OTWW,
I use O Gauge FasTrack for 90% of my multi-Level layouts, Engineering with Command Control FasTrack, 1st Generation Switches and Track. The 1st Generation CCFT Switches and Track were made correctly and work great on all my different Engines and Rolling Stock including my large Tin Plate Engines and Rolling stock, even the big Lionel Prewar Tin Plate Crane Cars. The layout here at our new home in the new Train Room will be a permanent type layout, Engineered with mostly FasTrack and Command Control Switches, however the inner most Track will be engineered with RealTrax and maybe some Conventional Lionel Tin Track also, due to the inability of 036 FasTrack to go inside itself.
Further Command Control Lionel FasTrack Switches are just fantastic Engineering, the CCFT switches are low voltage and can be run directly from Track Power, as many as 99 of them from a single Legacy Hand Held Remote Control or your TMCC remote. This is some of Lionel's greatest engineering. With Transition Tracks the Lionel CCFT Switches can be Engineered into inner circles of RealTraxs also, which turns out pretty cool.
Later Lionel FasTrack and Switches do have some problems, however they can be over come by the layout builder, as noted in this thread. One other engineering note, 2 pieces of FasTrack will not fit thru the Lionel Big Hell Gate Metal Bridge, without Altering/Cutting the FasTrack Road Bed to custom fit the pieces.
I also recommend some sound suppression for your new FasTrack layout, it makes even more noise than RealTrax as the Trains run. I recommend used Acustic Ceiling Tile or indoor/outdoor carpet, using both deadens the sound almost completely. To me there is nothing worse then not being able to hear your O Gauge Trains run. I love FT for this reason alone, when one of the visitors or kids starts running my layouts I instantly know it.
FasTrack can be Custom Cut absolutely perfectly, any size and curvature, with the X2 Rockwell Portable Table saw. It makes perfect custom size pieces for close out or for in front of your FTCC Switches. Make sure to purchase some extra FT Pins for your custom close out work.
I highly recommend FasTrack, especially if you are running all the different makers products. Especially for both Original Lionel Tin Plate and newer remade Lionel/ MTH Tin Plate Trains. They run smooth as glass on FasTrack!
PCRR/Dave
The old Churchill Home Christmas Layout 2014, look closely for all the different trains running at the same time, including the P2 Pittsburgh Street Car and inside RealTrax loop, with Military Transport Train on the 1st level. The different levels have CCFT Switches Engineered into them.
Merry Christmas
