New AF Fastrack Track and Switches?

Mike

 

I have a loop, it looks good.  Someone will post some pictures for you I am sure.  Rusty has adapted a section of Lionel Fastrack to join with S Helper (now MTH) S track system.  S track looks a little nicer in detail, but the Lionel Fastrack in nice.  Lionel has not yet gotten their S gauge turnouts out yet. They have been pushed back into next year for delivery...kind of a sore topic on here lately.

 

Ben 

I thought about my track options once I build my new AF high rail layout.  Fastrack appears to be nice until I realized that for several reasons I'll stick with the old Flyer track.  First of all I have plenty of track in great condition and it can be bought cheap.  Second, although it can add up in price, the Johnson rubber roadbed dresses it off just fine and being rubber it deadens the vibrations.  Plus regular Flyer switches are very cheap to buy now and I have plenty from collections I bought to choose the best.

 

Why not?  I just looked at the prices of Fastrack offered in the ads in CTT.  Unbelievable!  Even when discounted I couldn't afford to build the layout I plan.  At $62 for a remote switch, that's a lot.  I realize this is a new product (when it's finally delivered) and probably good looking, and priced according to today's market, but I'll be very happy and content to use my huge stockpile of track and roadbed.  Some areas will have the new 27" radius that I was able to buy at a reasonable price.

 

I'd like to still see a wide radius switch emulating the old Flyer.

 

"Thanks but no thanks."

 

Phil 

$62 for a hi-rail switch is kind of insane IMHO...

Will lionel still make the tubular s track?  

 

re: switch price...keep in mind there is more to these than say an HO gauge switch.  Look at the price of a Marklin HO or LGB power turnout.  Not cheap.

Well I think the s fastrack is priced the same as o gauge fastrack.

To help keep things in perpsective:

$37.50 each for Kato N Scale powered turnouts, no manual.

$60.00 each for Kato HO Scale powered turnouts, $28.00 for manual.

 

Rusty

Gargraves makes some S gauge track that is just like the old A.F. track in heigth and track pins, they have switches and flex track in S gauge.

K-Line made some S gauge track for a while, curves and straight sections that look just like the old A.F. track.

 

Lee F.

Lionel had the K-Line track. Did they get to keep it?

Rusty, still insane to me for a product no one actually has seen. I have tons of American Classics S Gauge track I'm sitting on for my ultimate layout if I ever get the time. I don't think they are in business anymore, their track was expensive but truly top notch nickel-silver in 5 foot flex sections. Made a major score on Ebay at about 1/3 list for about a 180 feet. I bought turnouts when I saw the end coming for $50 each retail. $62 per switch? Rather do Gilbert track with roadbed and Gilbert switches. Same radius anyway.

The price may be insane, but the MSRP and dealer cost are determined near the beginning of the product cycle after materials, tooling and labor costs are calculated, with any engineering development time is factored in.  There may be an initial internal target price set, but if any of the manufacturing costs increase during development, there's little to do but raise the dealer and retail price or cheapen the product.

 

The dealer will figure out how much to discount, if at all.

 

The AM RC switch is $47.95 without any kind of molded ballast. 

 

The last known retail price for a similar SHS S-Trax RC switch was $54.95, still less than the Kato HO switch.  But, you can bet that the MTH price for an S-Trax will also be higher.

 

Rusty