Any success with 0-27?

My little display around the base of the Christmas Tree is Atlas O-27 and it works great with my postwar pieces.

Sure have.  As long as your engines and passenger cars can negotiate the switches you're golden.  027, both the rail and tie,  is actually closer to scale than O tubular, which scales 3' tall!

Hi,

 

My layout in my loft is all Lionel 027. It works for me and looks pretty cool when balasted.Its a mixture od switching and continuous run

 

I know the curves are really sharp but they work for me and provided I am carefull with the engines and stock I have no problems. I can live with the sharp curves as I have limited space and you will also be surprised at how easy it is to run some of the larger stuff.

 

One of my favourit layouts using 027 featured on here is Curt's ( Juniata guy) - hope I got that right. There are some videos around.

 

MIKE

I am a big user of O27.  Utilized on my 350 sq feet of table....  I like the cost and the scale height.  I started with all 027 and 1024 switches, moved up to Lionel's O42 switches and I am now in the process of replacing all 38 Lionel O42 switches with Gargrave switches.  The Gargraves, despite having a different geometry, interchange with O27 track quite well.  The track conducts TMCC very well and it is durable.  It's limitation is lack of authenticity.  But, it is very inexpensive on eBay and its a product which helps on my train budget. 

 

Mike:

 

Thank you for the compliment!

 

Rick, I've had my 0-27 layout up and running for 23 years, 2 out of state moves and through 4 expansions.  Current footprint is roughly 15X16 feet.  The only part of it that isn't 0-27 is one 0-42 switch.  I have modified my 0-27 switches by removing part of the cover over the switch motor.  This enables me to operate 0-31 engines like the Lionel and MTH F-3's and GP-9's.  I also operate WBB scale FA's with no problem.

 

Now, I can't operate any of the Lionel and MTH scale stuff obviously, but since most of it is not within my budget, I've never lost any sleep over that.

 

When my son gets home from work, I'll see if I can talk him into doing a quick video and posting it to this thread.

 

Curt

Rick Bivins,

   A while back I engineered and constructed an 027 Christmas layout, that the kids and myself really had a ball with, it ran perfect and had many switches.

Even ran the Tin Plate on it, wtih great success.

PCRR/Dave

 

Thanks Guys,

 

Juniata Guy,

 

I would very much like to see a video.

 

Wood.

 

I can relate to the budget issue!

 

Mike W.

 

Photo's of the layout perhaps?

 

Rick.

If it weren't for O-27 I would probably not be able to have an O gauge layout!

 

My Small 027 4'X6' two tier layout. 

Here's an updated video of Juniata Guy's layout.

http://youtu.be/-ZJ_w3YOEac

If anyone knows how to embed a video, please feel free to do so with the link I posted.

Like some of the others, I like the rail height of the 027-sized rail.  Downside is switch radii selection.  When I was actively pursuing 3-rail, there was a time that I used GarGraves switches with 027 adapter pins along with larger radii 027-sized track.  Worked pretty good and gives you a good selection of switch radii to choose from.  FWIW: 072 switches make a really nice looking yard ladder and function well.

I used O27 diameter curves for the OGR project "layout on a door" - The Reading Central - back a few years ago. I also mixed in some GarGraves simply because I had it on hand.

 

I was amazed with the large variety of my equipment that would take those tight curves with no problems. I "cheated" a little by hiding most of the tight curves with scenery for better visual effect.

 

A pivoting sector plate was used to get more operation within the tight 30"x80" confines of the layout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim

My lower level is all 027 and has 5 switches and the following action items, all on a 4x8 sheet of plywood. Accesories/action items include Lionel Gantry Crane, Rotating aircraft beacom, Gabe the lamplighter, Bethlehem Steel culvert loader and unloader, Lionel aircraft Pylon, and MTH operating transfer wharehouse. A lot of fun using traditional sized rolling stock in conjuntion with Lionel Docksided and RMT Beep diesels.

 

 

My current layout project uses O27 track. My preference is to use wider-radius sections as "easements" for the O27 curves as much as possible.

 

https://ogrforum.com/d...68#13256332700680668

  

Jim that is the first time I have seen your door layout.  Holy Cow.  The door layout is insanely great.  I Love it!  Jam every conceivable idea into that space - all it was missing was a ZW.

Thanks.

 

Actually, there was a ZW under the layout powering it!

 

The articles were in OGR Runs 247 and 248.

 

Jim

 

My entire layout is built with 0-27 style track. The Main loop is 0-42 curves, the upper 0-27 curves. It has been in it's current fashion for going on 3 years. Prior years saw many "carpet central" type layouts using 0-27 style track with 0-27 and larger curves with good running. 

 

 

I used O-27 track, but with 042, 054, and some 072 diameter curves.  I also added extra ties.   It is budget friendly, and easy to cut to custom sizes.  Also, it was all I knew about 19 years ago when I started my layout.

 

 

I love 027 and have had my layout, with 26 Marx switches, for over 30 years.  O27 with Marx switches at mostly $5 a pair is way less expensive than O gauge and allows more track and action in a smaller area in addition. 

 

I can run large locos like 2056, 2065, 2035, 756,and 671 and with the Marx metal switches, run all Marx including older engines with gears to edge of the wheel flange.

 

Check out the layout operation on youtube links below.

 

 

 

Overall view with 4 trains operating (2 on 1 loop)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQJRxSNqvLk

 

 

Mostly 2 trains on 1 loop & scratch built Turntable and Roundhouse

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szGr4ymfJEs

 

 

Charlie

 

 

Hey Frank, I was wondering if that Jag would draw you out of hiding! Funny how you literally forces me to take ownership. Now it's the only classy thing on the layout! :<

Many Thanks Guys,

 

Jim P. WOW...on a door no less!

 

Choo Choo Charlie, loved the video's

 

Strogey, looks like fun to me.

 

Kunde, nice scenery too.

 

Ace, Thanks.

 

Max, Thanks for the link.

 

And thanks to anyone I missed.

 

Rick.

A quickie track plan for O27, adapted from a ThorTrains O72 idea. 

 

If you use O-27 profile track:

 

1.  If you have the room, have a loop of Marx O-34 or O-42 track.  That way you can run O-31 stuff.  Even if you have switches with a 27 curve, you can keep the 31 stuff on the main.

 

2.  Marx locos really do not like Lionel switches.  They will run on them, but tend to be jumpy on them.

 

3.  Have a loop with no switches or crossings.  Sensitive trains can go there.

mine is all O27, 1121 and 1024 switches. and a pair of Marx Prewar switches on the Marx main.

Marx 034 is the best kept secret of 027-profile-rail running.  Sure, you have to buy used, but it's out there, and the long straight sections made to go with it reduce the number of track joints.  The switches look different but good.  The one pothole--almost literally--is the crossing section, which is meant for slider shoes, not rollers.  The hole in the center will let rollers fall into it and probably derail the engine.  It will certainly derail cars with rollers--I ran a Lionel SP caboose on a layout with a Marx crossing once, and the caboose leapt most spectacularly into the air at every lap.   Fill in the hole with some sheet strene painted to match, and the cars ought to be happier.

palallin,

 

I have Marx 0-34 and I agree, very nice stuff. If only the turnouts were a little more pleasing to the eye...

 

Rick.

There is nothing wrong with using 027 in an industrial switching setting.  I use these manual switches all over the place.  With some ballast and ground foam, they look great.  I have found that for switching it is best to limit the curve to one track length (45 degrees).  Coupling can be an issue otherwise which then takes all of the fun out of a switching layout.  

Count me in as another happy 027 user - I've used nothing but that in three layout iterations in 29 ft by 14 ft. since 2000. 

Curt....Can/would you please provide the details and hopefully some pictures about how you did this? My hope is that it will somewhat make them easier to blend into a given scene.

 

Thanks,

Ken

I exclusively use O-27 profile track.  Curves are all 42", turnouts are all 42", (K-Line, Lionel) and I have a few Gargraves that I use on long runs for extended sidings.

I also have placed 3R Plastics ties under it all with ballast.

 

Actually looks pretty good.

---

---

---

 

 

I took the huge signal housing off of my Lionel 0-27  0-42 switches and just put a cover over the slots in the top of the housing.  I used craft foam from Hobby Lobby.

 

 

Jumijo:

 

Thank you for the compliment!  Any scenery skills I have picked up over the years have all been unashamedly borrowed from folks like you, Frank53 and Rich Battista. 

 

Ken, I have attached before and after photos of a switch to show you where I cut, the angle of the cut and how much I remove.  Of course, you need to remove the switch cover to make the cut.  I've used a hack saw and a keyhole saw in the past, but much prefer doing this with a Dremel now.  When done, you can glue a small piece of styrene over the opening and paint it to match the switch, if you wish.  I've always chosen to just leave it open and so far, no one who has seen my layout has ever seemed to notice the missing corners.  I'll apologize for the sideways orientation of the photos.  I had them saved right side up, but for some reason they attached to this post sideways.

 

I should also mention that I add the .22uf disk capacitors to the switches to "shield" the non-derailing pulse from MTH PS2.0 engines.  I don't have the issue with all of them, but according to an electronics wiz friend of mine, the reset frequency on some MTH engines matches this little electrical pulse from the switch and causes the engine to stop and reset itself.  Once I added these disk capacitors, the problem disappeared.

 

Curt

Frank, that's a great layout.

 You know it's a shame Lionel didn't expand on the 027 profile into wider radius track. I wonder why "O" gauge track was the designated track from Lionel to use as the wider radius ? Seems that the cost would have cut this out of the decision making

Lionel makes O-27(42) track & switches and O-27(54), K-Line did too, plus O-27(72).

One shortcoming with the old 1122 non-derailing O27 switches is that they draw power continuously for the non-derailing feature as long as a train with metal wheels is on the switch with power applied. Another shortcoming is that they do not have ready provision for fixed voltage input, although I have modified mine without too much trouble, and this improves their operation. I wrote about these 1122 switches previously:

 

 

... these switches need more consideration about power supply, especially if you have multiple switches in a smaller track plan ... [I've tried] capacitor discharge supplies for these switches. But here is one of the quirks: Suppose you have a train going through a small reverse loop with an 1122 switch powered by capacitor discharge. The switch triggers automatically and unnecessarily when the train enters the loop, and if the train goes through the loop too fast the capacitor may not be adequately charged to fire the switch again for the train to exit the loop. Same problem with different switches in close proximity, unless each has its own capacitor discharge supply.

 

I have an existing O-gauge layout with some O22 switches and their non-derailing feature works great, especially with fixed voltage input.

Curt,

 

Great layout video! Have you added a lot more trees since I saw it last? Its looking great in any case. I really like 027 for all the reasons listed  - not the least of which is cost!

 

CHEERS MIKE