Newbie's intro, and some questions about scale and toy trains...

[brianel027]

Greywoulf, you will have no real trouble with couplers. They all match, though some have quirks. The couplers on some of the original K-Line cars couple hard and need to be slammed. And the couplers on all of the Industrial Rail cars can bind with eachother causing a derailment on 027 curves in an "S" arrangement.

As far as uncoupling tracks, my experience says postwar Lionel tracks work the best.

It would be best to find one track type and stick with that rather than trying to match them. Not sure about your idea. Some like Gargraves and regular 027 can be matched. I use 027 track, but FasTrack is being pused by Lionel. IF you end up buying a couple of Lionel sets, not only with you get locos, cars and a couple transformers, but you'll have a good start with FasTrack. Plus the Lionel add-on sets are a good value.

The earlier made Railking locos were semi-scale and look good on smaller layouts with smaller sized cars. These are now in the Rugged Rails line by MTH, but unfortunately MTH apparently doesn't either sell many or is not interested as most have been cancelled after being cataloged. The Rugged Rails F-3 which is the same as the early Railking F-3 is a nice looking but shorter loco. It will look odd with full scale sized cars, but right at home with traditionally sized 0 and 027 trains. Look on the MTH website under Rugged Rails. Or on eBay seach with "MTH 33-" since the 33- is the suffix number for Rugged Rails.

You might want to also consider the K-Line by Lionel MP-15, Alco Fa and S-2 switcher. All are affordable and good running, reliable locos that look good on smaller layouts. As a final note, Ready Made Toys (RMT) is hopefully bringing out their own version of the S-2 this year after a 2-year delay. This looks to be like a decent if not better version of the K-Line S-2 (which by the way, has it's origins with the MARX Trains version).

Check this site out for more info:

www.thortrains.net

[Train-O]

Welcome, Greywoulf,

To the C.T.T. forum.
Most, of the 'O' Gauge, 1:48 Scale, or close to it, as the O-27 Gauge, products of today are fairly well made.

Someone else, other than me, can better describe the differences between 'Scale' and 'Gauge', to you, as these are often confused, with one another.

Again, I say most, are compatible with present and future items, which are of similar gauge, as aforementioned.

I am not sure of the mating of M.T.H. and Lionel FasTrack.  Another forum member will give this answer and answers to your other questions.  

For the most part M.T.H's. and Lionel's couplers, of the 'Standard 'O', 'O' and 'O-27' Gauges will mate.

The special remote, 'Uncoupling' and 'Unloading', track section is similar to the previous, but with a new face and will work with most Standard 'O', 'O' and 'O-27' Gauge trains, whether Lionel, M.T.H., Weaver 3-Rail, Atlas-O 3-Rail and most other Three Rail items.

Again, Welcome,

Good Luck and Enjoy,

Ralph

[tbdanny]

Greywoulf,

Welcome to the forums.  Given that your inquiry is relating to O scale trains, though, you might be better off trying the 'Classic Toy Trains' forums - most of the people here are into N and HO scales.

Hope this helps,

tbdanny

[Greywoulf]

 

 Hi

Returning to MRR hobby after 60 years absence. Decided to build a super detailed HO switching shelf layout, but also a toy trains run-around layout to cover both my loves!

Question about MTH..: Only had Marx tinplate and Lionel in the ancient past so I know nothing about MTH, but they have a nice looking inexpensive PA rr F3 diesel set that catches my attention, and I was wondering about:

1} It's quality?

2} Would it be compatible with future purchases of O or O27 Lionel stuff?

3} Does the MTH track match up with Lionel Fastrack?

4} Also do the MTH engine and freight car couplers match up with Lionel's?

And finally, how do the automatic uncoupling systems operate today?  I remember Lionel had a special track with a magnet in the middle that would uncouple cars placed over it when you pressed a remote operating button. Is there still something like that around that works on both MTH and Lionel when you combine these makes on the same layout?

 Thank you for any advice and suggestions you can give me here, I would greatly appreciate it!