027 Cars

Allan Martinez posted:

Can 027 cars run on O Gauge track?'

If you mean 3-rail O gauge track, yes.

If you mean 2-rail scale O gauge track, no (flanges are too big).

Yes no problem.  

The problem is going the other way.  Some O gauge items can't run on 027 track and on some O gauge items the body will hit the motor housing of the 027 switch tracks.  

Postwar FM engines, the long depressed flat cars with four trucks, 773 engine, and the 15 inch aluminum passenger cars.  Probably Madison cars and others I'm sure.  Once you get into the more modern electronic engines there are a bunch that won't work on 027.   Many won't work on 031 or 042 track either. 

Allan, you don't need to get too hung up on the O27/ O terminology.  They are both flavor of O gauge. For the most part, that implies 3-rails and a consistent distance (gauge) between the two outside rails. You might want to pickup a guide to the postwar era. I have one and it explained a lot.

The height difference in tubular track was one of the original, primary difference between O and O27. Original O gauge tubular track was taller (more metal) and a better conductor. O27 was shorter, less metal, and cheaper. O was more expensive and perceived as a better grade.

The other difference BACK THEN was the available curves. O27 had only 27" diameter curves while O Gauge started at 31" but went up to 42" and 72", maybe some others in between.  As time passed, however, O27 became available in 42", 54", and 72" curves, so that difference from a curve diameter was reduced. There were and are still some engines and rolling stock whose minimum curve is 31" and can't handle the tighter 27" curves. In the postwar era, these (like the F3s and FMs) were called O-Gauge engines. But, anything that can navigate 27" O27 curves can also run the slightly-larger 31" curves. My uncle has an O Gauge FM Trainmaster, a pair of F3s with some O27 FAs and an O27 2-6-2 steam engine on his O Gauge 31" curve layout.

Another difference is that, historically, O gauge offered switches (turnouts) that had separate taps for power and, therefore, didn't require track power. That's a big advantage. K-Line started making some for O27, but they are hard to find now. Still, today there are other switch makers whose switches use auxiliary power and can be used on O27 profile track, so that difference has been muted, too.

The lines between O27 and O gauge have been blurred and, in general, both comprise today what is called traditional or "semi-scale."  Some O Gauge items are bigger and closer to (or at) 1:48 scale. If you have mostly O27, then you want to avoid these (such as the 773 Hudson). The other end is the pricier 3-rail Scale where all the engines and rolling stock are made to 1:48 scale. Many (most) of these require at least 42" curves and some as high as 72". Beautiful and more expensive products for the serious hobbyist.

For me, since I inherited mostly postwar O27 items, I've found plenty of modern era engines and rolling stock that match up nicely in the Traditional/Semi-Scale lines. I do watch MTH products as their definition of O27 or semi-scale is wider than K-Line, Lionel, Industrial Rail, or RMT.  Other than some MTH items, it's the O SCALE items that look usually too big and require curves above the diameter on my or anyone else's "O27" layout.