I’m reading Classic Toy Trains, and it talks about a Box Car O-27. Please help is the O the train type, and 27 the gauge??? Newbie.
O is the scale of the item compared to a real-world prototype, or even compared to other scales such as HO and N. The gauge is the distance between the flange faces of the rail heads. So, the item in question scales to O, and would have the heft and details you would expect from that SCALE, but the gauge of the wheels would be the scale equivalent of a mere 27 inches…ergo, a narrow gauge O scale car.
You can also get On30, which is the scale and gauge of one of those Bachmann Christmas Thomas Kinkaid trains sets I got from mywife about 13 years ago. O scale train, but runs on the equivalent of a 30" track in O scale, which just happens to be so very close to HO scale track that Bachmann EZ-Track was what was supplied with the train set.
Crandell
It should be pointed out I suppose that in the original Lionel terminology, O-27 track was O gauge but a 27 inch circle, a tighter radius than the usual Lionel O track, and the trains themselves were smaller than 1/4"=1 foot. The trains were closer to 3/16"=1 ft, which is “S” scale. O-27 trains will run on Lionel O track, but not all Lionel O trains will run on O-27 due to the tight curves.
Thus O-27 is an example of wide gauge, not narrow gauge!
And if you mix and match the rolling stock the difference I size will be readily apparent. The classic Lionel O 6464 boxcar, very nearly a scale model, looks huge compared to the similarly classic O-27 Baby Ruth boxcar They will couple together.
A person in Lionel usually needs to establish - is he in O or O-27?
Dave Nelson
You are mistaken.
“O 27” was developed as a less expensive entry level version of “O” gauge.
“O 27” is “O” gauge. The distance between rails is 1-1/4" the same as other “O” Gauge track. Standard “0 27” track makes a circle of 27 inches diameter and the equipment is designed to operate that tight of curve. It also has smaller rail and is of less robust construction than larger diameter “O” gauge tracks.
“O 27” gauge cars and locos are often built smaller scale and less detailed than the equipment designed for larger minimum diameter curves, but can be operated with them.
Note the above refers to “O” gauge, not “O” scale. Over simplifying a complicated relationship. Generally “O” scale trains in the USA are to a scale ratio of 1:48 (1/4" = 1 foot) but designed to run on scale 5 foot (1-1/4" gauge) gauge track. “O” scale trains run on 2-rail track . They have closer to scale wheels than “O” gauge trains, although the gauge is the same, do not run well on (older) standard “O” gauge track which has rounded top instead of an inverted “T” cross section. “O” gauge equipment is close to the 1:48 proportion of “O” scale but often not&n
While O27 refers to the diameter of a circle of Lionel track as noted above. This is the smallest radius. O27 also refers to a less detailed and generally smaller line of O gauge trains. O27 track is shorter than full size O gauge track which for Lionel is sometimes called O31. In addition to 27" diameter curves, O27 size track also comes in wider curves of 42 and 54 inches. Switches are available in in 27" curves and 42: curves. In O31 switches are available in curves of 31 and 72 inches.
Cars and locomotives are generally smaller and less detailed than the regular Lionel O gauge trains, but are not equal scale reductions in all 3 dimensions. Both O27 trains and regular O trains will run on both O27 and O31 track, but the larger locomotives and longer cars may require the wider curves. Some locomotives require O-72 curves available only in O31 track. Some long cars that will otherwise run on O27 O-27 curves may have problems with the O27 O-27switches due to part of the switch stand being higher than the track.
This all refers to Lionel’s tubular track. Lionel’s Fastrack is different. Some kind of transition is required between different track systems.
Some O gauge trains particularly large locomotives are made to smaller scales such as 1/55 or 1/64 but with O gauge wheel sets.
Other manufacturers also make O gauge trains that are less than 1/48 scale as well as O gauge track. Some of the track is compatible with Lionel O31 or O27. Some is not.
Enjoy
Paul
Wow, I have a lot to learn about mixed up terminology in this hobby. It seems gauge and scale are used interchangeably over time.
I am corrected and will try to remember that the 27 means curvature to a diameter and not the gauge, as it does in On30.
[:^)]
Crandall, it’s actually possible to model in On27 (or On2 1/4) if you model the Tal - y Llyn or Corris railways in Wales. The Campbelltown & Macrihanish once ran in Scotland, but is now defunct. Those are the only listings for 27 inch gauge in the Gauge Sage’s table of track gauges.
There really is a prototype for everything!
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - 1:80 scale, two narrow gauges)
Thanks, Chuck, but it isn’t as clear-cut as I had thought. Oh well, more head-scratching for me.
Crandell