Using Lionel FasTrack For A Permanent Layout

Wiring and scenic ideas for fastrack

[@burlingtonbill1]

Nice video. Liked your easy-going style, a sense of humility - I tire easily of hearing "THIS is the only way to go." Your track work looks nice. Fastrack is (per inch) the most expensive for O-gauge layouts, and NOISY. But beyond that, it looks great, Rick.

[@nw24153ns]

Thanks for sharing your ideas, regardless of what others comment. Building my 2nd layout, O gauge, Fastrack, MTH engines. The layout is based on memories of my youthful fascination and scenes depicting 20 plus years of fire and EMS calls involving some railroads such as N&W, NS, CSX and BAR.

[@markslioneltrains]

Great Info.! I learned the hard way not to use the wimpy little Lionel wire when my railroad shorted out.!

[@wcmodelrailroad]

Great video Rick, I really like that Woodland Scenic Steel Rail Paint pen. I'm going to pick that up this week. I like how it clearly defines the edges of the rail.

[@dennisb-trains23]

Super video of helpful ideas and tips without handing out judgement. Well done!!

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

Thanks for sharing.Try using 30 inch or 20 inch fastrack when you can.10 inche track produces to many connection causing power loss.The less connections the better.Also connect your power supply to a 30 inch fastrack instead of 10 inch .You will notice the difference in power immediately.

[@ricko3242]

Agreed. I have 30 inch fastrack sections where its practical on my layout. I have 14ga feeders attached every 10 feet on both loops and all sidings have their own feeders. All track pins were adjusted for good contact as the track was laid. The layout will be 17 years old this winter. The voltage has been consistant the whole time.

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

@@ricko3242 Cool Rick.Good electricity flow bring out the full profromance of Train.Happy railroading

[@JJosephS1]

Great wiring tips! Thanks.

[@mr.shadestrains6033]

6️⃣0️⃣3️⃣🚂😎. 🚂❤️great video 🚂❤️😎

[@richardsomerville4107]

Hello Rick, enjoyed you video. I'm in the process of securing my fastrack to the plywood and wondering if you took steps to quiet the track down.

[@ricko3242]

Yes. On one of my videos I discuss using 1/2" pink insulation sheets on top of the benchwork. While technically not a sound deadoner it cut the noise substantially. Ballasting as well as other scenery further quieted my track. If I did it over I' d probably go with the thicker 2" foam, if for no other reasoning you can cut deeper landscape features like riverbeds and ditches etc. Having said that, there are better materials like homasoate and other products designed for soundproofing. I'd see what your local hardware store has. The pink foam was inexpensive and I am pleased with the results.

[@richardsomerville4107]

@@ricko3242 Thank you!

[@Soupcan35]

Our foyer closet has a landing on top that we would like to put a Lionel Penn Flyer train set. The problem is the area is 60" x 24" and the set comes 60 x 40. How or is it even possible to get the track down to that width. Can I order a track that exact size? Will the train even be able to make that turn? I am a newbie (obviously) at this. Thank you for your help!

[@ricko3242]

The smallest radius fastrack is offered in is O31. Even if you went with postwar track. I believe O27 is the smallest you can get. The tighter the radius. The smaller the locomotives need to be in order to make the turn. Choices would be minimal at best with an O24 curve.

[@Soupcan35]

@@ricko3242 I'll give them a call on Monday to see what they suggest. Thank you for your quick response!

[@TehBellcarl]

Could you discuss how you wired your signals? That signal bridge for example. Is it one of” Z stuff for trains” offerings? How well do they inter-grate with fastrack

[@ricko3242]

That's actually an Mth Pennsy signal bridge. If you look closely. There are two Z Stuff dz1075 detectors, one next to each track that activate the heads. The signal bridge allows up to 4 heads for bi directional running on 2 tracks. I chose to stick with just the 2 heads that come with the bridge and set it up for right hand running ,common during the steam Era. Wiring is pretty straightforward using the ZStuff and MTH instructions. One DZ 1075 is used for each signal head. The detectors as well as the bridge are powered by 10v. Actually, all of my accessories are operated at 10v.

[@richardaronoff4144]

What setting(s) do you use on the Gardner Bender GDT 311?

[@elleryparsons5766]

When Building A permemanant Layout Think it Through Before Building.

[@jcdc6492]

What solder did you use? It never sticks for me on the tabs

[@ricko3242]

Nothing fancy, it was what came with the iron. The tabs could have some oxidation, and may need extra flux.

[@jcdc6492]

@@ricko3242 I dont have flux thats my problem. Ill get some at the HDepot thanx

[@brennenseibert6708]

@@ricko3242 this video was really helpful

[@ricko3242]

@@brennenseibert6708 Thankyou! Glad I could help!

[@charlesdimino6524]

Ya gotta scratch the tabs first and then solder and flux

[@johnchase7667]

I bought thousands of dollars of fastrack when it came out and loved it but it has not held up well.

[@ricko3242]

Sorry to hear that. My track just turned 17 this past winter, its as reliable as the day I put it down. I even had a portion of the layout get wet, in an unfortunate "child induced" plumbing accident. Dried everything out by hand ,and ran a dehumidifer in the train room for a week and it was back toi buisness a usual. Having said that, I hear more complaints about newer fastrack. From other videos. It appears Lionel cheapened the roadbed and possibly the metal pins.

[@shellysmith1037]

No thanks, too loud.