When Lionel introduced its new FasTrack system in 2004, model train enthusiasts quickly warmed to the increased realism—right down to the integrated roadbed and darkened center rail—and the greater ease of use. In this book, the author of The Big Book of Lionel presents the first complete guide to the FasTrack system. Amply illustrated with color photographs and 36 track diagrams, the book instructs readers on every aspect of the system, from assembling and disassembling FasTrack to building a simply oval, planning a layout within various space constraints, building tracks for two trains and reversing trains, and designing unique layouts—even yard layouts.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
The Villager February 2007
“I found this book to be quite enlightening regarding how to utilize the FasTrack product.”
About the Author
Robert Schleicher is a veteran hobby industry writer with dozens of books to his credit. His MBI titles include The Big Book of Lionel, The Lionel FasTrack Book, and The Lionel Legend, among others. He lives in
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Don't buy this book if you want fasTrack layouts that work,
By TrainGuy (Alpharetta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Lionel FasTrack Book (Paperback)
I was very excited to purchase this book when it came out. The first thing I did after reading it cover to cover was try out some of the layouts. That's where my excitement turned to disappointment.
The book has a lot of information but most of the layouts will not work if you build them according to layout plans. Track ends will not meet. Layouts that have been confirmed not to work as planned are on page 67 and on page 104. Also all the reversing loops in the book are wrong as well which are incorporated in the layouts. They can be modified to work, but it will not be obvious how to do this without track layout software. All the layouts in the book should have been checked by the author / editor for accuracy and I can just see the frustrated looks on children and parents trying to duplicate them from the book. Also, many of the chapters are a rehash of Robert Schleigher's other book, "Big Book of Lionel" so if you have that already, you don't need this book. Save your money and pass on this one.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Buyer Beware,
By Model Railroader (USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Lionel FasTrack Book (Paperback)
Neither the author or editor have verified the accuracy of the diagrams and parts lists via running actual trains on set up track layouts. This is proven by the diagrams that are not accurate. Checking the layouts on a model railroad CAD program would also have been prudent. The lack of credibility of the track layouts casts a black cloud over the contents of the entire book. If you want to be diappointed when you set-up your layout, buy this book. Otherwise, buyer beware!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Save your money,
By
This review is from: The Lionel FasTrack Book (Paperback)
This book is of very marginal value. It has many nice, but not very useful picture, but it's technical descriptions are very, very thin and incomplete. If all you're interested in is layouts, the book is ok, but if you're looking for information on how to use lionel systems, this book will be of little help. Typical of the book's inattention to detail: pages 42-44 purport to explain how to use TMCC with Fastrack. In those three pages, there are approximately 2/3 a page of text and 4 different pictures, ALL of which show you how to connect to your track using a Lionel lock-on onto an O-27 (i.e. non-Fastrack) piece of track. Need to know how to get a third wire connected to your Fastrack so you can connect to both the command base and power supply? Figute it out yourself. Worried that Lionel tells you to use 14 gauge wire and the Fastrack connections are 22 gauge? Too bad. No answers here. No apparent awareness of Fastrack-related issues.
This book is typical Lionel. Plenty of gloss, but very poor documentation.
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Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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remote switch, curved track, straight track, insulated straight, operating track, uncoupling track, graduated trestle set, lighted bumper, truss bridge, operating milk car, ballast shoulder, graduated trestle, insulated track sections, straight track sections, elevated trestle, outer oval, reversing loop, trestle bents, passing siding, industrial siding, reverse loop, inner oval, track pins, switch stand, real railroads Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Right Hand, Left Hand, Command Control, Bill Langsdorf, Peter Perry, Coal Field Railroad, Earthen Bumper, Block Section, Power Supply, Courtesy Lionel, Track Power Controller, Manual Switch, The Lionel, Elevated Trestle Set, Electric Coaling Station, Command Base, Accessory Activator, Lionel Lockon, Direct Lockon, Automatic Gateman, Grade Crossing, Gauge Transition Piece, Maintenance Set, The Union Pacific, Most Lionel Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
remote switch, curved track, straight track, insulated straight, operating track, uncoupling track, graduated trestle set, lighted bumper, truss bridge, operating milk car, ballast shoulder, graduated trestle, insulated track sections, straight track sections, elevated trestle, outer oval, reversing loop, trestle bents, passing siding, industrial siding, reverse loop, inner oval, track pins, switch stand, real railroads Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Right Hand, Left Hand, Command Control, Bill Langsdorf, Peter Perry, Coal Field Railroad, Earthen Bumper, Block Section, Power Supply, Courtesy Lionel, Track Power Controller, Manual Switch, The Lionel, Elevated Trestle Set, Electric Coaling Station, Command Base, Accessory Activator, Lionel Lockon, Direct Lockon, Automatic Gateman, Grade Crossing, Gauge Transition Piece, Maintenance Set, The Union Pacific, Most Lionel Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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