LIONEL FASTRACK HELP

What is the model number of your "dream" engine?  Are you running on just a loop or a more involved layout?  I have a Hudson that will go through O36 switches, albeit, very slowly.

 

Yeah, the engine is the Lionel 2014 10th anniversary Polar express berkshire. I have a loop of track.

 

Yeah, basically thats what it is, but this is really, truly special engine! Have you even seen the gold one?

 

Even if specs state locomotive minimum radius is 054 I would go with larger radius anyway, give the engine "room to breath" so to speak.  Whether the locomotive will run or not on 036 to me is not the point, it's whether it "should" run on that small of a radius track.  If you upgrade to a Legacy or larger layout it just makes sense to enlarge your layout to fit the engine you will run........unless you don't have the space to do it.

 

TEX

Steve

No it will not.  It does run on O48 fine and will go through o48 fastrack switches.

 

Well, my layout is about 48 inches wide. And theres no curves on the ends of the layout, but rather 2 curved pieces of fastrack, a straight piece of track, and then 2 more curved pieces. My track is basically a rectangular shape. With this in mind, would 0-48 fastrack curves work on my layout?

 

Wait, sorry, I remeasured, its actually about 50 inches wide, my bad.

48" Fastrack will be really tight on a 50" layout, can you add a few inches?  Another trick is to combine say O36 sections with O48 to tighten the curve slightly and still allow operation of larger locomotives and cars.

 

Wow, is that even possible? I cant imagine an 0-48 fastrack curve and 0-36 together. Are you sure that would work? Im not saying youre wrong or anything, but Ive just never heard of combing different size curves before.

It's used all the time, here's an example, two O36 curves leading into three O48 curves.  Think outside the box.

 

Outside dimensions of the actual track are less than 46", and so it would fit on a 48" table.

 

 

Well, I guess that would work then, Thanks for the help. And youre sure an 0-54 16 inch engine would negotiate that curve?

I worked with Fastrac some, and you can buy half curves in 036 and combine it with 048 and give you less then a 48 inch curve.

 

Lee Fritz

OR Eliminate the CURVED SECTIONS all together !!!

 

LOL

 

FREDSTRAINS

I found that my Berk Jr from the 6-31960 PE set would bind on the 0-36 curves enough that it annoyed me-visibly slowed in the corners. It was the length of the drive wheels.

My old layout for that was configured like yours. I use it for my test area now.

I connected full size 036 048 048 048 036 for a symmetrical corner and it is right to the outside edge of a 48" table (roadbed width included). The curve is also 3/4" longer, so, you'll lose 1 1/2" on the length. Replace the 5" straight with two 1 3/4" to keep the loop on the 4' x 8'.

Depending whether the length of the 8 drive wheels is longer than the Berk Jr. will determine if the Legacy size will get through the first 036 curve or not.

Another factor will be how close the tender is to the cab. The Legacy is definitely closer than the Berk Jr with the slot connector.

Jdevleerjr confirmed the 048, so the 1 section of 036 will be the rub.

FWIW Moonman, that's exactly what I showed above, two O36 sections on the ends of the curve and three O48 sections in the middle.  It was just an example, you can also mix them in any combination as long as the resulting curve is 180 for this example.

I'm not sure of anything, I just answered the question of how to make the curves as wide as possible on the table.   Obviously, with Fastrack, it's simple to plop some on the floor and run the selected locomotive around it to see if it works.

O-48 is really tight for this loco, the pilot wheels  will want to rub the steam cylinders if the loco is run on a tighter radius than rcommended. I own one of these and its best suited to O-54 or larger as it states.

 

 

Secondly it looks bad on o-48 as the center drivers "hang in mid air" as they "shortcut" across the radius.

 

 

 In a year,we don't want to see you posting bent drawbar or shorted wires going to it  derailment issues etc.

 

I would advise finding a way to enlarge your layout and go with o60 curves, the loco will run far better and you will thank yourself.

 

With all due respect to John, mixing o36 with o48 will get you nothing on a larger 8 wheel drive steamer, a diesel maybe but not a steamer.

 

I'm sure these will be priced well over $1000, if your going to plop down that kind of money on a brand new steamer DO IT RIGHT.

 

Theres no advantage to "forcing" a locomotive to run on a radius it isn't designed for. IMO it would almost be better to run it back and forth over a straight section than grinding it around tight turns.

I never said it would work, I simply answered the question of mixing track.  Some locomotives will function with such a configuration, but it's obviously impossible to determine exactly without having the specific item in question.  Also, some locomotives won't function on the minimum curves specified by the manufacturer, yet another wrinkle.

 

I heartily recommend the wider curves, that's clearly the best solution.

I feel your pain, I keep seeing that LTI version of the Chessie Steam Special turning up for about half of what it was going for 5  to 10 years ago.  Even at today's prices it would be my most expensive engine by a bunch. I can't see buying an high dollar shelf queen. The heart says "Yes!", the O36 curves say "forget it".  

 

The spirit is willing, the finances are weak  and the layout is just too cotton pickin' small.

 

 

Yeah, tell me about it

unfortunately i started out with O-36 fastrack switches.i wish i would have used the 48's instead.

 

however to my surprise, my berk's, mikado's,and pacific's as well as the 4-4-o's  glide through the O-36 fastrack switches with never a derailment.

 

even my pw loco's with the light leading and trailing trucks have no issue's with the O-36 switches.

 

thop......