O Gauge tubular track compatibility

Hey Mike

First thing's first. WHen you mention "Lionel tubular" did you buy O27 or regular O? The 27 has brown ties.

A lot of the tubular track I believe is compatable between manufacturers, Lionel is pretty well the standard. O27 won't work with regular O gauge stuff so there's that to look out for also.

For compatible track there is RMT or K-Line track in tubular that will mate up to Lionel O gauge tubular without any adapter pins. 

Gargraves will mate to 027 track very well or can mate to O gauge track but will need to be shimmed if using switches near to other kinds of track. 

Ross Custom switches do very well but are expensive for the beginner and may need adapter pins as well.

Atlas track if available is another decent track system.

Menards is making O gauge tubular track as well, supposed to be compatible to regular O gauge track.

Williams by Bachmann makes O gauge tubular track and is compatible to O gauge tubular track.  Don't buy the E Z track from Williams by Bachmann as it is another type of track similar to Fastrack.

Lee Fritz

Welcome back!

Lionel still makes tubular track although they are slowing down and ending regular production. 

You can use MTH track and Lionel Fastrack with adapter sections (I don't recommend MTH Realtrax). 

You can also you adapter pins for Gargraves, Atlas and Ross track but for carpet, those really aren't the best. 

You can really make any combination work but often times it doesn't look pretty and operation really isn't desirable. MTH's Realtrax and Lionel's Fastrak are really designed for carpet operation. Tubular track also works fine. Lionel tubular switches are junk - spend the money and go for Ross Custom Switches. They aren't really intended for carpet operation but the quality is the best of the best. 

Here is a photo of my old layout prior to expanding it and then tearing it down. That is a Ross switch. Two legs have 0-27 tubular coming out of it, and the third has O Gauge tubular. 

Eagle,

 Mike 1st many OGR members have been using FasTrack for carpet central layouts for lots of years, and have no real problems using it.  As was asked in a prior post about your Conventional Tubular, is it 027 or O gauge.  Lee Fritz gave you good advise on the RMT -Super Snap & older K Line SS track for O gauge, great stuff that matches Lionel O gauge with out any problems, and the RMT/K-Line switches are bullet proof and accommodate all different kinds of O gauge engines & rolling stock including Tin Plate.

PCRR/Dave  

Has anyone tried the Menards track? I was thinking of picking up some. Can't really beat the price of it.

Aldovar,

   Have not seen any as of yet, would like to test it myself, do they have switches available also? RMT is real hard to beat with the Super Snap low voltage switches, when running conventional with Lionel O Gauge mixed in.

PCRR/Dave

Thanks SteamWolf.

The O-27 thing I did know.  I learned the hard way.  The diesel would take the curve but not the steam engine.  So I now know better.

Having a hard time finding O-31 switches.

If you go with wider curves than O-31:

-the trains will run better

-the trains will look better

-you can run larger locos

-the kids can run the trains faster

-the trains will not slow as much in the curves

-you can run longer cars

-you can run longer trains

You can get tubular track in a number of different diameters. Phooey on O-31.

Just straights and O31 right now, I have one not terribly far away.

If you want to buy Lionel tubular track I would post in the wanted section of the forum for it,I would think that some members have some to sell.

Mikey

If there are any train shows nearby to your area check one out and see what track is for sale, usually there is several kinds of track for sale at most train shows.

Lee Fritz