Do you know what the hardest part for me in making the decision was? The MTH Railking GE ES44AC Evolution Hybrid. Since I started looking at getting back into the hobby this was the #1 locomotive that stood head and shoulders above the rest. The closest thing I could find in S scale is the Lionel SD70ACE EMD Demo/ElectroMotive so that will have to do. I think when I analyze the things I like it would be very modern Diesels in paint schemes not seen repeatedly throughout the ages. I still want to get a steamer but I don't know enough about them to make an informed decision. Even though O scale can make sharper turns I still want it to look natural while doing so. I'm still going to join an O Scale club and who knows maybe I'll buy that MTH and run it on their layout. I still need someone to show me the ropes on maintenance and repair.
I always admired S, but there was little enough available and it was expensive enough that I stuck with HO. S is just the thing for Hot Wheels and Matchbox collectors who want to arrange that collection on a diorama, though.
There are many, many SD70ACe engines in service right now. You should be right in there, buying one or more.
This thread has been resting for about a year and a half, but I found a good illustration that shows the differences between tubular Lionel O track and 0-27 track and wanted to add it. I knew that O-27 rails are of reduced height, but didn't know that the "ties" are of reduced height as well. All told, there's a 1/4" difference in height between the two types. Both require eight sections to make a circle. Lionel O track forms a 30" Radius circle and O-27 forms a 27" Radius circle.
Yup. Very accurate information. Also, I am trying to recall, but my memory keeps saying that the actual origins of "O-27" were via Marx, not Lionel.
Good information Hardcoaler but I have one correction. O gauge curves sizes are diameters. O Gauge, or O31 makes a 31" diameter circle and O27 makes a 27" diameter circle.
Correct. Also, there are other diameters which were made. "Super O" was 36 inches. Then there was "O-72". Which they never made anything other than the curved track sections. Since the 1945-1969 "Post-War" era, there have been multiple other sizes made.
Radius, diameter, picky picky. It only makes a difference of, what, 100% or so? Who can't work around that?
3 rail O guys always express curves with an O first as in O60. Every O gauger understands that means a curve with a 60" diameter. 2 rail guys understand an 18" curve means 18" radius and it doesn't matter what scale it is. They don't say HO18 or N18, an 18" curve is the same regardless of scale. Then there's switch vs turnout, crossover vs crossing, etc. It's all part of the magic of model railroading.
After reading these helpful posts, I again looked at the Greenberg's book I borrowed from our library and now see that Lionel circle diagrams show the O-27 27" Diameter circle is measured from outer rail to outer rail, yet the O circle measures 30" Diameter from center rail to center rail. This would explain the 30" vs 31" Diameter difference.
I'm happy that TrainBoard isn't "scale-centric", i.e., focused exclusively on one scale. It's an equal opportunity forum. I'm primarily an N Scaler, but have an interest in Lionel too and it's nice to be able to ask help (such as I needed recently to get my post-war F Unit running again) and share information (such as our track discussion) here.
