"O" or "O27"

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I am just starting to get some sets together and have purchased a couple of boxes of mixed track. which would be better to use, the O or O27. or is it just the look that is different.[?] I have also seen some “fastrack”. looks nice, will it work with 50’s trains[?]

Thanks john

2

O is O. Do you mean two vs. three rail. O-27 just means how big the circle is. Fastrack is O-36, a little bigger circle.

The kind of train you have probably needs 3 rail. Check to see if it has a little spring-loaded roller to pick up a 3rd rail.

3

It is all 3 rail but the O is taller

4

What you use is really just a matter of what you think looks better. Back in the “good old days” O was intended for the bigger engines that supposedly needed larger curves to run. In reality, the 4 extra inches in diameter offered by O track doesn’t offer too much of an advantage, and both profiles have wider radius curves available. It also used to be that certain engines would have problems with O27 switches, but K-line has solved that with their low profile switch motors. Also, it used to be that some engines had flanges so deep that they needed the taller profile of O to run(primarily larger pre-war engines), but, again, this generally isn’t an issue anymore

The geometry of O, I think, is a little bit neater and easier to work with, being based on 10" straight sections rather than the 8 3/4" or whatever the length O-27. I also prefer the appearance. Many like the look of O27 better. It’s really up to you.

If you want to use Fastrack, it will be perfectly fine with your 1950s trains.

5

thanks for the great info

6

jmsiv,
First, welcome to the forum. You will find many helpfull people here. As to your question, O guage has a minimum turn radius of 31", but they make wider turns. The track is a little taller than O27, so some like the lower profile of the O27, some like the taller O guage. The O27 has a minimum turn radius of 27". They make larger and even much larger turns that will work with O guage engines. That being said, it is a matter of what you want. I would suggest going to a train store or train show and looking at a side by side view of these tracks. Fastrack is a great thing in that it looks good and is easy to set up and will work on carpet. The downside is that it is expensive and some say a little noisy. Also, they have a limited number of available special tracks. Some of the operating accessories from postwar will not work unless you adapt a transition track. The cheapest is the O27.
Lastly, I am originally from Bogota, NJ. Where are you located? I have a friend that owns a train store in Mountain Lakes and would be very helpful in showing you comparisons of the track, etc.
Again, Welcome,
Dennis

7

John - whether you opt for “O” or “O-27” go with a curve diameter of 31", or larger. The majority of today’s engines, a good deal of passenger cars, require 31" or larger. Many feel that the lower profile of O-27 is a bit more protypical , especially when additional ties are added to the track. If you aren’t tied to the traditional tubular, look into Gargraves, or if cost isn’t a consideration Atlas.

8

The radius of O27 is 12 1/2 inches. It is the diameter to the ends of the 2-inch ties that is 27 inches. The radius of O31 is 14.142 inches. The diameter to the ends of the 2 1/4-inch ties is about 30 1/2 inches.

9

will o track connect directly to o-27 track?

10

yes, but O is taller so you have to shim up the 027 at the connection.

11

I’d say no, thinking by “directly” you mean “without additional work”. As noted, O-27 track would have to be shimmed up (by 1/4") to match the rail height of O track. The other issue is that the connecting pins for the O track are larger in diameter than the pins for O-27 track. I’ve read of a lot of ways to make do (nails, machining O pins, toothpicks), but I can’t recall ever reading about a vendor who makes O to O-27 transition connector pins.

12

Super O…

Very best, Mike

The History of Lionel “Super O” Track
( http://www.tcamembers.org/articles/operating/supero/index.html )

Lionel_SuperO_Track Yahoo Group
( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lionel_SuperO_Track/ )

13

Lionel did make transition pins. They were supplied at least with the modern bascule bridge. Whether they could be bought separately, I don’t know.