I just bought a basic loop of Lionel's original 3 rail OO track, as what would have come with a starter set. I started building the original Lionel demo layout to take to shows a couple years ago. I still have the table, just need to finish the project. It will just fit in my old Jeep Wrangler to take to shows. Mike
Its fun to dream what might have been if Lionel had chosen to "push" OO like they did with Standard Gauge to the point where others had to conform and use that gauge of track. It could have really changed how things played out with the scales. I have a pair of diecast metal F3's in NYC colors that Hallmark(the card company) made that are OO in size but unpowered. I plan to change that with a pair of NWSL Stanton On3 drives retrofitted to the diecast trucks under the lead unit. Looking at this pic is what might have been had Lionel went the OO route after WWII.
Great running engine! As Ron Hollander wrote in his history of Lionel ("All Aboard!"), if Lionel had reintroduced their OO gauge line after World War 2, it could have changed US model railroad history considerably. Having high quality, mass produced, affordable OO may have made it the preferred choice for postwar modellers who wanted something smaller than O but were put off by having to handlay HO track, build locomotives from kits that didn't run all that well, etc. Perhaps OO would be the most used scale here now.
The Lionel turnouts wont work with the Gargraves track. They only work with the vintage Lionel track, which off ebay is a crap shoot that it wont be warped, leading to rough running. Ross custom switches makes beautiful 3 rail switches to match the O gauge Gargraves. but they dont have the time to develop OO ones that can be built to order. Which is about the only way it could work with the lower demand for OO. But the having the option of turnouts for this brand of track, might open the door to more folks running these beautiful models.
Wow;they sure run nicely with a 3 position E unit too!
Wow, these old Lionels were built to last! Did you check Ebay for turnouts? Patience is the secret (and deep pockets). I just saw some from Hornby a few minutes ago, although they seem tight.
Simon
Running some proper American OO on 19mm wide OO track. In this case, a 1938 Lionel scale Hudson, pulling a Scale Craft passenger coach and a Lionel tank car(only cars I have at the moment). Track is Gargraves, once I get ballast down, my layout will have the scale Hi Rail look that is common in larger scales. The engine next to the station is a Scale Craft 4-6-0 and my other Hudson is hiding behind it.
What I really need is someone to build me some turnouts to match the track, like what Ross does for the O gauge crowd that use 3 rail Gargraves. I am hoping to get the matching baggage and a couple more coaches so I can model the Twilight Limited that ran from Detroit to Chicago on the NYC. American OO is seldom seen, but there are still a few folks out here active in this old scale.