Given: AF is "S" and Lionel is "O" .... I have the opportunity to receive an AF tank car (6-48425 listed in the Lionel 2008 catalog)....? Would this car run with Lionel on "O-27" tubular track with Lionel cars OR is it a "forget-about-it" deal? As always, many thanks. (((Please guys, don't shoot, I'm in one of those non-logical thinking days)))
Sorry to say no !
Before 1941 both Lionel and American Flyer ran on "O" gauge track in spite of the fact that the two companies built to different scales. Lionel builds to roughly 1/4 inch scale and runs on 3 rail "O" Gauge track. (in 1900 when Lionel was founded, the New Haven Railroad was running electric trains on a center 3rd rail track) In 1946 American Flyer, who built to 3/16 inch scale called "S Gauge", (3/4 the size of Lionel) elected to start using the proper size 2 rail track for that scale.
American Flyer cars are smaller, has different coulpers, run on narrower gauge track with wider curves. American Flyer Fans consider the the trains more realistic.
Lionel bought American Flyer in the early 1960s and have cataloged them, on and off, over the years.
Don U. TCA 73-5735
DON U. Well, that's that! I really appreciate the information and your swift response. Have a great New Year. Thanks, again.
Size, compair.
Top Photo: Top shelf Lionel sized "O" --- middle shelf Lionel Scale "O" --- bottom shelf American Flyer "S" gauge.
Second Photo: Lionel Scale "O" top --- American Flyer "S" bottom
You would have to take off the AmericanFlyer trucks and couplers, and replace them with their Lionel O gauge counterparts. Then it will work with O27.
Much O27 is actually a 3/16" scale car on O trucks.
Check out http://www.thortrains.net/316scale
Don U.: Thanks for the photos.
thorCNJ: Thanks for the lead.
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