tubular track Archives - The Silicon Underground

Should I switch to Fastrack?

Dave Farquhar — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 11:00:01 +0000

A common question is whether to switch from traditional Lionel tubular track to Fastrack, or from traditional American Flyer track to the new S-gauge Fastrack. If you make the switch, I stand to possibly make a couple of bucks from

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Make display shelves out of rusty track

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 11:00:58 +0000

Some people try to fix rusty track, while others argue it isn’t worth the bother. But if you’re in the latter camp, you still have options besides trashing it: Make display shelves out of it. My local train shop offers

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Cleaning Lionel Fastrack

Dave Farquhar — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 11:00:32 +0000

Lionel Fastrack has some advantages, but after a decade or so of using it under a Christmas tree, I have to say staying clean isn’t one of them. Here are the secrets of cleaning Lionel Fastrack safely. Suitable cleaners for

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Available diameters of tubular O and O27 track

Dave Farquhar — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 11:00:30 +0000

A frequent question, especially for those who are just discovering or rediscovering vintage Lionel and Marx trains is what sizes of track are (or were) available, and how many pieces come to a circle. Unlike other scales, Lionel marketed its

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Tips for connecting traditional tubular track

Dave Farquhar — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 21:35:32 +0000

I saw a question earlier this week about working with Lionel tubular track. It doesn’t snap together quite as easily as modern Fastrack does, but it’s a lot cheaper, especially if you already have a bunch of it on hand.

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Fixing track that gets hot at the track joints

Dave Farquhar — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:51:02 +0000

I saw a question about a Fastrack layout getting hot at a track joint. That’s a conductivity issue causing voltage drop, which in turn causes the heat. While not likely to be dangerous, it’s a sign of inefficiency and can

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How to clean inside Lionel tubular track

Dave Farquhar — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:52:20 +0000

If the outside of your Lionel track is rusty or dirty, there’s a chance the inside is too. Here’s how to clean inside Lionel track. The condition of the inside of the track is the standard reason people give for

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Lionel Fastrack review

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 02:45:06 +0000

How Lionel Fastrack compares to traditional tubular track and competing O gauge track is a common question. I own both, so I can probably make a comparison. Here is my Lionel Fastrack review. For the most part, it’s not bad.

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Screw sizes and tips for various common types of Lionel track

Dave Farquhar — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 04:13:02 +0000

So, maybe you set up a loop of track and an electric train for Christmas, and now you’re thinking about a permanent layout. I’ve been there. Once you build a table, you’ll need to attach your track. Screws are the most

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