Actually, O-27 isn't so much a scale. It's a descriptive term for the diameter of a circle of three rail tinplate track most associated with Lionel. (In this instance, usually the word "gauge" is used instead of scale.) They had three primary offerings. O-27, O, and O-72. The latter being the largest at 72" diameter circle. Other tinplate manufacturers have also offered O-27 over the years. Such as Marx. Scale most of the time denotes two rail track of a more prototypical appearance and size. Boxcab E50
Flounder, some more differences is in the track too: the 027 and 072 rails come in sections that only have 3 ties and the rail shape is made from rolled tin plated sheet steel with the rail head round like wire. It requires the extra long flange to keep the wheels on the track. The insulated center rail may be the same kind of rail, or a thin darkened piece of sheet steel. Any AC toy train from the 1920's on up, will still run on this toy track. After WW II Lionel came out with some "scale" (more highly detailed) engines, and improved looking cars to run on this same track, but looked more like the real "0" scale equipment. O scale rolling stock can not stay on toy track because the wheel flanges are closer to "real" size and must be run on the solid scale square rail head shaped rails. Toy Lionel engines were often converted to "scale" (by changing wheels since even the scale equipment was still three rail current pickup back then). When scale "0" changed over to 2 rail DC operation like HO was, then scale engines and car kits began to be produced and a wide gulf grew between 027 "toy" and 0 scale "Scale" equipment. Lionel had made such a big advertising push to sell the new "Scale" toy train sets, that kids grew to think their trains were now really the scale equipment just like "0" scale even though they still had toy track. It generated a lot of anger and disappointment between the "toy boys" and the "Scale men" factions. The old toy 3 rail is now called High Rail and it is all Collectible today, where scale equipment is high priced, but not considered an antique collectible. If you are lucky enough to still have your 2-6-2 "Scale" Lionel engine, and it still runs, it will bring up to $2,000.00 at today's auctions, but it is still a toy.
They did a steam switcher. Off hand can't think of the number. But could look it up quickly. And also, a Hudson that were scale. Both bring a pretty penny today. The track was called "Super O." It did not sell well. Higher priced. And it would not mate with the other timplate rails without adaptors. You could do better in price buying an aftermarket company rail product named "GarGraves." Used stuff, except the rarest items, usually drops severely in value from that of mint or new. Memories. Wow. Am a former operator, and collector of post-war Lionel. Ex-TCA, TTOS. Boxcab E50
I always wondered what O-27 was! Thanks guys We dont have such a thing over here, unless Hornby O scale tinplate can be described as such. Once, whilst on holiday in Zermatt, Switzerland, and looking at some trains in the window of a hobby shop, an American who was also looking, asked me if I thought they would have any Lionel. I said that I very much doubted it, as it was a uniquely American thing as far as I knew!
My Lionel Hudson was gunmetal gray and still the "S" size a little smaller than the 0-6-0 switcher that came out the next summer. It was too expensive, so we never got one. I still have it and my Dad's 1929 engine. It did not have reverse, but still runs. Yeah, memories!
So, just so I'm clear on this...I can't run lionel O scale rolling stock on my lionel O-27 track - right?
My knowledge is of post WWII, pre-1970's: For those, you should be able to run most, if not all of the passenger and freight cars on an O-27 circle. However, this should be true as well for the 1970 and later stuff. You'll have a very hard time running a Trainmaster, a pair of F units, etc., or large steam. Those need the 54 inch circle of O gauge. Boxcab E50
A general rule of thumb is that O-gauge trains will not run on O-27 track, while O-27 trains will run on both. Usually, O-gauge trains require a 31" diameter (the smallest available in O-gauge). I think O-gauge is also available in 42" and 72" diameter curves. I actually prefer O-gauge track for my Lionel trains (the few that I have) over O-27 track. Most of my Lionel trains are O-27, but I think they track better on the larger rail size. Pat
It gets a little deceptive because Lionel made 027 high rail 18v AC powered toy trains, then came out with a new line they advertised as "Scale O" that was much better detailed, larger in size, but still would run on the three rail 027 and 072 track. O Gauge became separated from the Scale O and Toy Lionel by several things. O Gauge is a solid metal rail shaped like real rail and has more than three ties to a section, and does NOT have a third rail in the center, and both rails are insulated from each-other. O Gauge engines are now 12v DC powered with worm gear drive, and all wheels have very small flanges to more nearly real scale size. The rolling stock and engines are really models of semi-authentic real equipment. You can not keep O Gauge wheels on 027 or 072 track around curves or turnouts. You can not run a DC engine on 027 or 072 track because the two rails for the wheels are not insulated from each-other. If you added a center rail to scale O Gauge track, and wired it correctly, you could probably get away with running toy train wheels on scale rails. Correct me if you think I'm wrong, although I have never been wrong before! (But please don't ask my wife).
