Lionel Fastrack Elevated Trestles- Big disappointment in quality

Tell it like it is,It needs to be heard.

if you are going to toss them I will take them.

Why not make your own? You can make them as sturdy as you want and you can customize the height and grade. I used 3/8" basswood for my elevated trolley trestles and it was a great project.

I recommend NOT using the pins that come with the trestle set. Use a small sheet metal screw instead, it makes assembly much easier.

 

 

 

I didn't know that MTH made a trestle set of Fastrack, and the salesperson at my LHS apparently doesn't know either. I was looking at the RealTrax layout at the store and commented on how much nicer the MTH trestles were. I will look into it.

 

Bigdodgetrain, you just might get a free set of Lionel trestles!

 

Bill

I purchased both the graduated and elevated trestle set and I'm happy with them.  I never used the supplied pins, and used sheet metal screws instead.  Once anchored down, mine are very sturdy.

 

Could someone please post a picture or provide the product number of the MTH trestles that work with Fastrack?

 

Thanks,

Rick

Thanks, Lighthouae......I will keep those in mind.

I wonder if Lionel has changed how they manufacture these trestles. Mine are very stable and support a scale Legacy Berkshire and scale heavyweight cars with no problems. I have been using them for years. Metal screws are very helpful.

The MTH ones look like they will be better looking and much easier to use.  I would love to hear back a review from someone who has giving them a try with Fastrack.

 

Kind of weird that MTH is making this for a competitor's track system though.

 

 

Here's the MTH elevated trestle link. 

 

http://www.mthtrains.com/content/40-1134

 

franktrain

...and here is another elevated trestle for FasTrack.  Item 40-1157 elevated subway trestle...

 

 

I picked up some new stock trestles last week at my LHS.  They seem just the same as my much older ones.   My experience is the same as drelo's; I've had no problems, and they are very stable.

Even before I permanently mounted them, I could run my Lionel 773 and pax cars up and over with no issues.   Once I screw them down, they don't move.

To clarify the problem I am experiencing with the Lionel trestles, the timber support sections fit very loosely where they snap into the base piece, allowing the top of the trestle to wobble 3/8". Even my little Lionel trolley causes the track to shake like Jello! I've been very satisfied with Lionel products for over 50 years, but perhaps I should call customer service on Monday to see what they say.

 

I appreciate everyone's helpful comments, and I didn't plan on this to be a big deal.

 

Bill

Definitely not a perfect product, that's for certain.  I looped a tiny ziptie around the bracket and the top of the trestle on each one to accomplish what the included pins did not accomplish at all.  Once screwed down to my table, I found them very solid.

Plankowner, I picked up some screws small enough to fit from a big box home improvement store for $0.99.  If you are willing to give those a try instead of the pins Lionel supplies, you might be surprised.  I run my scale Hudson on these things without any wobble or flexing and don't think twice about it.

Lionel needs to wise up and sell a special type of track specifically for elevated running.  The ballasted track floating in mid air is really silly looking.  They could do something kinda like this Kato N-scale stuff.  Heck, someone could even come out with their own style bridge & pier that goes under standard Fastrack.

 

Single Track:

 

Single Track Pier:

 

Dual Track Viaduct:

 

 

Various plastic bridges with built in rails (no ballast):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plankownwer110, Bill by chance was this purchase made in a LHS in North Carolina?

 

Ron

No, I'm in Ohio.

Are you using the 10 inch bars that fit between the uprights?  Not only will they keep the supports from wobbling, they will also help to keep the track from flexing...

The problem is not with the metal brackets that attach to the top of the trestle or the plastic pins. The loose fit is at the bottom of the unit where the timber support section inserts into the "rock" base. All ten are very loose fitting at this bottom point, allowing the entire upper structure to wobble freely. I thought about plastic cement, but the holes in the base are simply too big. I think it is a manufacturing quality control issue.

I have the MTH trestle set and a bridge and love them. They are very sturdy and will support anything. I've run lashups on it with no problems. The detail is nice and they simply slip on to the track. Here's a video I shot of a lash up running on the trestle 

Nice video Liam. Thanks for the info about MTH trestles.

 

My Lionel trestles are now re-packaged and going back to Lionel next week. I don't care what they do with this set, but I sure as heck do not want a replacement! I wouldn't want to wish this Lionel product on any kid.

No, I followed you about the source of the looseness being the bases--I should have completed my thought by saying that once I addressed the bracket/trestle connection and screwed them down, it mitigated the looseness of the base/trestle connection. Mine had a severe case of that as well before they were attached. Don't blame you for being disappointed!

As others have mentioned above, forget the pins and use a screw.  I have had mine up for 3 years.  They don't shake or wobble if you use screws.

Good thread. Thanks...

While I agree that the are wobbly on their own, I cannot see how once installed they would have the same issue.  I just got a set about a week ago and will report back once they are in. 

I have a Fastrack trestle from around 2008 and it is very solid and reliable.  The timbers fit snuggly in the rock base.  Not sure why the new ones would be any different.  The molds should not have changed.  I used the 10" metal spacers and screwed the bases into the layout.  The trestle includes two 036, 90 degree curves (tight layout) and doesn't flinch with any of my large locomotives.

Gentlemen,

   Although I usually build my own trestle, I have to admit the MTH FasTrack Trestle

is some seriously nice stuff, both the gratuated and the elevated.  Keith the MTH sub-way trestle for FasTrack looks real neat for my street cars, what is your opinion of it's strength, and what does it cost?

PCRR/Dave