POSTWAR 027 TRACK

[PostwarMan07]

 I HAVE 027 TRACK WITH BLACK AND GRAY TIES.  ANYONE KNOW IF THEY WERE MADE AT DIFFERENT TIMES?  IF SO WHICH TYPE IS EARLIER?

[overall]

I beleive the black ties indicate the track was made by Marx and the grey ones would indicate it was made by Lionel.

George

[martinden]

From its introduction in the 1930s through approximately 1960, Lionel 027 track had black ties; in 1961 (perhaps with a transition in 1960), Lionel started using the silvery-gray ties, which continued to the end of the postwar era. When General Mills (MPC) took over in 1970, they switched to the brown ties with curled bottom edges that remain in production today. K-line also made virtually identical 027 track.

Marx track (1930s into the 1970s) also had black ties, and was generally similar in length and geometry to Lionel's 027, with very minor differences. The outer ties on Marx track were farther from the ends of the rails, and the track is generally cruder, with a less "finished" look and sharper edges. Also different pins, and certain differences in the way the rails were formed. When you look at Lionel and Marx track side-by-side, the differences are pretty easy to see.

In addition, Marx made curved track with a larger radius than 027, usually referred to as 034. Curved sections were longer than 027 sections (eight pieces to a circle), with five ties per section. Matching straights were also longer than regular 027 straights, and had five ties. Some regular-length straight sections (just under nine inches) also had five ties.

Minor edit/update: According to Paul Ambrose in Greenberg's Lionel Trains 1945-69 Volume III: Catalogued Sets, Lionel began to use the silver-gray ties at some point in 1959.

-- Martin

[PostwarMan07]

I HAVE ALL LIONEL TRACK SO THE BLACK TIE VARIATIONS I HAVE ARE EARLY POSTWAR.  THANKS FOR THE INFO GUYS.

[ADCX Rob]

martinden

When General Mills (MPC) took over in 1970, they switched to the brown ties with curled bottom edges that remain in production today. 

 

The earliest  MPC O-27 track was made of a lighter gauge steel, had hollow rolled track pins, and wood grain lithographed(brown/black) ties.

Rob

[tinplatacis]

I just came across the wood grained tie track; first piece of it I have gotten in over 16 years collecting o gauge trains. Just how hard to find/rare/uncommon is this stuff?

[ADCX Rob]

Not uncommon at all. MPC flooded the market with early sets containing this track.