculous.  This is what Kato makes in N scale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I'd recommend finding someone with them and doing some guest running.  Try as I might, I can't see any difference in the two switches as far as the rails or their configuration.

 

Has there been an update on what month this year Lionel expects to ship the FastTrack 031 Switches?

Dave,

all I know is, I'm trying to build a layout needing 64 pieces of 084 curve, I'm finding out, aside from the trains themselves, the 084 curves are the costliest part of the layout. At this point, the 084 curves are the last part of the puzzle, and so far I have only purchased (6) 084 curves under $6.00 each. So full size  084's would be a welcome addition to the fastrack line

 

Steve