Lionel Super O track

You could try soldering it. I have done that with super O track in the distant past and it worked. Be careful with the plastic ties. The soldering gun or iron could melt them.

There was also a terminal track available. Not any in the lot?

I've soldered mine.  Just don't keep heat on the outside rail for long or you will melt the ties and mentioned above.

Chuck,

Unfortunately there was none in the box.

Superwarp1,

I will try that.

Any suggestions on what gauge of wire to use for the bus and then what to use that branches off the the track? Also how far should I space these connections to the track? Is it like 5ft or so?

In my experience the power and ground lockons can regularly be found on eBay.  I prefer to use the terminal track.  Since its an odd shaped piece you might need more than one to balance out if you are not also using the uncoupler track.  If you just need to add leads to the center rail, there are slots/holes cut in some of the center rails.  Snake a piece of wire through that slot and twist it off below the rail so it makes a tight connection.  I used to do this for jumpers on the curves.

The Power Bus Bar Connectors connect the center rail from track to track.  You can purchase the connectors, lock-on's or wire interconnect tracks on the bay but they are expensive considering what they are.

Is this how you would supply electricity to super o track if I didn't solder the wire to the rails?

Neat and clean 👍🏼🚂

@Jay81 posted:

Any suggestions on what gauge of wire to use for the bus and then what to use that branches off the the track? Also how far should I space these connections to the track? Is it like 5ft or so?

22 AWG

@shorling posted:

You can purchase the connectors, lock-on's or wire interconnect tracks on the bay but they are expensive considering what they are.

In absolute terms perhaps.  When you consider what most of us are paying for locomotives, cars and even track, not so much. 

Chuck, I have a few in fact I have a bunch of tracks I'm thinking of listing once I find it as I go thru the items under the train table as I'm deconstructing to build a new one.

A good alternative is NOT Gargraves Solderless Track Connectors here per Rob's reply below.

They attach like the LIONEL lock-on; i.e. a spade-type connection up through the bottom of the rail with a spring-tyle wire connection outside the ties--but won't work with Super O per Rob below.

@dorfj2 posted:

Neat and clean 👍🏼🚂

This is what I use as well... just don't connect to power as pictured ...

@Pingman posted:

A good alternative is Gargraves Solderless Track Connectors here.

These won't work, the rail webbing is not accessible, and there is no center rail webbing.

"... just don't connect to power as pictured ..."

Why not?

@Arthur P. Bloom posted:

"... just don't connect to power as pictured ..."

Why not?

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

This is what I use as well... just don't connect to power as pictured ...

@dorfj2 posted:

Neat and clean 👍🏼🚂

Looks fine from here, turn it up!

Jay, The pic shows the copper power supply to the center rail tied to the gnd lock-on. The copper clip to the center buss is strictly power supply. do not attach to the grnd loc-on as pictured.  The grnd lock-on is strictly for the gnd wire.

Also part of this forum is a separate superO forum group.  You can fond a lot of answers to your questions there as well as parts, track, pins, clips, accessory track, etc.   lionelsuperotrack@groups.io

look up Mike Spanier.