So Easy: Fastrack Switch with Atlas O

Thus the title Engineer. Great Job.

Very cool Lee, looks like a perfect fit.

That is a cool idea.  I don't believe it would work in a club setting with the Lionel fastrack being tubular, trains might wear a hole in it with a lot of use.

Looks good, Lee.  You just have to be careful with those Atlas-O transition joiners as they are quite flimsy And can break easily.

Rick

Lee, 

Thanks for posting this. I have a bunch of Fastrack switches for my staging area and have wondered how to transition easier to atlas track. 

Bob

Hi Lee, Did the Fastrack and Atlas line up or did you have to shim one or the other? I too have Atlas track and switches, but I do like the non-derailing feature of Lionel. Are they about the same pricing as Atlas? One more question, is Lionel going to add to their selection of switches? Atlas does have a lot of different choices. I use 7.5's, O72's and a couple of O36's for short industry sidings. Thanks, MilwRdPaul

 First, the Atlas and Fastrack rails fit perfectly: just remove the tubular track pins in the tlubular end of the Fastrack transition pieces and fit the Atlas transition pin/clips into them, then slip the Atlas track into those clips: the track surfaces will be perfectly level and even (at least they were for me.  I have to admit I was surprised by how perfect the fit is and how little trauma it causes the locos and rolling stock - not only are the track surfaces level, I had worried about the crosssection (Atlas has a flat top like real rails, Fastrack is, well - tubular.  The trains don't seem to care . . .

However, you do have to shim under the Atlas track as shown by the yellow wood or foam shim I drew in the picture below, because the Atlas ties are not as deep as the Fastrack roadbed.  I used wood about 3/8 inch think and thin wood and paper shims to make each just right.

Fastrack remote control switches cost about what remote control Atlas do.  I actually have not compared price to the penny - my impresison is that the prices for either at my LHS are about the same, except I would then have to buy the optional auto-de-railing board which makes the Atlas option just a bit more expensive.  I think - certainly not much difference one way or the other though. 

Fastrack switches are available in 36, 48, 60 and 72 inch diameter curves.  I don't know whether Lionel will make )-31 switches now that they have decided to make 31" curve sections, too.  I had up to 23 Fastrack switches on my layout about five or six years ago, of all those diamters, but now will have only four electric remote Fastrack (all used for aut-derail on reverse loops) and three Atlas (just for looks, will never operate)turnouts on my layout: while I like switching yards and such I had to eliminate them for things I want more: never enough room for everything, it seems.

this post got me curious because i use fastrack.  i was wondering what makes atlas o better?  it looks pretty similar in that it's on a plastic roadbed.  fastrack rails are round and you say that the atlas o are flat on top.  is there any other reason that atlas o is a better alternative?  is it quieter?  a quick amazon search shows that it may be a little cheaper.  just curious why you made the switch.

Atlas has solid rails that don't rust, Fastrack has hollow rails that do rust.   Atlas track is quieter than Fastrack, probably due to the echo chamber on the Fastrack.

One thing that Harry Henning suggested that I'd like to try is the roofing granules that you can buy by the bucket for ballast.  I think if you get it in the same size as O-gauge ballast, it could be a cheap alternative.

Thanks Lee for your reply to my questions. It seems to me that the plus/minus of Atlas and Lionel makes it a toss-up except for the non-derail of Fastrack which can be remedied on Atlas with their auto-switching option.

Paul:

You forget that Fastrack Switches have a Stellar reputation in general.And once you add the extra cost of the Anti-Derail they are less cost than the Atlas switch as well.

Flip side of the argument; Fastrack is noisy as all getout.

<Point, MTH Realtrax is similarly noisy due to the molded roadbed and hollow rails>

Atlas Track is a better conductor, has a more realistic rail form and is quiet.

So to me it's only a tossup if you don't care about noise, looks & cost VS Time to Ballast.

Good points Russell. I'm sticking with my Atlas switches unless something drastically happens to them. I'm sure all of us in this hobby could find a plus/minus with every aspect of model railroading and the differences of the manufacturers. I guess you just check out your options, get some feedback from forum members and hope for the best on all our decisions. I just wish that Atlas had included a lighted switch stand with their switches.

MilwRdPaul 

and built in non-derailers.

Atlas are you listening?