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I have a 4x8 O27 layout with an inner 27" diameter loop and an outer loop. Two of my three locomotives have difficulty on the tight radius and have searched all over for a solution in the form of a larger diameter curve without ripping up all of my hard work and dumping money into new track and switches. I tried placing a straight section after every curved section to try to increase the radius but the sway causes the train to act "weegle-woggle" as my 3-year-old daughter says...20200329_154829

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SeabeeDaddy - I also have a 4x8 layout with two (2) independent ovals (although I only use 0 Gauge track - no 027) and I have 042 curves on my OUTER oval. That said, FWIW I also have one (1) STRAIGHT HALF-TRACK piece (O gauge) at the centre of each 4 ft. end of the table; and it's worked fine for several years with no derailments.

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do!

Thanks John! That's the key I needed to make sure I was purchasing something that would fit. I've only had O gauge stuff for two months so this is all new to me. My childhood was with HO stuff...

Thanks Lyle. I'm not planning on changing to O from O27. As my layout grows (purely a function of my disposable income) I'll get the Gargraves transitions and add that in future expansions. I'll eventually replace my current track as well, but I want to keep it as functional as possible and not replace something that doesnt need to be.

SeabeeDaddy - I'm with Lionelski/John, for traditional Lionel 'tubular' track the only thing I've ever seen is 'brown' ties for 027 straight track (and all its related curves with a 'lower' profile) and 'black' ties for 031 straight track (and all its related curves with a 'higher' profile). Where this becomes especially important is when looking for 042 curves, which used to be made with both brown and black profiles.

Good Luck!

PH1975 posted:

SeabeeDaddy - I'm with Lionelski/John, for traditional Lionel 'tubular' track the only thing I've ever seen is 'brown' ties for 027 straight track (and all its related curves with a 'lower' profile) and 'black' ties for 031 straight track (and all its related curves with a 'higher' profile). Where this becomes especially important is when looking for 042 curves, which used to be made with both brown and black profiles.

Good Luck!

One caveat: Postwar Lionel's O27 profile track had black or silver ties,. But there should be no confusion as they only made O27 radius.

SeabeeDaddy- did you buy the curves that were running off on EBAY yesterday? Was a fair deal

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