Im building a pretty large layout, probably 60-80 feet all around. My only dillema is trying to decide what type of tubular to use (yes, i chose the most venerable and time-tested track system ever made). I already have a pretty good amount of 027, but I wanted O gauge for nostalgic reasons. Any suggestions?
Grayson
"Lionel trains are the standard of the world" - Jousha Lionel Cowen
Hi Magicman I recently shared you dilemma.
I have a bunch of 0-27. This was the first track I bought. I remember the day my dad brought me into a hobby shop when I was 4. My dad didn't have much money for the O and quite frankly, I think I picked the 0-27 because of the way it looked. The lower profile and brown ties made it look more realistic (even though no 3 rail track looks realistic). I left the hobby shop that day with 1 straight section of 0-27 track and showed everybody. Most people had no idea what it was. I started with a loop on a 7' x 3' plywood board and slowly added turn offs and cross overs. Anyways, here I am 17 years later. I wanted to change over to O (with the black ties) because its the track I always see in Lionel videos and catalogues. 0-27 would always come with starter sets, was cheaper so it didn't have the 'prestige' of the O. I purchased some O gauge track on ebay thinking I would like it more.
Well I put it all together on a temporary layout with indoor/outdoor carpet, and then sold the O gauge track on ebay. I even think my trains ran better on the O gauge track. My 0-27 is old, rusty and needs cleaning. I'm building a better layout with proper benchwork and I am going with my old O-27 track. After looking at many pictures, I think O-27 can be made to look great (spankybird's pictures always impress me).
Maybe look at a bunch of pictures. Search and look through all the Sunday photo fun threads. Maybe buy some O track on ebay and set it up along with the O-27. If you don't like the O as much as your 0-27, you could always sell it back on ebay. Tubular holds its value very well so you won't really loose much doing this (besides shipping). See what you like more and go with that.
It was a hard decision for me, but I think what swayed me was the memories I had with the O-27. It's what I always ran. I guess memories are more important to me than prestige. And somewhere buried in my new layout will be that track my dad bought me when I was 4 years old, still being used 17 years later. Thats all the nostalgia I could ever ask for.
magicman710 wrote: Im building a pretty large layout, probably 60-80 feet all around. My only dillema is trying to decide what type of tubular to use (yes, i chose the most venerable and time-tested track system ever made). I already have a pretty good amount of 027, but I wanted O gauge for nostalgic reasons. Any suggestions? Grayson
just curious what your nostalgic reasons are grayson? I like the 027 better because it seems more scale also. I am thinking of painting the center rails black so it looks like two, not sure on that yet.
LIONEL2986- I actually have a bunch of 027 track you can have if you want it, pm or email me.....
For myself, the nostalgia of 027 was most important since that is what I had as a child. I also like the lower profile, brown ties and lower cost of 027. 027 is not as tough as 0, but the toughness is only important if you handle the track a lot, laying it down and taking it up. Either will work fine if the layout is permanent. I would recommend getting a set of track pliers so that you can easily get a tight fit to each piece of track. Especially on a large layout there is the potential for a bad connection to eventually develop. Whichever way you go, you should consider buying some of the 4' straight sections, these really help on those long straight runs. I have a friend who started in 0 (talked into it at the train store) but when he saw my 027 layout, he liked the 027 so much that he ripped up his layout and now has all new 027.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
I'd say first it really is a personal decision based on preference. There and plusses to both track types. Certainly the postwar through MPC Lionel 0 gauge switch is one of them.
I personally like:
1) The lower profile of the 027 track. On a small layout, this is a big plus.
2) The lower cost. 027 track is still the most affordable of all the track types out there.
3) Though 027 track is available in several diameter curves, the basic 027 curve allows for layout possibilities in a small space that are just not possible in other track types. It does limit the sizes of engines and rolling stock you can run, but I'm not buying scale sized locos any ways.
4) I did go through the extra effort to chop down the size of my 027 switches. But using the postwar Lionel 1024 will partially accomplish this. If you can find them, the last version made K-Line 027 switch has a very low switch box, even though the footprint size is still the same. Many like this last version K-Line switch and maybe Lionel will wake up and produce this switch.
5) Adding ties and ballast, though time consuming, is still cheaper in the long run than buying a more premiere track type like Atlas 0. I sued balsa wood for extra ties, but popsicle sticks also work. On my nephew's door layout, we cut additional ties from foam core board - easy to cut, and helps to cut down on the rumble sound made on a hollow core door.
I'm glad for Lionel that FasTrack has been more of a hit than I thought it would be. But in my mind 027 track is still the way to go. I recommend it to anyone who wants to build a small, good looking layout that has some operating bonuses. On my nephew's door sized layout, we have a passing siding, a reverse loop and two sidings - all on a door.
On my own layout which isn't a whole lot bigger, I have a grand total of 10 chopped down 027 switches: a passing side, a reverse loop, and three sidings. I could not have done either layout with any other track type in such small spaces.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
zeke wrote: magicman710 wrote: Im building a pretty large layout, probably 60-80 feet all around. My only dillema is trying to decide what type of tubular to use (yes, i chose the most venerable and time-tested track system ever made). I already have a pretty good amount of 027, but I wanted O gauge for nostalgic reasons. Any suggestions? Graysonjust curious what your nostalgic reasons are grayson? I like the 027 better because it seems more scale also. I am thinking of painting the center rails black so it looks like two, not sure on that yet. LIONEL2986- I actually have a bunch of 027 track you can have if you want it, pm or email me.....
Because many of the sets back in the 50s contained O gauge track, so alot of kids used it, and 027 came in the scout sets and cheaper sets. Its not much of nostalgic reasons, just more of.... oh nvm, forget what I said about nostalgic reasons.
lionel2986 wrote: . Anyways, here I am 17 years later. I wanted to change over to O (with the black ties) because its the track I always see in Lionel videos and catalogues. 0-27 would always come with starter sets, was cheaper so it didn't have the 'prestige' of the O. I purchased some O gauge track on ebay thinking I would like it more.
I re-read your post, and that paragraph explains my main reason for wanting to go with O gauge, but im still trying ot decide.
magicman710 wrote:I re-read your post, and that paragraph explains my main reason for wanting to go with O gauge, but im still trying ot decide. Grayson
These threads always suprise me. I thought this one would be loaded with guys recommending O, and its been only 0-27 so far. I guess there are more people with 0-27 than I thought.
Your other thread " What people use for track survey." also suprised me. I was expecting mostly tubular but it turned out to be mostly fastrac. I guess fastrac guys are too quiet when we go around boasting about our tubular track. Maybe they are more mature
zeke - I appreciate the kind offer. However I think they would be better off going to someone that needs them more than I do. I have plenty of 0-27 curves and straight. However I could always use more O34 or wider radius in O27. I'm also amazed how kind people on these forums are.
Grayson,
Did you know that you can buy half curves in 027 and widen the curves sizes? Use a half curve then a half straight and repeat this pattern and you will get a much wider curve size. Normally it takes 8 curve pieces of 027 to make a circle, with half curves it will take 16 to make a full circle. 027 is now made in sizes of 42 and 54 inch curves.
027 would look good for a passenger train and O gauge track would look better for a freight train.
The Lionel 027 switches have the problem of switch housing getting in the way of longer locomotives or passenger cars. Try to find the K-Line 027 switch as I think it has a lower profile or the switch solenoid is positioned differantly than Lionel switch.
Lee F.
I think Ill go with O gauge, mainly because the switches are easier to connect for tmcc.
Here's how to get a 6518 through an O27 switch:
(Picture by David Vergun)
Bob Nelson
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