as asked.
This forum is almost all HO gauge and N guage modellers. You would probably get more responses on the Classic Toy Trains forum.
In HO, i find that most track manufacturers who use “fast” in their product names are making short sections of sectional track. Atlas HO makes sectional track but also longer pieces of flex track which can, within reason, be shaped to suit.
MTH, by the way, has itself closed so their products will only be available if someone else picks up the lines.
I use Peco for my main HO empire. But I just acquired a pair of O scale locomotives and plan to set up a small layout, little more than a loop of track with branch line and a station or two. I’ve little experience with O scale and am still researching my options.
Sorry if this was the wrong forum, I’ve posted a number of HO related questions in here over the years and didn’t realize this forum was exclusive to HO and N. I’m not into “toy trains” so it never occurred to me to post over there.
Anyway, if MTH is discontinued, that limits me to Atlas or Lionel. To my eyes, Atlas looks more realistic, but Lionel looks more sturdy.
No exclusive to a scale here but there are few her into O as a main pasion.
Since “Classic Toy Trains” is a Kalmbach magazine / forum, questions regarding O gauge three-rail trains generally are more likely to find answers there. I’m sure many folks who read and post there are “Scale Three-Railers” rather than toy train collectors.
“O Gauge Railroading” magazine’s online forums may have more info; they have specific forums on Atlas, Lionel, and MTH products etc.
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/forum-directory
In general, the main difference between Lionel Fastrack and Atlas’ O three-rail track is Lionel’s track (and MTH RealTrack I believe) is more like what’s sometimes called “click track” in that it comes with simulated ballast added - kinda like Kato Unitrack in HO or N scale.
https://www.lionelstore.com/category/Track-and-Power?custitem_gauge=O-Gauge
Atlas track is more like their sectional HO or N track, it’s basically just rails and ties so you would need to add ballast and a subroadbed (like cork) yourself.
https://shop.atlasrr.com/c-1017-o-3rl-track.aspx
ealtrack is/was similar.
That’s fine. O isn’t my main passion, either. HO is. I just started dabbling in O scale for the lolz and have a few questions. 
Okay. Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind from now on: “O” questions go under “Classic Toy Trains,” even for serious model railroaders who aren’t into “toy trains.”
Not exactly. The Lionel and MTH track you asked about are three-rail track made for AC trains, so I/we are assuming that’s what you’re asking about. The best Kalmbach forum for questions about three-rail O would be the Classic Toy Trains forum, regardless of whether you’re asking about toy trains or 1:48 scale trains made for three-rail track.
Questions about two-rail O (or O narrow gauge), DC / DCC, trains would be better to ask here - although, as has been mentioned, there aren’t all that many O scalers here, so you might want to check out the forums at O Scale Railroading magazine’s site.
Okay. I just learned something new!
I always assumed that all O used 3-rail track for historical reasons.
So, serious model railroaders who model in O scale use 2 rail track? Cool! And for that, the proper forum is O Scale Railroading. Got it!
And 3-rail track is relegated mainly to toy trains, even though a few serious modelers do use 3-rail track (like that fellow’s videos you pointed me to in that other thread).
I’m gonna go run my HO trains now…
Well, yes, sorta-kinda. The traditional view held by people in N or HO or S is that O gaugers using two-rail are ‘model railroaders’ while people using three-rail are ‘toy train guys’. However, in recent decades, that line has become more blurred as more folks become “hi-railers” or “three-rail scale” modellers - running 1:48 scale equipment, Kadee couplers, weathering and detailing their equipment etc. but using three rail track instead of two rail.
A big difference is power. O-scale two-rail equipment is made to run on DC power, or using DCC with a decoder. Three-rail engines are going to come set up to use AC power, or one of the AC-based power systems like Lionel Legacy or MTH’s DCS system. You can’t really mix the two that easily, so generally O scalers are doing one track and power system or the other exclusively.
It’s interesting (to me anyway) that in Germany, Marklin makes the same HO engines available for either two-rail DC/DCC or three-rail AC. Both methods of powering the trains are accepted as HO model railroading. But here, a guy running an Atlas RS-11 on two-rail track is a ‘scale modeller’, but someone running the same engine on three-rail track and AC power is a ‘toy train’ guy.
The problem was (and is to a large extent) that 3-rail O dominated O for many years. With 3 rail track, there is no need to insulate axles or wheel hubs - many Lionel and Marx accessories depended on the wheels/axles conducting to an insulated outside rail for their operation.
Using low voltage AC instead of DC allowed use of simple variable output transformers for control, although universal (field windings instead of permanent magnets) motors used in postwar Lionel, Marx, American Flyer will run on either AC or DC.
The deep tinplate flanges allowed 3 rail O trains to run well on cheap-to-make tubular track.
These differences fractured O into the 2 rail and 3 rail camps, with only very limited compatibility between the 2, especially in the 1950s - 1980s. Nowadays, most 3 rail locomotives and rolling stock are much more realistic than before the 1990s, and are available insulated for 2 rail. With the advent of simple diodes, permanent magnet motors have become the norm for 3 rail locomotives, too. So although you have to pick 3 rail or 2 rail, realistic locomotives and rolling stock are available in either case. The 2 camps are much more alike than different now.
As far as track goes, MTH track is no longer being produced. You can find it at train shows, and some hobby shops (new old stock). Both Lionel Fastrack and MTH track have built-in roadbed, which is much more realistic looking than the O and O27 tubular track. However, the tubular track is much easier to cut into custom sizes. And really deep flange older 3-rail O will not run on the newer low profile track. Marx from the 1950s and Lionel prewar are examples of really deep flanges.
Atlas O 3 rail track has an appearance not too different from their HO Snap Track. When put on roadbed and ballasted, it is the most realistic 3 rail O track. I believe Atlas O 3 rail has flex track as well. A decent range of switches is available.
Ye
I have some equipment in 2 rail O that I run on a portable layout and on a circle under the tree. I chose to use old Rivarossi/Pola track, that can still be found on Ebay. Quality is excellent, but they will not directly mate with Atlas 2 rail track. For power, I use a Lionel transformer, with a gizmo that converts the power from AC to DC (found on Ebay). I have a brass engine that sucks up a lot of amps, even after I changed the original motor for a can motor. A regular HO pack does not provide enough power for those large brass steamers.
Simon
To add to the O scale track confusion, keep in mind that for many decades (1930s-1960s) many - perhaps most - O scalers used AC power and third rail - but with the third rail outside of the two running rails, somewhat similar to what the real New York Central used from Manhattan to Harmon NY.
Many early O scale models, including the iconic Lionel scale Hudson, were designed to run on AC/Three-rail. Adding an outside third-rail, often of smaller rail made for HO/OO trains, made the track more realistic looking. Walthers sold outside third-rail pickups at least into the 1980s, or modellers made their own from flexible metal cable.
Track planning guru John Armstrong used outside third-rail on his Canandaigua Southern O scale layout until he died in 2004…
Other un-ballasted track that is very popular with O-scalers is made by GARGRAVES and ROSS CUSTOM SWITCHES.
People mix-and-match different track and turnouts … such as using Gargraves track with Atlas turnouts … with minimal modification.
Ross makes roadbed specific to different tracks.
Lots of good fun in O scale these days.
That’s all good to know!
My main empire is, and will always be, HO. But I kind’a got thrust into O scale without knowing much about it. So now I just want to set up a small O scale (3 rail) layout. It’s not gonna be as detailed and prototypical as my HO layout, but it’s gonna be more than just a toy train display running around in circles. And I’ll also set up an oval around the Christmas tree (and maybe other holidays) in addition to the actual layout. For the temporary ovals, I’ll prolly use Lionel FastTrak and an old-fashioned transformer/throttle. For the permanent layout, I’m not sure, but I’m leanig toward Atlas as their 3-rail O track actually looks fairly realistic and does a good job at hiding the center rail. And I’ll use a Lionel TMCC system (Lionel’s proprietary version of “DCC”) that I was able to nab from someone on eBay. I haven’t purchased ANY track yet since I’m still learning what’s available, so we’ll see…
BTW, I have a Marklin HO locomotive that uses 3 rail. I placed a bunch of black metal nails (I think they’re really furniture tacks) between the ties of one of my branch lines and have a switch on the fascia that can switch the line between 2-rail and 3-rail power. The black ballast hides the nails so that you can’t see them unless you look closely.
Atlas 3 rail straights and curves do not cross connect the outer rails. I have run 2 rail scale wheel trains on it.
Paul
That’s a great idea! You can run 2-rail and 3-rail trains simultaneously on the same track!
Hey Bernie, I model two rail HO and N as well as 3 rail O. Most of my O fleet is my father’s Lionel and Marx, as well as the Polar Express and an American Flyer Pre-War unit. Honestly, the Classic Toy Trains Forum covers far more than post-war Lionel, these guys and gals are well versed in new O stuff and can help you.
So for my Christmas Tree layout, I use Lionel Fast Track. It is a good option, although a bit loud if you are considering a permanant layout. There are many options and the CTT forum folks will be happy to help you.
I imagine you need a switch to reverse the polarity on one of the outside rails. You also need a DC power source for the 2 rail locos.
Simon
Right. A wiring diagram on how to wire 3-rail track so you can run 2-rail and 3-rail trains simultaneous would be appreciated
As I said above, I do have a branch line set up to run either 2-rail trains or 3-rail trains, but I can’t run both types of trains on that track simultaneously.
Although you could wire the layout to convert from two-rail DC to three-rail AC, there wouldn’t be any real reason to do so, unless you’re intending to get some two-rail DC O scale engines too. As noted, it won’t allow you to run one train on AC and one on DC at the same time. Plus Atlas and other companies (like Sunset brass) offer identical engines set up for two or three rail operation. Really I’d think it would be better to just pick one and stick with it.