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Reply to "O Gauge track with silver ties"

I remembered discussing this on the Toy Trains Mailing List a few years ago and was able to find the info.  Ron Morris, TCA Historian (and member of this forum) made a very good post on these:

Until 1934, with the introduction of the wide radius "Model Builders" track, all Lionel track ties were unadorned tinplate (a normally 'silver' color). At that time all '0' gauge track got 'black' ties.


Here were some extra words I added:

As Ron points out, the tie color isn't actually silver, it's just simple tinplate, the same as the tops and sides of the rails.  The color of the ties starts to appear to be something else over time because, unlike the tops and sides of the 3 rails, the ties themselves are not as darkened by grease, pitting, track dirt, etc.  While the rails get that dark gray color that all tinplate track gets with use, the ties continue to look like the color of newer 3-rail track, and thus we're calling them "silver" in this thread.

The other difference, in mine anyway, is that the ties appear to have been formed during the manufacturing process a bit taller and "squarer" somehow than the later black ties we all know and love.

I don't mind them, but they do look funny when intermixed with "normal" O Gauge track.  I tend to use them all in one spot on the layout, normally near a back wall, so that their difference isn't as pronounced. 

Hope this helps.  The original (pretty good) thread can be seen here.  You have to be a member of the Toy Trains Mailing List to review it.  Membership is free.

Steven J. Serenska

 

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