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I have not posted on the forum until now, mainly just reading posts.  I do I have a question though.    What is the difference between Lionel's fast track insulated straight section and just a normal fast track straight section?  The price is about 50 cents cheaper for the insulated one.  Does this mean the insulated one will not allow power to go through the track and be a "dead track"?  Is this good to use on a siding if you do not want the siding to be powered?
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The only difference between the 2 is the metal plate underneath that joins the 2 outside rails. Usually used to extend an Isolated section that activates accessories when the trains wheels roll over , like the Lionel Crossing Grade with flashers.  Insulated track is used between the accessory and an Isolated track section.  One side of the outer rails triggers the accessory, so you don't want the metal plate joining the outside rails or it would not work.   You don't want to use that for your regular track or you would have to attach 2 common wires to your track to keep both sides of the outer rails connected to common.  The metal plate also helps if you get a loose track connection on one of the outer rails.  Because they are joined together, that section would still get its signal from the other side.   Isolated Block sections are different and only come in 5" sections.  That have all 3 rails split in the middle and underneath have jumper wires you can remove to electrically isolate that rail, like when you want to turn off a whole section of track.

 

 

Track on right is the insulated Track, notice the metal plate is not there between the outer rails.

 

 

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Below is an isolated section, top and bottom.

 

 

IMG_0038

 

 

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Last edited by Sean's Train Depot
Originally Posted by Pumpkin railroad:
Would the isolated track be good for siding use?  I'd like to totally kill the power on my siding. I was thinking if I used one isolated peice connected to the switch, it would make that siding have no power.  Is that correct or am I missing anything?

Correct.  Isolated Block sections let you kill power to say a siding or a leg in the rail yard.  You just remove the jumper from the middle rail and then wire the one on the inner side of your section or leg to a switch or in my case the LCS BPC2 and can turn the siding or leg on and off as needed.

Fastrack switches that are o-60 and larger already have "integrated" isolated sections on both the straight and diverging routes.

 

If your switches are smaller you can add an isolated section between the switch and the siding. simply remove the center wire to break the power connection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the larger isolated sections, I believe many if not all of the smaller "fastrack fitter" pieces have the wires and rail breaks to isolate a track.

 

Run the power wire from your transformer to the input of a toggle, run another wire out of the toggel the the center rail of your siding, and viola!

 

There is no need to break the outer rails.

The photo above is the isolated section. removing the center wire will remove power to your siding.

 

That piece will be the first section of track after the switch. Then add the rest of your siding track.

 

From there you need a power hooked up to the center rail on your siding track, after the isolated section.

 

There are tabs under fastrack to connect wire under every piece.

 

 

Last edited by RickO
@Brendan posted:

Yes

Brendan

Well, it means the 3 rails and especially, the two outside rails, are electrically separated. This permits the piece to part of a longer "trigger" configuration for crossing signals without having to modify it. The trigger rail would begin and end before and after this piece of track. The signals would presumably be near the roadway. 

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