Thank you for answering my questions about the horn not working on my loinel k line. turns out a circut board that was secured to the inside of the engine was not secure and shorted. luckily i could fix it. I am still figureing things out with my o scale, and it seems that the possibilities and add ons are endless. is it possible to use o27 track with my o train. my wife’s grandfather just gave me about 2 miles of it!! The thing is I want to check first so I dont damage anything so the trains stay well taken care of through the years, any suggestions on track and care??
The 027 track should work great for straight sections and NO switches. Some locomotives or cars will need 042 or larger curves. If the wheelsets bind up or derail in 027 curves then you need at the least the next size up. O gauge comes in many sizes and starts at 031 and goes to 0120, most popular sizes are; 031, 036, 042, 048, 054,072. Lionel makes sizes from 027 up to 072, but NO 054 switches. If you want a differant size switch you would do well to go with Ross Custom Switches, website is as follows www.rossswitches.com If you use Ross Switches don’t forget about adapter pins to 027 or O gauge or Atlas track.
Lee F.
As to track care, you should absolutely avoid steel wool for track cleaning. Little pieces of steel wool will get inside the motors of your engines and damage them. There is a product called scotchbright available at your grocery store that you can safely use to clean track with. Also, a product the the HO guys use called a Bright boy will work on O gauge track also.
Many folks like the lower profile of the O27 track. The O27 refers to the size of a circle of track. The wider curves, or bigger circles, allow for the locomotives that require wider radius curves. Lionel makes several larger curved pieces. Considering the amount of track that you have, you may want to check Lionel’s web site for the offerings that would allow you to run which ever size engines/rolling stock you desire.
Dennis
O27-profile track has been made in 27, 34, 42, 54, and 72-inch nominal diameters, with radii to the center rail of 12 1/2, 15 3/4, 20 1/4, 26 3/8, and 35 1/4 inches respectively. The radius of what is called O30 or O31 track is 14.142 inches, less than Marx O34 track.
I have a booklet entitled “Instructions for assembling and operating Lionel Trains” copyright 1951 - that’s probably about the age of your 027 track. On page 15 it states “Although the track ‘gauge’ or the distance between the running rails is the same for both types of track - 1 1/4 inches - ‘0’ and ‘027’ track cannot be used in the same layout.”
Greenberg’s Repair and Operating Manual says the same thing - page 719 in my 1998 edition.
Lionel made an adapter track to go from 0 and 027 to the then “new” Super 0 track in the 50’s. Perhaps there is something available now to adapt 0 to 027?
Charlie
If you don’t mind bending a little metal, it is quite easy to connect the two rail sizes together. You can open the O27 rails (with a screwdriver from underneath) and stretch them around the larger O31 track pins. Or you can crimp the O31 rails tighter around the smaller O27 track pins. Then you have to shim the O27 track under the ties to the same height as the taller O31.
Lionel also made adapter pins which are larger on one end and smaller on the other. They come packed with some accessories, like the bascule bridge; but unfortunately I think they do not sell them separately.
…but no, an O locomotive will NOT work on 027. I tried my sons new Harry Potter on the old layout…luckily went very,VERY slow. Great on the straight, leaped off on the first curve. While anything is possible, I’d stay with what you use most. Tough to pass up alot of old track, but there is always Ebay!
I just use terry cloth towels and rubbing alcohol to clean. Kinda nuts to pay $7 for a small bottle of track cleaner when I can get two large bottles of rubbing alcohol for $1. Okay, so it isn’t purple…add some food coloring!
Stubborn soil spots, like that which accumulates on the steel wheels, I preclean using Hoppes#9 gun cleaning solvent. I haven’t had any problems, just make sure to follow with a final clean up of alcohol afterwards.
I agree with all of the above to start off with. As far as 0 runnig on 027 track, I will tell you this. Back around 1955 or 56, my cousin receieved an 0 Lionel set for Christmas. I recieved in 1947-48 an 027 Scout set and over the years added more track, cars, and switches. When we visited we took our trains with us and his 0 gauge worked just fine on my 027 track. My opinion is that it depends locomotive size or car length and truck’s ability to swivel enough to negotiate the sharper curves and that my advice would to be to try it. If it works then you are in business, if not then you’ll know. I can’t see any danger happening other then derailing in the curves or switches. Ken
The Harry Potter / Hogwarts engine is not an “O” engine. It’s O-36. I’ve never run the Polar Express on “O”, but it will not negotiate O-27 curves consistently.
Many “O” engines will run on O-27. We run 736’s & F-3’s regularly.
Rob
Yeah, but I think its best to go with what works. I know many work, but some do not. It’d be nice to say ALL, eh?
Don’t really understand why they list and box the HP as an O. I Just assumed that it should work on the 031. I just know it won’t work on 027. Don’t have any old 031 to try it on.
Let me know if you can find out for sure if it will work on the O gauge track. I imagine it won’t.
Oh it’s O-Gauge for sure, but the Hogwarts Express is clearly cataloged as being Minimum Curve: O-36.
Rob
OK. I gotcha!
I meant on the box itself. If you just grabbed it because you seen the O, you wouldn’t know any better.
I’ve had mostly HO until my dad finally handed down the Lionel.
So basically it is ALL “O” gauge, just subdivided into radius’ of 27,31,36…(0-27,0-31,0-36…)
Is this right? Also, What was the original,before 0-27? 31?
Trust me, I don’t pretend to know everything.
Let me know if I finally got this right…[%-)]
Lionel “O” starting in 1915 was/is O-31. In 1934, Lionel introduced O-72(tubular & T-Rail). American Flyer “O” was ~O-30, & O-40.
O-27 was probably originated at Ives, & continued with Lionel “Winner” trains. Marx had O-27 in 27" & 34" diameter track, the never made pure “O”.
K-Line picked up the basic geometry of Flyer “O” with the introduction of O-42 in both “O” & O-27 profiles with 30 degree curve tracks(the switches originally had 45 degree turnout legs).
GarGraves introduced flex track in the 1940’s, with switches approximating O-80 to O-100 geometry.
But it’s all “O” Gauge - as we know it anyway - 1.25" track gauge.
Rob
Thank you and every one else for helping me out with my questions about o scale trains. you all have been a huge help. thanks again!