Fastrack vs Realtrax

You are opening a pandora's box that you don't want to open!  Ha ha, just kidding.  

The consensus on this forum so far seems to be that Fastrack is by far superior to the MTH product.  I too was in your position years ago and asked the same thing and the overwhelming answer was FASTRACK and do not go with MTH as it is unreliable unless nailed down in perfect alignment.  

MTH track and Lionel track is compatible with anything from MTH, Lionel, Weaver, RMT, 3rd-Rail, etc.....  You do not need to run certain trains on certain manufacturer's track.  I run almost all MTH on Lionel track.

Plus the switches are bulletproof I hear and I must say so far my large layout is problem free!

http://peytonoriginal.com/trains.htm

I like my Fastrack.  Only draw back is the price when you need a lot of small fitter pieces or O84 curves.

Realtrax should come with a free box of Band Aids.

I love MTH track as it does not rust in our damp climate. James

One of the things that I think sets us apart is that we swap track out of sets for customers - whichever track system you have or want - okay by us.....

We also pull track out of sets for people that don't need it.....

Ok, so it's not just me.  Everything else in the MTH inventory seems to be top of the line.  Wonder why the track is not.

I disagree that MTH Realtrak is not as good! Once you know how to assemble and dis-assemble properly, it works very well. I like solid track, which is quieter and more robust than tubular. Many use sectional track systems for temporary layouts. Not me mine has been a fixture for 10+ years. 

So Joe H. occasionally gets a "boo-boo", he probably wants the latest spiderman band-aid.

I think the thing to remember with picking a track to use on your layout is it solely comes down to YOUR preference. 

No one here can tell you what to buy so I generally would suggest trying out both and comparing their performance. I do think it is strange how Realtrak segments do not align well but as others have said the solid rail feature is really a big plus. So, like I said, it solely comes down to performance and maybe your aesthetic tastes. 

As for me, I have used both and found Fastrack to be much more reliable even though it is noisey on certain surfaces. Additionally, Fastrack looks, to my eyes, more realistic than Realtraks even though both are not perfectly prototypical. 

Garrett76,

    I run both, however FasTrack is my track of choice for the major part of my layouts.

Now RealTrax does have some serious benefits, especially as James indicated for anyone living in a humid climate, no rust at all, no matter how long the track is down, and once set up correctly and screwed down, it runs perfectly, and portrays Legacy and DCS signals perfectly.  However that is where the benefit ends. RealTrax Switches do not accommodate some Tin Plate Trains at all.   FasTrack on the other hand is easy to assemble & disassemble, cuts perfectly with the Rockwell X2 Portable Saw, and the new low voltage, wireless Command Control Switches, accommodate all different kinds of trains, including Tin Plate, and operate from the Cab2 or Cab1 remote control and are bullet proof stuff, and now come in 031 thru 072, along with 072Y.  The only trouble with the FT CC Switches that I can find, is the LED track side light, is not replaceable by the owner operator, when it goes bad.  Lionel must due the LED replacement at it's repair shop.  Further FasTrack transitions with Atlas O Industrial Rail seamlessly.  If you want to run Conventional Tubular with it, FT transitions perfectly also, even with the older 072/711 switches. FT Portrays both Legacy and DCS signal perfectly also.   Lots and lots of plusses from FT engineering.  I find using MTH RealTrax limits my layout design and running way to much, I do use it for the inner most circle, Lionel 031 FasTrack will not run inside Lionel 036 FasTrack, the FT road bed makes this impossible.  However the 031 RealTrax works perfectly.  Run both for the best results.  Further 027 Tubular will run inside the 031 RealTrax, if you want to engineer & run in this manner also.

Hope this helps a might.

PCRR/Dave

I use Fastrack, do have a little problem with rust but the track is great to work with.

Brent

My layout is about 25 X 14 in size.  My mainline is FT.  All of my O72 switches are FT.  My sidings are MTH.  Although FT is easier to work with, there are some qualities that I think MTH does better.

1) Better uncoupling track sections

2) Sturdier lit bumpers

3) Lit terminal sections that I like when powering a siding

MTH also gives me a different look for my sidings

I am very happy with FT and it has held up well and performs next to flawlessly.

I bought some used Fastrack 10" straights that have a little rust on the sides of the rail.  When you turn the track over there are little holes where the other track has little molded rectangles.  A quick rub with a nylon scrubber and some WD40 took care of it.

The primary difference that I see are the switches. The RealTrax are crude compared to FasTrack.

Other than that, I think lock-ons look dumb. But, they both run trains.

Video1

Video2

Here are a couple of links to YouTube videos comparing the two track systems. As it stands today, I believe that both now have hollow rails. My preference has always been FasTrack over RealTrax when it comes to frequent assembly/disassembly. 

Unfortunately Realtrax is no long made with solid rail.  MTH with to a shaped tubular rail a few years ago.

Stuart

It is a pain in the Butt to hook up the MTH Realtrax. I use the Fastrack with a DCS Z-1000 and the DCS Commander.

I really like the solid "t" rail design of MTH realtrax over the shiny, oval-top tubular fastrack.  It kind of bugs me that you can see the reflection of the ties along the sides of the rails on fastrack.  Never had a problem with alignment between sections of realtrack.   

Realtrax has a tubular profile nowadays, so the "T" rail design is no more.  However, you can still get Atlas track with solid rails.

I have both on my layout.   I have one long Fastrack line and 3 Realtrax lines.  Lionel is much easier to assemble.  However; it is LOUD compared to the Realtrax system.   I sometimes find the noise irritating and shutdown my outside line.   With that said, it's also a conventional line and the Realtrax lines are DCS.   It could be that the speed control of the DCS system makes me think it's much quieter than the Fastrack system.