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O and 027

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  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 10,096 posts
Posted by lionelsoni on Sunday, January 1, 2006 4:27 PM
O27 also comes in O72 and O34 (old Marx track). The diameters are to the outside ends of the ties. The length of an O27 straight is 8.839 inches.

Bob Nelson

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 548 posts
Posted by Chris F on Saturday, December 31, 2005 11:47 PM
Currently, O-27 track is available with curve diameters of 27, 42, and 54 inches, while O gauge track is available with curve diamters of 31, 42, 54, and 72 inches. Therefore, measuring the curve diameter won't always tell you what track you have.

As Ben noted, measuring the length of a piece of regular straight track will be more definitive.

Put a piece of your track on a flat surface and measure from that surface to the top of the rails. Whether curved or straight, O-27 rail height is 7/16", while O gauge rail height is 11/16", or 1/4" higher than O-27.
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Frankfort, Kentucky
  • 1,758 posts
Posted by ben10ben on Saturday, December 31, 2005 5:49 PM
With new track being made today, O27 has brown ties and O has black ties.

With all track ever made, the standard straight track length with O is 10", and 8 3/4" with O27.

O has a higher profile, about 5/16" as compared with about the 1/4" of O27.
Ben TCA 09-63474
  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,230 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Saturday, December 31, 2005 5:47 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by binskyhere

How can I tell the difference between O and 027 track? I think I have both but I'm not sure how to tell the differfence. Thanks!!!

Eddie


Eddie,

O and 0-27 are very similar.

While both are the same gauge (the distance between the outside rails), the space needed for a complete circle of each track differs.

O-gauge track makes a minimum circle of thirty-one inches in diameter. The height of the track is eleven sixteenths of an inch. It is of a heavier gauge steel stock, too. The connecting pins are larger in diameter, the ties are typically black.

0-27 track makes a circle only twenty-seven inches in diameter. The height to the top of the rail is seven sixteenths of an inch. Lighter steel, & smaller pins, ties may be black, brown, silver, woodgrain(early MPC).

All 0-27 engines can negotiate O curves, but some larger engines made specifically for O track derail on the tighter 0-27 curves.

Rob

Rob

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
O and 027
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 31, 2005 5:36 PM
How can I tell the difference between O and 027 track? I think I have both but I'm not sure how to tell the differfence. Thanks!!!

Eddie

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