O-27 Track - interested in identifying some old track probably not Lionel

[bobgroh]

Just acquired a box of track from an estate sale. All track is O-27, some pieces are obviously Lionel but much of the straight pieces are (I think) not Lionel. Very similiar to Lionel but rails are slightly narrower at the base and are chemically blackened, rail joiners are almost flat ended (rather than pointed like Lionel). All the rest of train pieces acquired (221 engine, 1666 engine and several freight cars) are from 1946-1947 era so track is probably also. No name on track, by the way. Does anyone have a good guess on maker of this track? Thanks - Bob Groh, Blue Springs, MO.

[alton6]

bobgroh....I think I have some of this track somewhere. Don't remember it being blackened, but the "pins" seemed to be cut from rod stock. The track is a bit lighter-duty than Lionel or K-Line. Could be Marx? Let's hear from the Marline fans.

Carl

[Dave Farquhar]

Hi Bob,

My first guess is that it's Marx track. Two characteristics of Marx: The holes in the ties aren't clean; there's a little remnant on the underside from the tie being pierced, rather than punched as Lionel did. The second characteristic is the way the metal is folded. If you look closely at an O27 rail, you'll see that the metal is folded over on the bottom to double the thickness. Marx folded towards the tie; Lionel folded towards the top of the rail.

I don't know of Marx chemically blackening its rails but a lot of my Marx track has turned nearly black with age.

The pin shape and lack of identifier on the track is also consistent with Marx.

Marx was widely available in the '40s and '50s, much cheaper than Lionel, and its compatibility with Lionel was no secret. My dad expanded his Lionel layout with cheap Marx track, and most of the estate sale lots I buy have a mixture of both as well.

Dave Farquhar
a Kansas City native stuck in St. Louis

[brianel027]

Another clue for identification on MARX 027 track are the curves: MARX was (is) the only company to make 027 track in a 34 inch diameter curve.

There was at least one other company that made 027 type track and the name escapes me at the moment. The great thing is that all the track all works with other 027 track, regardless of date or manufacturer. Too bad the same idea of compatible track from differing companies doesn't exist as much today.

[lionelsoni]

O34 curves must be Marx, but Marx can be O34 or O27.

The Marx pin has a very slight groove at the end that is crimped into the rail. The Lionel pin has a much broader, deeper groove on both ends. Brianel, you may be thinking of Ives, which originated O27 track and was bought by Lionel and American Flyer around 1930. Lionel continued the Ives name on their O27 track clips.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget Sakai. Their track is quite common. however their trains are fairly rare. Look for "Japan." stamped into the ties.

[alton6]

johnblair....Do you know the time frame Sakai track and switches were produced? Was this product only manufactured in o-27 size?

[Dave Farquhar]

Sakai disappeared in the late 1960s and they were active in the early postwar period, so they are a possibility as well. The Sakai I have is very prominently stamped "Japan" on the insulators but otherwise seems to use the same manufacturing methods as Marx. It seems to me to be made of slightly thinner stock than Marx though.

[bobgroh]

From Bob Groh: Thanks for the reply's and the education - I checked the track carefully and it does indeed seem to be Marx - holes in ties are punched with rough edge on inside and track is folded over toward tie (i.e. on bottom) rather than on top (toward rail).