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I'm sure this has been asked before.  I did several searches of the forums and didn't really see something close enough to my question.

I've just started getting back into my 50s-60s Lionel set.  I bought a refurbished ZW on eBay, not knowing that there was a modern ZW-L version.  Still, I'm happy with it.  I've also bought some things to add to my collection, all 50s-60s stuff.  I also bought new tubular track from Menards, since mine was pretty rusted.

Is it possible to connect the old time Ice Station, Rotating Beacon, Milk Car, etc. to the new Fasttrack?  That's not to mention the ZW, a 671 locomotive, a 50 Gang Car, and a 60 Trolley (with the 260 bumpers).  Going with fasttrack will open some nice possibilities for some new, cool engines.

I know that running the new motorized stuff on the old ZW can be problematic without the diodes.  I've seen posts by others that have ZWs with fasttrack so I know it can be done.

Would I be able to connect the old operating switch tower to a fasttrack without using a 145C connector (and any other accessory that needs a 145c)?  Will I be able to run the old milk car on the fasttrack?  I imagine I will have to buy some accessories to do that.

Sorry if this post seems a bit scattered.  I had no idea that the Lionel stuff progressed into the 21st century.  I hadn't done anything with it since the early 80s.  While I'd be okay with keeping the old stuff going, like I said the new stuff looks pretty cool.

Last edited by texgeekboy
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@texgeekboy posted:

I'm sure this has been asked before.  I did several searches of the forums and didn't really see something close enough to my question.

I've just started getting back into my 50s-60s Lionel set.  I bought a refurbished ZW on eBay, not knowing that there was a modern ZW-L version.  Still, I'm happy with it.  I've also bought some things to add to my collection, all 50s-60s stuff.  I also bought new tubular track from Menards, since mine was pretty rusted.

Is it possible to connect the old time Ice Station, Rotating Beacon, Milk Car, etc. to the new Fasttrack?  That's not to mention the ZW, a 671 locomotive, a 50 Gang Car, and a 60 Trolley (with the 260 bumpers).  Going with fasttrack will open some nice possibilities for some new, cool engines.

I know that running the new motorized stuff on the old ZW can be problematic without the diodes.  I've seen posts by others that have ZWs with fasttrack so I know it can be done.

Would I be able to connect the old operating switch tower to a fasttrack without using a 145C connector (and any other accessory that needs a 145c)?  Will I be able to run the old milk car on the fasttrack?  I imagine I will have to buy some accessories to do that.

Sorry if this post seems a bit scattered.  I had no idea that the Lionel stuff progressed into the 21st century.  I hadn't done anything with it since the early 80s.  While I'd be okay with keeping the old stuff going, like I said the new stuff looks pretty cool.

The easy way is to use a MTH I-Tad (45-1028 MTH Scale Trax I TAD ) set it next to the track wire it up and poof you can have a delay or what ever your need anywhere you want.

Thanks for the info.  I never think to query youtube for this stuff, and the link above got me started with searching that for tips.  What I discovered will allow me (after spending some money of course) to attach almost all my old stuff, including the milk car, to fastrack, except for the 450 signal bridge.  There were a couple of ways I read to do that, none of which seemed as simple as the other accessories.

@texgeekboy posted:

...except for the 450 signal bridge.  There were a couple of ways I read to do that, none of which seemed as simple as the other accessories.

Well the 450 is like two 153 signals, but the bridge frame being common to both heads can be a little tricky if you are using some of the resistance(non-relay) methods of activating the bulbs.  If you are using relays or 153c contactors, the connection is the same as two 153s... the insulated rails of the FasTrack are the tricky parts.

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