O Track Verses Fast Track???

[lionelsoni]

The gauge is the same for all of them, 1 1/4 inches.  The important difference is how sharp the curves are.  O27 has a radius of 12.5 inches, O31 14.142 inches, and Fast Track, 18 inches and up in 6-inch increments.  There is also track that matches O27 and O31 in a variety of gentler curvatures.  The main thing is to use curves that your trains can get around, or that your trains look good going around.  Which kind of track do you have?

[willpick]

All of the various makes of track for O scale have the same gauge-- 1.25" between the outside rails. The differences are in the materiel that the rails are made of, whether there is a molded roadbed or not, and how many ties are used, etc. Lionel's tubular track has been around for over 70 years, and has not changed much in that time. It is made in 2 sizes: O and O-27. O track's smallest diameter is 31", and the height is about 9/16". O-27 is about 7/16" high, and smallest diameter is 27" Fastrack of course, has molded roadbed, and still uses the same tinplated steel as tubular.

Fastrack is better for people who are new to the hobby, as it's just about foolproof to set up and use.  I use Atlas O track for my "serious" layout,but i'm also in the process of building a "toy Train" layout using tubular track and classic Lionel accessories.

As for your trains, all O scale and O gauge trains will run on any track that has the same 1.25" gauge-- the caveat is that some engines and long cars will NOT operate on the smallest diameter(O27 or O31) track. They will be labeled in the catalogs and on the boxes what the minimum reccomended diameter is.

HTH---

[Chris77504]

I am very new to Trains and I am curious what the different Lionel gauges are.  I have seen O Track and Fast Track, are there any others?

 Also what are the main differences and which is the best to use.

Also will the same trains that operate on the O track work on the Fast Track etc?