Which tubular track?

[emdmike]

I am at a cross roads.  I lack enough regular O gauge curves in the 042 radius(need 6 of them) along with a full circle of the old Johnsons Rubber Roadbed to match.  But I have a full loop of 027 style track with the 42" radius curves(yes they offered that at one time from Lionel).  I am running prewar Lionel, Bassett Lowke and Hornby with electric, clockwork and live steam.  Should I just use the lighter weight 027 track or find the stuff I need to use the regular O gauge track with its really tall rail height?      Mike

[emdmike]

Here is the Bassett Lowke live steamer on the lower profile track, with my Lionel 252 set in the background.   Mike

[ADCX Rob]

emdmike

...42" radius curves(yes they offered that at one time from Lionel)...

These were offered by K-Line as well. And in both "O" & O-27 profiles.

The "O" profile is still available NEW for $2.99 each HERE.

[emdmike]

Part of me kind of likes the lower profile rail, looks less like girders and more like railway track.  Especially if I can come up with the rubber roadbed like I have for my O gauge profile track.  Mike

[Penny Trains]

I know what you mean.  The lower height rail makes the locomotives look bigger.

[BigAl 956]

emdmike

I lack enough regular O gauge curves in the 042 radius(need 6 of them) along with a full circle of the old Johnsons Rubber Roadbed to match.

New O42 is still available for purchase. Menards is offering new O track in all sizes however it's tie pattern may not match your Johnsons roadbed wich is becoming very hard to find in its own right.

In any case I would not reccomend O27 track. It's a thinner metal and distorts over time. The switches are also inferior. Stay with O tubular or another upgraded track system.

[Kmaster2007]

heres an idea...if you are stuck on what tubliar track to get, maybe try fastrack

[KRM]

Not sure I agree with BigAl but in the end it is up to you. I have been running NOS O27 Lionel profile on my layout for 11 years with no problems to speak of in nothing smaller than O42 Lionel curve and O34 Marx I also have O72 K-Line all on the outer loop. There is still a lot of O27 track out there on E-bay and some dealers still have NOS. I have been told you can get Ross switches that fit to O27 track but I am running 14+ Lionel O42 on the outer loop and 6 O27 switches on the smaller loops with few issues.

Up to you. I myself do not like the look of O gauge or FasTrack but that is just me. There are other options out there as well that look great but you pay for the look.

[emdmike]

Never Fastrack, way to noisy!!  And way to much work to sort of quiet it down.  I will probably get the missing 6 pieces of 042 I need to complete the loop, its finding a circle of the Johnsons rubber road bed that will take some doing since its not made anymore.  That really quiets down the operation, its like running on the carpet noise level wise.  Till then I will use my 027 profile loop as a temporary set up.  Getting ready to shift to the outdoor gauge 1 layout anyways.  Thanks.   Mikie

[ADCX Rob]

BigAl 956

New O42 is still available for purchase. Menards is offering new O track in all sizes...

ADCX Rob

The "O" profile is still available NEW for $2.99 each HERE.

[ADCX Rob]

BigAl 956

...I would not reccomend O27 track. It's a thinner metal and distorts over time. The switches are also inferior...

You need to qualify this. Which switches are inferior? Unless you are stuck in 1969, there are a lot of O-27 switch choices for O-27, wide radius included.

My 1971 O-27 layout has no "distorts over time" issues. What the heck are you talking about?

[emdmike]

Maybe he means running like on the carpet and such.  I used 027 profile track for years on table top layouts without any issues.  The normal 022 model switches in O gauge tubular are to tight of a radius for my Bassett Lowke steamers.  So no matter what track I go with, I will have to get wider radius switches(atleast 042 radius).  If I had the coin, I would go with Maldon brand track from the UK with its proper shaped solid rails.  I have zero love for the current stuff with the plastic road bed.  Just serves to amplify the tinplate noise.  If I can find a full circle of 042 rubber road bed, I will get the remaining half circle of O gauge track and use that.  Right now, finding that full circle of that roadbed is the hold up.    Mike the Aspie