----- Original Message ----- From: Rachel Covington . . . . . . ...I thought Fasttrack was suppose to be scale track based off the mainlines of the big railroads back east.. . . . several people had suggested Fasttrack as a viable option . . . . . . . . . > > > > > > > > > > > Is there some terminology confusion here?
Lionel is calling its S gauge track FastTrack. It it's made by Lionel it's obviously intended for highrail and tinplate. I just looked at the Lionel/AF on-line catalog. There is also a company that makes jigs called Fast Tracks http://www.handlaidtrack.com. You buy (or borrow) the jigs for the turnout numbers you want and make your own turnouts. I hear once you get the hang of it, it's quite easy. If you put in code 100 rail you will get a code 100 turnout. I assume the jigs are made to produce scale turnouts. I don't know how much latitude the jigs give to make scale or highrail flangeways. < < < < < < < < < < < < < < I thought Fasttrack was suppose to be scale track based off the mainlines of the big railroads back east.. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The only track manufacture that claimed that, that I'm aware of, was S Helper Service. They used the trademark S-Trax System®. Their rail was even a hair higher than the highest rail back east, and the turnouts were of a very sharp angle, compared to whatever the PRR mainline may have had. You could use SHS track for your tangent and curved track, but not for the turnouts. Unless you're still thinking of taking the highrail route. Even with the swing-nose frogs in the SHS turnouts, SHS did not recommend them for scale operation. If you can make them work, and like sharp turnouts, and want very heavy rail, you can try it, buy why? To further your knowledge / confusion, American Models used the name Fast Track on some of its freight cars. Tom Hawley -- Lansing Mich
