I recently acquired a Lionel 3656 Operating Cattle Car and Corral as part of a small early postwar collection. Since I use 027 track on my small layout, I attempted to test the car and platform on the workbench using two 027 track sections. No matter how I tried positioned the track ties on the platform base, I was unable to do so without feeling that I would bend or break something.
My question is: has there been a change to 027 track ties over the years? I know they have changed color from black, to gray, to the current brown. But what about the width of the tie? The ties on my “modern-era” brown-tied track curl up on the sides to accomodate track clips. Were early postwar 027 track ties slightly smaller, or maybe flat on the sides? If so, I could not find any documentation on this anywhere.
The good news is that I was able to set up and test the car, corral, and controller using O gauge track and got everything up and running fine after making the appropriate adjustments to the platform and voltage.
there is a piece issued when new to adapt O-27 track now if I remeber you have to use 2 pieces meeting in the middle to use it. If you give train tender a call (Jeff Kane ) at 585-229-2050 or email jeff at jeff@ttender.com he probally has the part you need its part number 3656-68 is for the power casing. now why your track don’t fit someting must be bent. Also if you look at the back you’ll notice two slots on each end for setting height of the corral one is for O which would be higher and the other would of coarse be O-27 which is lower. if you can or have a copy of Greenburgs "Repair and operating Manual for lionel trains 1945 - 1969 its like a bible for items like these jeff has them normally
The size and shape of the ties has indeed changed slightly. I think the change occurred during the MPC era. Postwar ties (at least Dad’s postwar ties) were flat on the side, without the modern curl. I’m not sure if the position has changed at all.
If it would help it fit better, you could probably get away with prying up the tabs on the ties, moving them so they fit the accessory better, and then push the tabs back down into place. Without the indentations on the rails, the ties won’t hold quite as well, but the adjacent pieces should hold everything in gauge. Or get your hands on a couple of pieces of clean postwar O27 track (it’s available cheaply, usually for 50 cents a section or less, at train shows and hobby shops that deal in used postwar equipment) and use those.
I also moved the ties to fit into the corral platform. you will also have to insulate the center rail from the edge of the base that bends up as the o27 track is also lower than the O and will short out on the edge. look at the pic of my setup
The shape and size of the 027 metal tie I believe was changed by Lionel during the MPC period though it could have happened sooner. The postwar metal tie was just folded down: the newer tie now has a bend upwards. It’s my understanding this was done as a safety concern to help reduce skin cuts from handling the track. The length of the track is still the same.
rail from the edge of the base that bends up as the o27 track is also lower than the O and will short out on the edge. look at the pic of my setup