36" O Gauge Tubular Question

10" x 18 = 36" x 5? ...think big!

KLine used to make 40" pieces.
Gargraves used to be (still?) in meter lengths.

36" long straight - I believe these are standard gauge (not sure on this)

40" long straight is O gauge (6-65523) (normal O is 10" x 4 = 40")

35" long straight is O27 (6-65024)  (normal O27 is 8 3/4" x 4 = 35")

Don, I didn't see the listing but I believe that track would have to be Menards O gauge curves since they have them made in 36 inch diameter. And when Menards announced they were marketing O gauge tubular track, there was quite a bit of surprise and excitement about the 36-inch diameter curve as it opened up new layout possibilities and that Lionel had never made O gauge tubular track in that diameter. FasTrack, yes. Tubular O gauge, no.

Just guessing, but..

1. 36" is a yard, a very familiar measurement, and most people more likely had a yardstick, or a seamstresses sewing tape measure back then.

2. The uncut stock may have worked out to have less waste at 36". With 10" cut from that same length (coil?) there would be many more 1/16ths lost to cuts. So basically, without knowing the raw stocks lengths, we cant use math to compare, unless you settle for Y/X=Z

brianel_k-lineguy posted:

Don, I didn't see the listing but I believe that track would have to be Menards O gauge curves since they have them made in 36 inch diameter. And when Menards announced they were marketing O gauge tubular track, there was quite a bit of surprise and excitement about the 36-inch diameter curve as it opened up new layout possibilities and that Lionel had never made O gauge tubular track in that diameter. FasTrack, yes. Tubular O gauge, no.

Read again slower Brian, I almost blew it too...36" LENGTH

Here's the Ebay listing.  It could be a typo on the length.  

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIonel...7:g:9FkAAOSwdKZZwn62

36" lengths could also be very useful in small layouts.  i very rarely design a track plan that doesn't require a few cuts.  i can't think of one thing that wouldn't be an electrical or mechanical improvement to replace a short straightaway of, say, 2½ x 10" track pieces with a single 25" custom cut piece.

Retlaw posted:

36" long straight - I believe these are standard gauge (not sure on this)

40" long straight is O gauge (6-65523) (normal O is 10" x 4 = 40")

35" long straight is O27 (6-65024)  (normal O27 is 8 3/4" x 4 = 35")

 

Seeing the 6-xxxxx, I dont know if it applies.(?)

  I think he might have some early post war or prewar track. I can recall more ties being on some early track, but it was only 8 or 10" and evenly spaced.  The double tie spacing seems familar too.  Last modern tubular I looked at, 10" had the 3 ties (I did not see an L on it though. Bootleg? Williams? Post Kline, Pre Menard's)

....oh, duh...the double tie then wide space is to replicate the the pattern of short pieces when ASSEMBLED... I also forgot, I think I have modern 0-27 with that pattern...but I don't recall how long or for sure (shelf layout, I dont get up there to see it often.) I'll check & measure soon, someone is still sleeping in there.

   Another reason might be fast identification and easier dealer sorting after Mr. Mess-ups weekly friday evenig visit and emptting of the bin, in search for that one perfect piece.... to return on Thursday so he could eat lunch on Friday ,before picking up his pay, and going to the train store to empty the bin, looking for that one perfect....ahh you get it.... 

Retlaw posted:

40" long straight is O gauge (6-65523) (normal O is 10" x 4 = 40")

35" long straight is O27 (6-65024)  (normal O27 is 8 3/4" x 4 = 35")

 

This is correct.  Since the track in the auction listing has O gauge ties I figure it's 40".  36"most likely is a typo.  The long sections of standard O gauge track I picked up at the hobby store are 40", the equivalent of four single sections of track.

Pete

Pete is correct. Modern Lionel tube track in O comes in 40 inch lengths. Menards has been making 30 inch straits but the ties in the photo clearly state Lionel on them. Lionel typically makes long track sections then cuts em off in 10" pieces. Tha'ts why the tie spacing is what it is.

They could be home made. 30" pieces are more easily used on a layout then 40".

IIRC the early Lionel long O Gauge straights from a few years back were not 40" and had numerous ties like an O72 curve section. Then they went to the current 40"/duplicate 10" straight track section pieces.

Adriatic posted: Read again slower Brian, I almost blew it too...36" LENGTH

Yeah, I see what you mean now, especially with the other replies. You "almost" blew it... but I did .

Before Lionel made O Gauge tinplate 40" straights, they did make O Gauge tinplate 36" straights.  Essentially they were equivalent to 3 regular 10" straights and one 1/2 straight.  Remember, a 1/2 straight is not 5" long.  It's more like 5.5".  So maybe the 36" straight is only 35.5", but it's certainly closer to 36" than 40"

This photo shows a stack of 36" straights.  Note the tie spacing, equivalent to 3 regular 10" straights and one 1/2 straight.

Stu

NOT LionelLLC posted:

Before Lionel made O Gauge tinplate 40" straights, they did make O Gauge tinplate 36" straights.  ...

augh! ... you beat me by 10 minutes.  i found that same picture.  wanted to make sure i wasn't dreaming, this track was definitely available in the late 80's as i remember using quite a bit for a large yard module.  at the same time as i said, KLine was making 40" straights, but with evenly spaced ties.

The nice thing about either the 40"  or 36" straights is the tie spacing.  If you really wanted to, you could cut between the double ties and still have a facsimile of regular O gauge track.

Lenard's long straights, on the other hand, don't have the same tie spacing as Lionel.  So sometimes you end up with loose rails when cutting their track.

overlandflyer posted:

this track was definitely available in the late 80's as i remember using quite a bit for a large yard module.  at the same time as i said, KLine was making 40" straights, but with evenly spaced ties.

Yes, I have a good amount of both 36" & 40" Lionel "O".

brianel_k-lineguy posted:

Adriatic posted: Read again slower Brian, I almost blew it too...36" LENGTH

Yeah, I see what you mean now, especially with the other replies. You "almost" blew it... but I did 

Everyone takes a turn 

Sometimes I end up spinning