Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.6.2.17 $; site uiucdcs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!friedman From: friedman@uiucdcs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.railroad Subject: Re: Need info - Lionel O, O27 Message-ID: <20600025@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Thu, 27-Dec-84 09:55:00 EST Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.20600025 Posted: Thu Dec 27 09:55:00 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 29-Dec-84 02:49:17 EST References: <451@hlwpc.UUCP> Lines: 36 Nf-ID: #R:hlwpc:-45100:uiucdcs:20600025:000:2118 Nf-From: uiucdcs!friedman Dec 27 08:55:00 1984 Re. Lionel O vs. O27: Both "gauges" are pretty old. They have the same nominal scale (O), and the same track gauge (distance between rails). They differ in the diameter of a track circle, in the rail height, and in other details such as the one you noted: ruggedness. They also differ somewhat in price. In all cases, O is larger. It is not usually practical to mix the two forms in one layout; they do not connect together very well. The name "O27" comes from the diameter of a track circle, 27 inches; I think O has a 31 inch circle. There is also a variation, sometimes called "O72", compatible with O in every way, having a 72 inch circle; it can be used with O to make gentler, more realistic curves, but of course that makes the layout less compact. Be aware that the larger pieces of the old rolling stock, especially engines, were designed for either O or O27, and don't necessarily run as well on the other track. For example, an engine designed for O might not clear the housing on an O27 track switch, and one designed for O27 might not clear some between- the-rails stuff on O track; I have samples of both problems on my Lionel collection, most of which dates from the 1950s. I'm not sure whether the more recent Lionel rolling stock has this problem. A Lionel expert (that salesman, perhaps) should be able to tell you from the engine's number or from inspecting it whether it's "old" Lionel or the newer "Fundimensions" Lionel product, and which gauge it was designed for. Track switches come in two forms for each gauge: manual and automatic. The automatic feature solenoids that control the switch from wherever you choose to mount the toggle; most also have insulated sections of one of the outer rails wired so that if a train approaches a converging switch set against it, the switch is thrown automatically. Manual is of course a lot cheaper, but neither form is cheap. There are some non-Lionel three-rail tracks available in hobby shops that are compatible. Most are more realistic looking. I don't know how they compare in price, nor how they perform; I've never used them.