Lionel O Guage ... what gauge wire is used to repair trains?

[servoguy]

When I only need a small amount of wire for pickups, I have bought clip leads at Radio Shack and cut off the clips.  Depending on which clip leads you buy, the wire size will vary.  The smallest size wire works very well for pickups.

Bruce Baker

[cwburfle]

for example, I want to replace the wires on a 2671w tender .. it is solid not stranded, but I don't know the gauge.

A typical 2671W whistling tender (or any other whistling tender) will have 22 guage stranded wire running between the pickup rollers and the insides. The internal wiring will usually be 22 or 24 gauge solid wire with pushback insulation.
Most parts dealers carry "superflex" wire in 22 and/or 24 gauge for wiring pickups. As far as I know, the 22 guage comes in black only. The 24 gauge comes in red or black.
In addition, some parts dealers have "e-unit" wire, which is 24 gauge in red, blue, yellow, or green.
I don't  know the difference between 24 gauge red "superflex, and 24 gauge red "e-unit" wire.
If someone does, please share the information.

In general, these wires are made with a lot of very small strands of wire (something like 32 strands), and a very flexible jacket. Last I looked, the stuff at Radio shack had a relatively small number of larger strands of wire (something like 8 strands), and had a relatively stiff insulation, and really wasn't very good for pickup wiring.
I would recommend purchasing a small quantity of the suplerflex wire from your favorite parts dealer.

[lionelsoni]

 AWG   Diameter, Ampacity,
        inches    amperes

0000    .4600
 000    .4096
  00    .3648
   0    .3249
   1    .2893
   2    .2576
   3    .2294
   4    .2043
   5    .1819
   6    .1620
   7    .1443
   8    .1285
   9    .1144
  10    .1019      30
  11    .09074
  12    .08081     20
  13    .07196
  14    .06408     15
  15    .05707
  16    .05082     10
  17    .04526
  18    .04030      7
  19    .03589
  20    .03196      5
  21    .02846
  22    .02535
  23    .02257
  24    .02010
  25    .01790
  26    .01594
  27    .01420
  28    .01264
  29    .01126
  30    .01003
  31    .008928
  32    .007950
  33    .007080
  34    .006305
  35    .005615
  36    .005000
  37    .004453
  38    .003965
  39    .003531
  40    .003145

[ron123]

for example, I want to replace the wires on a 2671w tender .. it is solid not stranded, but I don't know the gauge.

Also, the 151 smepahore, uses stranded, but again, does anyone know the gauge wire?

It seems that all the cars/engine/accessories use solid or stranded, but not sure of the gauge of the wire... if anyone knows, please let me know.

I stopped at radio schack, but the person didn't know how to judge the gauge of the wire on the parts that I brought to the store.

 

thanks

ron