I have purchased a suspended track system for my playroom and now need recommendations for the best train set for it. This system hangs from the ceiling and has a 'base' which the O gauge tracks sit on top of. The base is made to look like railroad ties from underneath (therefore you can see the tracks on top of them) and with a 3 inch rail on the side. There are also two 'bridges' which are open for viewing. G gauge tracks will not fit this system. I need to purchase a set and have looked at Lionel, however their O gauge trains are only about 3-4 inches high and I think will get lost behind the side rails. I've heard that Williams makes 'boxier' trains which will fit on the O gauge track but may have larger dimensions, therefore making it more visible. My kids have their hopes set on a holiday/Christmas themed set (I purchased Lionel Polar Express and thought it too short for this system). Please send any advise or recommendations!!
Many of Lionel's products, Polar Express included, is what is refered to as Semi-scale. This means it is "O" guage, refering to distance between the rails, but with smaller proportions and not quite 1:48 scale. I think the type of train that you need is a scale sized O guage train. These tend to run pricier as they mostly are the high end products. Lionel, Mikes Train House are two companies held in high regard, depending who you talk to.
The Williams FM, Scale Hudson as well as the F3s are scale sized and less money than the aformentioned, they do no have all the electric gizmos as the others. Their boxcars are scale sized and quite affordable.
I would suggest looking at many different products because scale or not, some engines are bigger than others, as well as rolling stock. For instance the Lionel 40tonner is far bigger than 1:48 scale.
There is one other concern that you will have to address first...You will have to know what radius or diameter curved track sections that will fit on your suspended base.
Some larger locomotives and longer passenger cars need a more gradually curved track than the smaller units...
The instructions will hopefully state what diameter track to use ,,,,,,027,,,,031,,,042,,,,054,,,ect. If the base allready has a track on it, We would have to know what diameter curves are used..
Once this is known, it would be easier to determine what train s would best fit the suspended layout..
BDT
A Williams would be nice however you must buy the tracks separately from the train sets to the best of my knowledge, so an F-3 ABA set with five or six passenger cars will need to have track and transformer unless new sets from Williams are addressing this issue. Williams trains far as I know will run on any three rail track made today that is O gauge or 027.
Lee F.
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