Standard Gauge Trains & Track - Teach Me!

Lionel originally issued 42" curves for their standard gauge line and so just about everything runs in that spacing.

Today, USA Tracks is the hands down tubular track manufacturer/supplier of standard gauge track. They have a much wider assortment of curves available:

https://standardgaugetrack.com/

MTH did some runs of tinplate standard gauge switches following Lionel's initial style as well as sections of tubular track.

https://mthtrains.com/11-99046

If you want to stray from traditional tubular track, MTH manufactured some realtrax standard gauge track, and there is Gargraves.

Then, there is the 5 rail track produced by Gargraves that allows O and Standard Gauge trains to run on the same track. Others have made DIY 5 rail tubular track.

Welcome to the world of standard gauge!

For track, it's hard to beat USA Track and Ross Custom Switches

standardgaugetrack.com

rossswitches.com

USA offers a wide variety of curves and their track is rock-solid.

Everything that was mass-produced by Lionel, Ives and Flyer will run on the 42-inch curves, since that was the only size curve available for many years. If you get into some of the larger, modern-era trains that have been built by craftsmen and small manufacturers, you will most likely need curves wider than 42".

One caveat with standard ga. If you venture into the earlier engines with the gears on the wheels that are almost as big as the flanges, (Lionel 33, 38, 42, 54, etc.) they may have a hard time going thru the modern manufacturer switches. I think all original Lionel Std ga will run on 42" dia curves. If you get your hands on some of the more modern Lionel / MTH stuff (Super 381, etc. ) you've got to check minimum curves. All of my McCoy stuff will go around 42 dia curves including the Cascade E2 and the Cle Elumn. I do have the CMT Erie Mogul which struggles to go around 42 dia curves.

It sounds like 42" is the tightest I can get and will work with most of the more modern stuff, which is probably what I will be starting with at first and sticking with Lionel/MTH.  Ross switches look like they are 72" switches, but the MTH are 42" switches.  Are they the only ones I should look for?

Thanks!

If you can go to wider than 42", I recommend doing so; even if you can squeeze in 57-inch curves, that will be a big improvement in how the trains look while running through the curves. The Ross Standard Gauge switches are virtually flawless. Everything I own rolls right through them--even my oldest loco, a #51 steamer. The moveable frog really helps. These switches will likely cost you more than the MTH switches, but you get what you pay for.

@Sean's Train Depot posted:

It sounds like 42" is the tightest I can get and will work with most of the more modern stuff, which is probably what I will be starting with at first and sticking with Lionel/MTH.  Ross switches look like they are 72" switches, but the MTH are 42" switches.  Are they the only ones I should look for?

Thanks!

MTH also made 72" switches, but they are likely to have the same drawbacks as the 42".  I've had decent luck with MTH switches, but Ross makes a great product as mentioned above.

I've also seen some Lionel Fastrack in standard gauge, but I don't know much about it and I suspect that availability would be a problem.

USA Track is produced by a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and dedicated standard gauge operator.

If you need to stick with 42", I'd suggest running the shorter engines and cars - avoid the Blue Comet, State Set, etc. 

Also, suggest that you check out the Standard Gauge Module Association - a wealth of knowledge.  Hopefully, you saw the huge layout in the Orange Hall at York.

@Mallard4468 posted:

MTH also made 72" switches, but they are likely to have the same drawbacks as the 42".  I've had decent luck with MTH switches, but Ross makes a great product as mentioned above.

I've also seen some Lionel Fastrack in standard gauge, but I don't know much about it and I suspect that availability would be a problem.

USA Track is produced by a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and dedicated standard gauge operator.

If you need to stick with 42", I'd suggest running the shorter engines and cars - avoid the Blue Comet, State Set, etc.

Also, suggest that you check out the Standard Gauge Module Association - a wealth of knowledge.  Hopefully, you saw the huge layout in the Orange Hall at York.

Avoid the Blue Comet!  Ok that would be a problem, lol.  Are you saying the Blue Comet won't run on 42"?

That's the number one set I want, haha.

The Blue Comet will run on the 42-inch curves, as will the State Sets. Back in the 20s and 30s when those trains were produced, Lionel made only 42-inch SG curves, and everything they made ran on them. They may not have looked very good, but they would take the curves. To my knowledge, the first commercially-available wide-radius SG track didn't appear until the 70s when Kris Model Trains introduced it.

@Sean's Train Depot posted:

Avoid the Blue Comet!  Ok that would be a problem, lol.  Are you saying the Blue Comet won't run on 42"?

That's the number one set I want, haha.

@BlueComet400 beat me to it - any of the old stuff will run on 42", but it won't look good, and the State Set looks even worse.  Think of the Lionel passenger cars running on O-31. 

I run 72" curve track on my standard gauge loop, with a section of straight track at the middle of the curve.  That allows me to run a 72" curved O gauge track inside of the standard gauge loop