Hello fellow Railroaders I was hoping someone could lead me in the right direction here. I need to know if Lionel made a 042 switch or do you make an 042 switch by attaching a certain curve radius to an 022 switch? I have about 8 022 switches and don't want to have to buy 042 switches to go with the 042 curves that I am using. Any help would be great.
Thanks,
Kevin
Can't stop working on the railroad!
No, you can't get an O42 turnout that way. If I'm not mistaken, Lionel made O31-profile turnouts only in nominal O31 diameter (the 022) and O72. In O27 profile, the options were O27 and O42.
Bob Nelson
K-Line had some standard O compatible O42 switches, maybe you can locate some of those. I'm led to believe that some of the other folks like Gargraves and Ross have switches that can be mated to tubular track in various radius versions.
BTW, a 042 switch is the manual version of an 022 switch.
Well, that would be the 042 switch, we're talking about 42" radius, so I was using O42, note the alpha O.
Actually 42-inch diameter, not radius.
There is a lot of room for confusion in this matter. For many years before the war, Lionel sold "standard" and O gauge trains. The letter "O" was originally a zero, from the sequence of numbered gauges introduced by Maerklin, but more and more was treated as a letter. Lionel tended to sell many accessories under two part numbers, one beginning with zero if it was meant for O-gauge trains and without the leading zero if for standard-gauge trains, even if the accessories were identical. I think the part numbers 042 and 022 probably come out of this tradition.
When Lionel acquired Ives, they used the name "O-27" for the new variety of O-gauge track, while retaining a simple "O" for their heavier legacy track. The "27" represented the diameter in inches to the ends of the ties. In modern times, it has become customary to refer to the older Lionel track type as "O-30" or "O-31", by analogy to "O-27". The actual radius to the ends of the ties of O-30 or O-31 track is about 30 1/2 inches.
On top of this opportunity for confusion between part numbers and track diameters, it has become customary to refer to track of other radii using the "O-..." format, leaving the reader to guess whether it refers to the diameter, the track profile, or a part number. So we have the situation where 042 might mean a nominal diameter of 42 inches with a heavier track profile (which is what I think the original poster meant), the same nominal diameter with a lighter track profile, or a particular 30 1/2-inch diameter manual turnout with the heavier track profile. Furthermore, I have examples of Lionel O-42 (diameter) O-27 (profile) track with three different actual radii!
Good post about the confusing aspects of O-scale track. You're right, I never quite know what to call a specific type of track. Of course, I did mean diameter, a slip of the fingers there.
I am more confused than ever now. I have standard 0 gauge track woth PW 022 switches. Will I be able to use PW standard 0 gauge 042 curves with these. I need to use these to enter and exit the inner loop.
You can connect 42-inch-diameter high-profile curves to the 30.5-inch-diameter high-profile model 022 turnouts that you have. But you cannot change the curvature of those turnouts by doing that.
You will find that the curved path through a model 022 turnout turns through an angle of 45 degrees, while a section of 42-inch-diameter track (of either profile) turns through an angle of 30 degrees. This may lead to some track cutting, depending on your layout design.
Not to mention that O-42 was never made by Lionel in the postwar era. Flyer O was made in approximately O-40, also 30 degrees to each section(12 to a full circle). Flyer made matching switches, too.
Rob
But they do make it now: 6-12925
Look for K-Line # K-0375 and K-0376 for O profile 42" remote control (and auto non-derail) switches, if you want 42" switches for 42" curves. Be aware though that K-Line used the same model #'s when they re-designed the switches with very low profile switch motors - the older versions (less desirable IMHO) have huge honkin' switch covers with hooded bulbs on top. Both versions show up pretty regularly on Fleabay often at surprisingly reasonable prices (again IMHO). Lionel offered the newer versions post-K-Line demise, but they nearly tripled the MSRP from the good 'ole days.
I would try to find a K-Line switch in O gauge with a 42 inch radius, this will probally be the easiest to do.
Or you could use a 42 inch radius switch made by Gargraves or Ross Custom switches, but you will need to shim the underside of the switch(to keep proper track alignment) to keep derailments from happening. Adaptor pins will be needed for Gargraves or Ross track to Lionel style 031 or 042 track.
Lee F.
ADCX Rob Not to mention that O-42 was never made by Lionel in the postwar era.
Not to mention that O-42 was never made by Lionel in the postwar era.
gunrunnerjohn ADCX Rob: Not to mention that O-42 was never made by Lionel in the postwar era. You'd be wrong on that count! I am using O42 in a helix, and recently bought 100 pieces brand new from ModelTrainStuff. Hard to imagine they had that brand new track around since the 40's, time to recheck your sources of information.
ADCX Rob: Not to mention that O-42 was never made by Lionel in the postwar era.
You'd be wrong on that count! I am using O42 in a helix, and recently bought 100 pieces brand new from ModelTrainStuff. Hard to imagine they had that brand new track around since the 40's, time to recheck your sources of information.
Since I cannot prove a negative, please provide your info. I am still insisting Lionel never made O-42 before 1970(postwar era). The first appearance was ~ 1986.
What is the catalog number of your track? "O"(31) was cataloged as "OC" for curves, "OS" for straights. "O"(72) was cataloged as 760(box of 16 curved), 761 for curves, 760 for straights.
I have lots of Lionel "O"(42) also, but it is not old. It is quite new - 1980's & up. This is what I have.
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