MTH "High Rail" engines on Lionel 0-27, 42 inch diameter track?

It's certainly true that Lionel O27 track has a lower rail profile than tradtional O-gauge.  But it's not much lower (if at all) than more realistic track such as Ross, Atlas, Gargraves, etc., which have been used on Hi-Rail layouts for years.  I'm very certain that any MTH Premier loco rated for O42 will work on your track, including the "-1" product variations of models with the Proto 3-2 feature.

Hope this helps!

I agree with Ted. If you already own older MTH Premier engines, the wheels and flanges on newer models described as “high rail” are similar if not identical. MTH uses the terms “high rail” and “scale” to differentiate between their engines intended for conventional 3 rail track and scale 2 rail track. 

Be advised, however, that six axle MTH Premier diesels are not compatible with the diverging (curved) route of a Lionel 042 switch; they will hit the switch machine coil cover. 

You will not have any issues.  I have quite a few Premier line diesels that work nicely on the 027 profile 042 and 054 curves.  Like others said above, watch the switches.  I currently have the k-line switches but mine are the style with the bulky mechanism up top so I needed to get a little creative with a die grinder.  

Thanks to all of you for your reply.  Great knowledge and experience.  It's like climbing up the hill to go see the wise men when you post here. 

I'm excited because that means I can pull the trigger on a Metra E8 diesel!  Good points here.  I originally purchased Lionel 0-42 switches  to match my track and had issues with cars hitting.  I removed the covers of the switches and modified them to work.  But then I discovered Ross, pulled the Lionel switches from my layout,  and my layout and world changed overnight.

Thanks for confirming what the tech at MTH suspected.  I realize Lionel track wasn't his product so I understood the tad bit of uncertainty.

Love this forum.  What an awesome hobby!  Still learning after 24 years at it intensely.

So far as I know, MTH uses the term "Hi-Rail wheels" in its catalogues to distinguish these engines so-equipped (which is the vast majority of them) to distinguish them from the so-called "Scale wheel" equipped engines, with smaller flanges and, I suppose, narrower tread widths. They are not truly scale; they are, though, much more scale-y.  

D500 posted:

So far as I know, MTH uses the term "Hi-Rail wheels" in its catalogues to distinguish these engines so-equipped (which is the vast majority of them) to distinguish them from the so-called "Scale wheel" equipped engines, with smaller flanges and, I suppose, narrower tread widths. They are not truly scale; they are, though, much more scale-y.  

Exactly. Hi-Rail wheels are the traditional 3R wheel thickness and flange size. These should work on any 3R track system. "Scale Wheels" , while not actually a perfect 1/48 scale (that is called Proto:48) are for 2 rail or 3 Rail Scale layouts. It's a bit confusing, but it has been this way since ~2004.

Thanks for your replies...

I don't own any lengthy Premier diesels, only F-units, but I appreciate this information.  Always good to learn something new!

IRON HORSE posted:

Thanks to all of you for your reply.  Great knowledge and experience.  It's like climbing up the hill to go see the wise men when you post here. 

I'm excited because that means I can pull the trigger on a Metra E8 diesel!  Good points here.  I originally purchased Lionel 0-42 switches  to match my track and had issues with cars hitting.  I removed the covers of the switches and modified them to work.  But then I discovered Ross, pulled the Lionel switches from my layout,  and my layout and world changed overnight.

Just watch out for the huge overhang a scale E8 will have at the ends as well as the mid section of the locomotive... Esp on 042 curve.

Track diameter is the limiting factor not the size of O-27 rail.