Just wanted to share an idea with the community that I have done while making my layout. I'm using Lionel Fastrack (love the switches). One thing about the fastrack is that it stays together fairly well. As I was planning my current layout, I was thinking about troubles i had in the past. All my previous layouts were 4 feet by 8 feet and this layout goes around the walls of basement, much bigger! One challenge is making changes to track or even trouble shooting a track issue. The track sometimes need such force to pull apart that when making changes on my small 4x8 layout would impact all 8 feet layout from one pull apart job.
my solution:
I planned several areas where pieces of fastrack can be lifted up and out of the way without pulling the track apart.
How did I do this:
1. I used a dremel to grind off the pins and the plastic grabbers on the fastrack. I had to do this to 4 ends of track. This means you can lift the track straight up without pulling the track apart
2. the removal piece got extra length of wire soldered to the bottom. Since the track is no longer connected by pins, it needs power from wires underneath the layout. With wires extra long, you can easily lift and move the piece as needed.
This been a life saver for me many times. I put several lift pieces in my layout. By all my switches (for easy replacement and fixing of switches). I've used it to add sensor tracks without destroying my layout. I've used it to add the defect detector without destroying my layout. Adding a new switch that wasn't in my plan before is easier too, I just lift up one section of track and then the nearby section can be easily disconnected the normal way without causing stress on the whole track plan.
hope others find this tip helpful. It could really be done with any track type so long as the track is insulated from pins and has its own power supply.
