I am just wondering where to go if I have ouestions about 1930’s OO & 1950’s Lionel HO?
HO thats easy goto www.modelrailroader.com then there forum as you have guys there that have had
HO since it was first made just about.
OO not sure I would think there might be a few here on this forum but not sure maybe Bob keller could give you a direction to look on that
CTT did an article once on Lionel OO and HO. Bob Keller may point you to it.
There are a couple of vintage HO web pages the probably have some info. I’ve looked at them but I lost my bookmarks.
I know a little about Lionel HO, whats your question?
The Lionel OO info is a bit tough to find.
We did a feature on it in the September 2003 issue. I don’t recall running a story on anyone’s OO layout, but I have a hazy memory of a shot or two of someone with OO on their O gauge layout.
The out-of-print Greenberg’s Guide to Lionel Trains 1901-1942, Vol. II (O and OO gauges) does have a chapter (About 8 1/2 pages) on OO production. This was a 2001 edition. An earlier edition (1988) just has four pages on the subject.
Top shelf, 1946 Lionel O gauge Berkshire, middle shelf, Full Scale Lionel OO Hudson, bottom shelf, Simi-Scale Lionel OO Hudson.
Locomotive, tender, hopper car, tank car, and caboose all Die-Cast, the box car is stamped Sheet Metal. Lionel entered OO gauge in 1938 with a big splash, it ended with WW II and never returned.
1938, Full Scale Hudson cab number 5342, all the detail of the 700E right down to the pin on a chain to couple the tender, Cream color Box Car #0014, Silver Tank Car #0015, Gray Hopper Car #0016, and Red Caboose #0017. Three rail track, AC operation with “E” unit and optional Whistle. 1938 track not compatible with 1939-41 track.
1939-41, the Hudson is now offered in Full Scale and Simi-Scale (much less piping detail, less valve gear linkage, and no handrails on tender), Box car is now PRR Brown, Hopper car is Black, the Tank car gets prototypical number and can be had as Sunoco Silver or Shell Black. Simi-Scale cars look the same as Scale except less underbody detail and no smoke stack on the caboose. It was produced in both three rail and two rail, three rail switches were also offered. That’s 4 sets, Full and Simi in 3 rail and 2 rail. Two rail cars had insulated axels and a different number (2 rail cars can run on 3 rail track but 3 rail cars not on 2 rail track). Kits also offered.
Easy to find in excellent condition at large Train Shows like York, “OO” was a hobby gauge, not a toy. They are not Cheap, price for a set should run between $500 to $1500 depending on condition and boxes if any. Repair parts are almost non-existing.
Found one, try here
CTT also did a cover story on OO in the Sept 1993 issue (Vol 6 No 5). Dec 1997 also had an article on Carl Nourse’s holiday layout at his car dealership in Columbus, OH. There were OO upper layout over the more traditional 3 rail O one. Both were nicely done.
Thanks to all of you.