Another reason for Gargraves or tubular track is that you can cut it to fit in the space at hand and still look decent without electrical problems. Can't do that very easy with; Fastrac, Realtrac or Atlas track in O gauge.
Lee F.
Have heard of T-rail but I think it was a pre WW2 item, not 100% sure, T-rail needed track bolts, nuts & fishplates to be put together it was almost like real track. Super O was made for a few years and sometimes you find it for sale in the classifieds of CTT magazine.
phillyreading wrote: Have heard of T-rail but I think it was a pre WW2 item, not 100% sure, T-rail needed track bolts, nuts & fishplates to be put together it was almost like real track. Super O was made for a few years and sometimes you find it for sale in the classifieds of CTT magazine.Lee F.
You are correct, T-rail came out in 1937. Super O came out 20 years latter in '57. You can find super o rather easily, probably a good amount on the bay right now.
phillyreading wrote: Another reason for Gargraves or tubular track is that you can cut it to fit in the space at hand and still look decent without electrical problems. Can't do that very easy with; Fastrac, Realtrac or Atlas track in O gauge.Lee F.
I use fastrack on my holiday layout. (its quick, looks good, and durable) But, Iwould like to use Gargraves or Atlas on my permanant layout.
The quote above helps a bit.
As my screen name suggests I use good ol' reliable and affordable Lionel or K-Line 027 tubular track*. I do chop down the switches to a footprint of nothing more than the track. Switches are all manual and of varying vintage. Some are operated with either fishing line and springs, or with bicycle brake cables. The uncoupling tracks have been modified to run on auxiliary current, not track power. I add wooden ties cut to the size of the top surface (above the safety bend) of the 3 included 027 metal ties. I also added ballast so the whole thing looks pretty darn good to me.
I also use my own version of TMCC: it's a black painted stick with a hook on one end and a rubber bumper on the other and the TMCC logo stuck in the middle for sarcastic intent. Does what I want it to do and has never needed to go back to the factory... amazing!
*Disclaimer: Though a resident of NYS, I am casting my vote for 027 track in the state of Florida, where my single vote counts for 5 million votes. SO it looks like 027 track wins this election. Gee, it works for the politicians. And unlike many politicians, 027 track doesn't cost me an arm and a leg, and does just what it's suppose to.... amazing!
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
I use Lionel 027 tubular track with the brown ties. Power taps are soldered to the bottom of the rails. There are 4 postwar 1122 remote switches that I have modified for accessory power and I use homemade capacitive discharge units. They work great and have an antiderailing feature that really works. For siding I use Postwar 1022 manual switches that also switch power to the sidings. I have made 2 sets of track pliers, one to tighten the pin holes and pins and the other one crimps track so that the pins stay in place. As long as you work at keeping the pins tight in each section of track, I have had no problems. I am considering adding additional ties in the future, but this is a big job. 027 tubular track has a simple charm and is perfect for running my postwar engines and rolling stock.
brianel027 wrote:*Disclaimer: Though a resident of NYS, I am casting my vote for 027 track in the state of Florida, where my single vote counts for 5 million votes. SO it looks like 027 track wins this election. Gee, it works for the politicians. And unlike many politicians, 027 track doesn't cost me an arm and a leg, and does just what it's suppose to.... amazing!
DaylightFan wrote:I use K Line Supersnap tubular track. Black plastic wood ties, black center rail, snaps together but is also compatible with O gauge lionel. Switches are quick, smooth, and very low profile.
wow i really like the looks of the atlas stuff...but looks expensive.
Totally tubular 0-27 dude.
lionel2986 wrote:Here is something that sometimes confuses me. When I look in my Lionel catalogues I see "standard O rolling stock". Is "standard O" different than "super O"? I've always thought they were the same but now I'm thinking standard O might be O/O-27 that is actually built to scale and super O has wider axles than O/O-27? While O and O-27 axles are equal width?I bet my post just confused many people
Standard O is trains with scale proportions and details. They run on O guage track. Super O is nothing more than O gauge track made in the postwar era made to look realistic with a thin copper center rail and brown plastic ties. Most O gauge trains will work on it. I believe it is o36 in circumfrence.
http://cgi.ebay.com/48-pcs-Lionel-Super-O-Track-26S-16C-1-2s_W0QQitemZ300128699514QQihZ020QQcategoryZ4146QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I am not the seller but this will give you a visual of super o track. It was kind of like the fasttrack of the late 50s, but better.
Super O gauge describes the track and not the size of the cars or anything to do with the cars that run on it. Anthing made for 027 track can run on O gauge track and should be able to run on Super O gauge track. Also Super O gauge track used its own kind of track pins, unsure if any adapter pins were made for Super O to O gauge track.
K-Line had made a track called Super Snap track that was O gauge but fit together with the help of plastic pins that stuck out about a quarter of an inch and had corresponding indentations that the pins fit into, this was a plastic molded track system with steel rails similar to tubular track. K-Line's Super Snap track would fit together with regular O gauge track by cutting off the end pieces of plastic.
I guess I got confused because I was watching a Lionel video and a guy in the video had an old Blue comet from the 30s or 40s and it was riding on tubular track with black ties. The track seemed wider than today's O gauge track and he kept refering to it as "standard gauge blue comet" or something like that. It looked like 3 rail track designed for cars with wider axels. So that Lionel prewar Blue Comet I saw in the film could run on O-27 or O gauge track and what I thought was wider track in the video was just an illusion?
zeke - I believe daylightfan is using "k-line supersnap" and not atlas. Although I do agree with you; It looks great. :)
Fastrack for the vast majority of my layout.
Atlas O for 1 small inner loop.
Lionel2986,
Standard Gauge refers to the size of the track and trains, was common before WW2. Also Standard Gauge trains are larger than O gauge, about one & a half times the size of O gauge. MTH is making reproductions of Standard Gauge trains and usually sell for around $450.00 or better for a locomotive. With Standard Gauge trains you need a whole lot more space to set up and operate!
There was a Blue Comet set made by either Lionel or American Flyer that was Standard Gauge.
2968, standard O is not track, its size. Standard O will most often only have a minimum radius of 031, and also it is more detailed. Traditional is the size of trains from the postwar era, a bit smaller than standerd O and less detailed, as well as being cheaper.
Hope this answers your question.
Grayson
"Lionel trains are the standard of the world" - Jousha Lionel Cowen
i started with fastrack now have switched over to gargraves track and ross switches.
lionel2986 wrote: zeke - I believe daylightfan is using "k-line supersnap" and not atlas. Although I do agree with you; It looks great. :)
Grayson,
Traditional is closer to 027 sized trains than full O scale. Have you seen the 226E steam loco from the pre war era, it is full scale O gauge. Also there are some other post war locomotives that require a very large curve section because of their size being full scale. Another thing about post war Lionel is that O gauge locomotives tended to be more rugged than 027 locomotives, there is even one or two 027 locomotives (#235 scout loco)that can not have the center roller wheels replaced because it is almost impossible to get the motor back together and have it work again.
The term Standard O really should not be used because it is confusing, and Standard comes from Stanard Gauge trains that are about one & a half times the size of O gauge trains.
-Cooper
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