Flyonel rolling stock wheelsets ride up over rail guides.
Have to test and regauge wheelsets to function.
Lionel should provide a no cost tool to do this.
Looks like Lionel does not test products for function.
100% S-Helper Hi-rail rolling stock function.
My 632 Hopper,625Tank car,630 caboose function.
AC Gilbert get's it right.
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I overlooked the 10" straight sections, just install 10" straight terminal track.
Easy fix.
No fun to regauge Flyonel rolling stock to run a train on Fasttrack figure 8.
OT
How old is the Flyonel rolling stock? I wonder if the stuff that Lionel has been pumping out recently will negotiate the crossover okay. do you have any of the newer Flyonel heavyweights? Or maybe the streamline cars? What about PAs?(any of the sets in the last 5 years or so, D&RG, Texas Spec, ect?).
I am concerned about the whenever to be released turnouts...
Ben
I had some old Gilbert Flyer cars that wouldn't make it through SHS turnouts (either version) without bouncing until I regauged them.
Yet, my small collection of Flyer Pikemaster cars glided through the turnouts with no problems. Go figure.
Rusty
I go back to 1980 Flyonel rolling stock.
My latest Flyonel rolling stock is 2009 needs regauge.
Texas Special streamlined passenger cars do not pass through have to regauge.
Union Pacific Heavyweights do not pass through. Have different wheelset design. Have to look into if I can regauge. This affects Alton Limited & Blue Comet sets.
I am also concerned about the whenever to be released turnouts.
American Flyer is a toy train I should not have to do this regauge !
To run New Haven EP-5 6-48008 Bankers reissue had to regauge all four orange band cars.
The Lionel heavyweights wheelsets do not regauge easily.
Will not run on figure 8 Fastrack layout.
I would say the first production run of 90 crossovers are all the same.
I hate to say it, but it might be time to dump this AF fast track headache and go with the MTH track system.
Ben.
I hate to say it, but it might be time to dump this AF fast track headache and go with the MTH track system.
Ben.
If wheel gauging on Lionel Flyer products is the issue, MTH/SHS track isn't going to make much of a difference.
You can't blame the track if there's no standard being used for wheel gauge.
Rusty
It is truly frightening the recent 'Flyer offerings aren't even compatible with themselves.
I would love to see the traditional Flyer "pizza cutter" flanges abandoned in favor of a highrail "Code 110" flange, as I've seen it called. Works on old AF layouts, and current track offerings.
It's time to stop measuring new Flyonel offerings by if they will clear old AFG switch machines.
I'm treading dangerous ground here, but I suggest those with 50+ year old track systems be cut loose in new product development considerations.
I know there are some great old traditional layouts out there. But the important word is "old." What percentage of new lines will be built with scavenged track?
It's time to look forward. New highrail flanges that aren't so ridiculously large. SHS/MTH and AM could do it, why not Lionel?
The weird cylindrical hopper gauge/flange/coupler debacle, and now the 90 degree crossing. It's all available for their R&D to look at, why are there these issues?
If the 90 degree crossing clears MTH and AM flanges, I say Lionel get in line flange-wise and let a great new dawn rise out of the darkness.
If the X-overs are as bad as reported I think Lionel will have to take them back from all buyers.
If MTH Produces any lets hope they don't make the same mistakes Lionel has made.
Mark
I'm in no position to praise or condemn the FasTack crossing because I don't have one, but I wonder how well AM, SHS/MTH and SSA hirail cars and locomotives roll through it. If they bump, bounce and/or derail, then there's a valid issue here, but if they roll through fine, then the crossing's specs are not the issue.
Basically, it's time to adopt some wheel and track standards for Flyer/Hirail, just like us Scale folks have. As mentioned by Quick Casey, AM & SHS have conquered these issues (a loooong time ago, I might add) and MTH has the SHS specs to work with.
For some reason, it appears that Lionel seems to want to be in their own little world and not duplicate what has worked well for others. After getting the Y3's, SD70's, U33's (contact issues aside) right, they flub up big time on something as simple as rolling stock wheels.
It is a puzzlement.
Rusty
>> After getting the Y3's, SD70's, U33's (contact issues aside) right, they flub up big time on something as simple as rolling stock wheels.
It is a puzzlement.
Rusty
Rusty....
I think I know the answer to this puzzlement. But no guarantees.
It is my understanding that new motive power products are designed/approved by Lionel's Engineering Dept. located in California. Stuff with the fancy dancy electronics is handled by professional engineers.
On the other hand, mundane things like non-powered freight cars and pieces of track are generally designed/approved by the Marketing Dept. without any involvement of the Engineering Dept. Low-tech products do not need the expertise of true engineers. High-tech electronics do need that level of knowledge.
This explanation might not answer all the questions, but I believe it is pointing in the right direction generally speaking.
Lionel should be ashamed of themselves for the obvious lack of quality control at the factory locations and not having standardized wheel dimensions.
Hoping for a better future.....Ed L.
>> After getting the Y3's, SD70's, U33's (contact issues aside) right, they flub up big time on something as simple as rolling stock wheels.
It is a puzzlement.
Rusty
Rusty....
I think I know the answer to this puzzlement. But no guarantees.
It is my understanding that new motive power products are designed/approved by Lionel's Engineering Dept. located in California. Stuff with the fancy dancy electronics is handled by professional engineers.
On the other hand, mundane things like non-powered freight cars and pieces of track are generally designed/approved by the Marketing Dept. without any involvement of the Engineering Dept. Low-tech products do not need the expertise of true engineers. High-tech electronics do need that level of knowledge.
This explanation might not answer all the questions, but I believe it is pointing in the right direction generally speaking.
Lionel should be ashamed of themselves for the obvious lack of quality control at the factory locations and not having standardized wheel dimensions.
Hoping for a better future.....Ed L.
Even where I work where we have a range of products from very low tech to extremely high tech, we still have engineer involvement in something on the low end that's no more complicated than an over-glorified toilet ballcock.
I agree, wheel and quality control standards should be known company wide and the same standard for locomotive wheels should apply to rolling stock.
Which brings up another question. Has anyone tried the SD70's or other high end Flyer through the 90 degree crossing?
Rusty
Anyone else have 90 or 45 degree crossover setup?
SHS & American Models Hi-Rail rolling stock pass through. A/F ES44AC pass through. A/F
U/P heavyweights a 2006 all new Lionel design have unique non compatible wheelsets.
The Lionel 90 degree crossover is more Hi-Rail than traditional A/F.
Lionel should be ashamed of themselves for the obvious lack of quality control at the factory locations and not having standardized wheel dimensions.
Just to make sure I understand the statement above............The American Flyer ES44AC operated through the new 45 degree track with no issues?
Regards,
Swafford
Just read these posts, since I'm looking to build a small fastback AF layout. Not a surprise about the shoddy work Lionel does. They charge unreasonable prices and provide a faulty product. I know nothing about the cost of producing toy trains as a fellow member of the S Gauge Community has surmised, I only know what I read and observe.
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