2-8-4 steam on 027 track and switeches

[Civil War]

I was wondering if a 2-8-4 engine such as the 736 Berk would run on 027 track and 1122 switches. 

Thanks

[wyomingscout]

 I don't have one,but Greenburg's says it is similar to the  726, the largest manufactured in the early '50's & made for 022 only.  The 736 has magnatraction, but probably isn't best on 027.

Charlie

[servoguy]

I just put a 736 onto a O-27 switch, and it look likes everything clears OK. Can you set up a loop or figure 8 and try it? Bruce Baker

[Civil War]

 Bruce,

I don't have a 736 yet. I have plenty of 0-27 track and switches. I really like the 736 but hesitated to start looking to buy one if I couldn't use it. I do have a passenger loop that is 0-42 diameter 0-27 track and no switches, but I wanted to use it in my freight area which will be connected to an engnine facility, roundhouse and turntable some day, if I live that long. I only use the passenger loop for my F3s. They just go around and around, no switching. 

 

I don't have a lot of steam engines yet. I'm still pretty much of a newbie. I only have two 2026s (a 2-6-2 and a later 2-6-4)and one 2055.  They all run great on the 0-27 track but I was concerned about an 8 drive wheel engine making the turns or going through the switches. If it works that would be great. It would give me a bigger engine.

 Thanks,

 

[alank]

I have a 726 and run it on 0_27 track, using 1122 switches....I encountered no problems.

[fifedog]

The folks up at the GLEN ROCK VFD (GlenRock,PA) have run big time steamers, and full scale diesels, even centipedes, on O-27 track for years.  It always amazes me to see them negotiate over this low profile track without problems.

[wyomingscout]

fifedog

The folks up at the GLEN ROCK VFD (GlenRock,PA) have run big time steamers, and full scale diesels, even centipedes, on O-27 track for years.  It always amazes me to see them negotiate over this low profile track without problems.

 

fifedog, is it the low profile, or tight turns, or both that make it difficult to run some of these on 027?

Charlie

[Civil War]

 

wyomingscout

fifedog, is it the low profile, or tight turns, or both that make it difficult to run some of these on 027?

Can't wait to hear the answer to that. I have always wondered why Lionel put out two different height tracks. I can understand the different curves, but you can get wide curves in 0-27 profile so why the height difference. 

 Also, I guess a 2020 Turbine should run on 0-27 also. It was sold as an 0-27 engine.

 

[LL675]

my 736 runs fine on O27, 1121,1122,and 1024 swithces.

[alank]

There have been recent postings of the same subject in this forum, just under a different thread.   You could search for it, if someone doesn't answer your questions.    Like I said, I have run a 726 on O-27 without problem, and that was using O-27 curves.   I have also added the wider radius currves in O-27 profile to my layout and like using them.   Bob Nelson frequently mentions O-34, which was a Marx track in O-27 profile.   The thing I like about O-27 is the lower profile when making a layout, curves can be fixed.

[fifedog]

From what I can see of the GLEN ROCK layout, they don't use the tighter radii curves.  And, YES, the lower profile track still looks good under wheel.

I am considering using good ol' O-27 in my steel mill, since tracks there tend to be almost buried in suet and ash.  Plus, I feel that spurs and sidings look better when they sit lower than the "high iron".

[8ntruck]

I've run my Polar Express Berkshire on O27 track and switches without problems.

Why did Lionel make two track profiles?  Cost, probably.  The lower height rails on the O27 use less material.  May not seem like much for one piece of track, but when you make miles (actual - not scale) of the stuff, the savings add up.

[dougdagrump]

Tom P., aka "Spankybird", would be a good source for this question. If memory seves me correctly he ran everything on his home layout, articulated included, on the low profile 027 track.

[wjstix]

Lionel generally used three-digit numbers for "O" engines and four-digit for "O-27" engines, so a 736 would technically be an "O" engine needing an O-31 curve. That being said, in many cases Lionel made O and O-27 engines that were basically identical so the O ones would really work on O-27. For example a 646 Hudson and 2046 Hudson both had magnetraction and were basically identical although one was O and one was O-27.

I'm not sure but I think the O-27 line goes back to the "Lionel Jr." line of the 1930's, which were smaller than the existing Lionel O line and were budjet trains aimed at younger kids and for the many families who wanted trains for their kids but wanted to pay less during the Depression. For whatever reason, it apparently worked OK and Lionel kept doing it ever since (making the two types of tube track).  

[Civil War]

8ntruck

I've run my Polar Express Berkshire on O27 track and switches without problems.

Why did Lionel make two track profiles?  Cost, probably.  The lower height rails on the O27 use less material.  May not seem like much for one piece of track, but when you make miles (actual - not scale) of the stuff, the savings add up.

 

Sounds like a reasonable explanation.  Cost is everything.

Thanks

[lionelsoni]

Lionel got their O27 track when they (and American Flyer) acquired Ives around 1930.  That's why they called their older O-gauge track, which nowadays gets called "O31" or "O30", simply "O" and gave a new name to O27.

[wjstix]

Lionel generally used three-digit numbers for "O" engines and four-digit for "O-27" engines, so a 736 would technically be an "O" engine needing an O-31 curve. That being said, in many cases Lionel made O and O-27 engines that were basically identical so the O ones would really work on O-27. For example a 646 Hudson and 2046 Hudson both had magnetraction and were basically identical although one was O and one was O-27.

I'm not sure but I think the O-27 line goes back to the "Lionel Jr." line of the 1930's, which were smaller than the existing Lionel O line and were budjet trains aimed at younger kids and for the many families who wanted trains for their kids but wanted to pay less during the Depression. For whatever reason, it apparently worked OK and Lionel kept doing it ever since (making the two types of tube track).  

[spankybird]

We run alot of large engines on our O27 layout. The key is the switch machines, and I use the K-Line low profile type of O27 swtich.