Did You Operate Your Trains On Super "O" Track During The Postwar Era?

Built an L shaped dealer layout about 1960 with this track.

I use it on 4 layouts 1963 -2006. Last use and discarded on the subway modules. Clips would not stay soldered and the track developed corrosion resistance build-up inside the tube rails. 98% of the tracks in several landfills today.

Current layout sidings still contain a few straits for hiding the center rail. Always loved the track, not the 112 problematic switches.

In the late 50s my dad built a layout out of super-hard cardboard or something.  It was kinda L-shaped, and at most it was 10' on the long edge and 5' on the short edge.  It used o-27 track for the curves.  It didn't have a raised platform, it just laid on the basement floor.  He was a financial guy and not much of a woodworker.  I used that for about 6 years before the trains were put away.  At some point later, perhaps when I was in college, the layout was tossed.  When I had kids about 20 years after it was put away, I built a platform out of wood but still used the old o-27 track since I was a bit ignorant on stuff like that.  I wish I would have tossed the 27 inch track at that point and started afresh.

Absolutely! My 1st set was from the 1958 catalog (the New Haven F3 freight set)....... and, my original 4x8 layout was the 2nd one on the yellow layout page.....in the video, Christmas 1958 starts around 2:10......after about another minute, the 4x8 layout appears....

Peter

No, but I drooled over the Lionel catalogues that showed Super O track and layouts. We did not have the money, back in the 50's, to buy such "expensive toys". I did not get any Super O until about 7 years ago, when I saw a good deal on Ebay. Now I have enough for a loop with a passing siding. It will go somewhere on the new layout as plans develop.

Jeff

@Putnam Division posted:

Absolutely! My 1st set was from the 1958 catalog (the New Haven F3 freight set)....... and, my original 4x8 layout was the 2nd one on the yellow layout page.....in the video, Christmas 1958 starts around 2:10......after about another minute, the 4x8 layout appears....

Peter

Peter, did this catalog have the Super "O" General set in it??

Ron

My first train set was my uncle's.  I've never been able to track down which "outfit" it was, but it came with Super "O".  I traded everything except for the GG-1 that came with it.  I keep thinking in my mind to pick up some Super "O" track just for the nostalgia of it. 

@PRRronbh posted:

Peter, did this catalog have the Super "O" General set in it??

Ron

1959 was the 1st year of the General.......I'll post some pics.....

Yep, had a huge superO layout growing up.  While not Postwar Era in the 70's all my trains were postwar.

yes. and I  still do

@Putnam Division posted:

1959 was the 1st year of the General.......I'll post some pics.....

The 1st year of the General.....1959.....

This is the O27 set......

This is the Super O set......

Peter

@Frank Mulligan posted:

My first train set was my uncle's.  I've never been able to track down which "outfit" it was, but it came with Super "O".  I traded everything except for the GG-1 that came with it.  I keep thinking in my mind to pick up some Super "O" track just for the nostalgia of it.

The three Super O GG-1 sets.... 61,62 and 63.....

Peter

I looking forward to Skip (NYC_fan) sees this thread......he has some great early Super O sets, too.....

Peter

@Putnam Division posted:

The three Super O GG-1 sets.... 61,62 and 63.....

Peter

Peter, thanks for the info.  I've looked this stuff up too and I still can't find it.  I had the original set box, but I tossed it years ago as a child.  The road number is 2360.  The cars I remember having are the transformer car, operating milk car, searchlight car, auto loader car, and an N5C caboose in PRR livery.

Who knows, maybe the track was bought later?

@Putnam Division posted:

Absolutely! My 1st set was from the 1958 catalog (the New Haven F3 freight set)....... and, my original 4x8 layout was the 2nd one on the yellow layout page.....in the video, Christmas 1958 starts around 2:10......after about another minute, the 4x8 layout appears...Etc:

--Stunning Lionel catalog pages [here]:

--Peter's post of an incredibly enjoyable home movie from the late 1950's [here]:

Peter

Peter,

The vintage home movies featuring various scenes of happy family members, beyond excited children, and, gorgeous, "real time" Postwar Era trains in action are wonderful.

Thanks so much for posting each of those!

The other posts are wonderful too!  I just couldn't avoid highlighting the very touching vintage home movies at this juncture.

@Putnam Division posted:

The 1st year of the General.....1959.....

This is the O27 set......

This is the Super O set......

Peter

Yes that is it the 5-Star General set.  The last Lionel Mom and Dad bought me. She saw me admiring on the 5th-floor Toy Dept at Strouss Department Store Downtown Youngstown.  I knew she Salesman to put it on her account and deliver it. I would have been 13 then.

The only thing I have of it is the box.  My Ex violated the Judge's order about my "childhood things and sold it!

I had bought more Super-O track built a 5' buy 8"layout with the track looping around on to a tresses set.  She sold my Super-O track also!  But will always have the MEMORIES!

Ron

@Frank Mulligan posted:

Peter, thanks for the info.  I've looked this stuff up too and I still can't find it.  I had the original set box, but I tossed it years ago as a child.  The road number is 2360.  The cars I remember having are the transformer car, operating milk car, searchlight car, auto loader car, and an N5C caboose in PRR livery.

Who knows, maybe the track was bought later?

Hmmmm....sounds like an earlier year......I’ll be back after I check.....

Peter

Frank, I’m stumped, too.

55 and 56 had GG-1 freight sets .......but two problems: Too early for SuperO and they are 2340s. To my knowledge (and I’m no expert), GG-1s and specifically 2360, did not come in uncatalogued sets.

Here are GG-1 sets from 55 and 56.....all are nice looking.....and pre-SuperO.

Peter

Yes,, my dad and I built our Super O layout circa 1961-1962 . I have been using Super O on all my layouts since I bought my first house in 1983.

Mack

The set Frank is describing is the 1957 2293W set - first year Super O track was cataloged - also the first  GG-1 with a solid stripe not 5 stripes

Great set 👍🏼🚂

@dorfj2 posted:

The set Frank is describing is the 1957 2293W set - first year Super O track was cataloged - also the first  GG-1 with a solid stripe not 5 stripes

Great set 👍🏼🚂

Let me find my 57 catalog!

Peter

Thank you @dorfj2

Success! 1957....the 1st year of SuperO!

@Frank Mulligan posted:

My first train set was my uncle's.  I've never been able to track down which "outfit" it was, but it came with Super "O".  I traded everything except for the GG-1 that came with it.  I keep thinking in my mind to pick up some Super "O" track just for the nostalgia of it.

Success and thanks to @@dorfj2    ......1957!

I love a good hunt!

Peter

Thanks Peter - great set - PS keep those pics of your new train room coming 👍🏼

      After the Lionel 6110 engine from my 1951 starter set stopped working, my dad bought me a Lionel 628 switcher and a whole set of Super O track in 1957. I remember my dad having to extend my layout board a foot or so because my 027 fit fine, but the new Super O was 031 and we needed an extra foot or so to accommodate the new track! Still have it!

   John

My second locomotive was a Lionel, Brunswick 5-Stripe, GG-1 Locomotive.  My father and I were visiting Lopo's Cameras and Trains, in northeast Detroit, shortly after Thanksgiving, in 1961.  On our visit, Lopo's had a drop-dead gorgeous, Brunswick Lionel GG-1  loco in the floor- to ceiling-display case behind the counter.  Of course, I asked my Dad if we could ask Mr Lopo if could take a look at that engine when he had a chance.  

In this regard, my best grade-school "train buddy" had a Brunswick version of the same engine, and I always loved that engine.  After examining the engine, the GG-1 went back into the display case.  On the way home, I told my father that Danny had the "brown" version of the same engine, and, that it was always a favorite of mine.  My father explained that the GG-1 was one of the highest priced locomotives Lionel made, and that Danny was very lucky to have such an expensive item.  (Danny's father was also quite the hobbyist at the time, and they operated a very large, fully landscaped layout that took up half of the basement in their very modest sized home -- in 1961!)  Much to my dismay, the next time we went back to Lopo's a week or so later, the locomotive had been sold -- not surprising since Christmas was fast approaching!

Christmas morning, 1961 came, and when I opened my gifts, there was the Brunswick GG-1!  As with my first set that I had received the Christmas before, I was thrilled.  Later that morning my father and I took the GG-1 down to my Super "O" layout to run it.  Talk about a stump puller, the loco was quite heavy and also had Magna-Traction, so it could pull a long string of freight cars.  

I believe this Brunswick GG-1 preceded the introduction of Super -O- Track by a couple of years.  As I recall, the number is #2332, but I'd have to double check.  If the "Postwar Catalog Sleuths" would like to find the appropriate  catalog, to use a popular 60's phrase:

       "That would be swell!"

@dorfj2 posted:

Thanks Peter - great set - PS keep those pics of your new train room coming 👍🏼

We are sort of on hold until the Mianne Benchwork arrives......the Ross track is here. The RossBed spray-painted.

The room is ready and the gang (fellows from the modular group) are chomping at the bit to help me assemble the benchwork......

Peter

According to Roland LaVoie who wrote the chapter on electrics (a very nice man, RIP, and a fixture at Greenberg shows in the 80s on the Eastern seaboard).

2332 black 1947

2332 Brunswick green 1947-50

2340 Tuscan and Brunswick green 1955

2360 Brunswick green and Tuscan 1956

2360 Tuscan1957-58 and 61-63

from the Greenberg Guide, edited by Paul Ambrose, 1991

Peter

Thanks very much for your efforts, Peter!

I was just coming back to edit my above post, as my actual Brunswick GG-1 is a No. 2340.  In this regard, I was remembering the older 1950's  version of the 2332, and, the later Lionel Command Control versions, which were heavily advertised and catalogued.    A couple years ago, I found a very pristine Tuscan 2340 which appeared identical to my boyhood friend's.  Since it was Thanksgiving Weekend, my wife was kind enough to "layaway" that locomotive at our house until Christmas Day.  That loco is also on display in my train room.

With respect to operating trains during the Postwar Era on Super "0" Track, I ran that GG-1 regularly on my 80 square foot, "L" Shaped, Super "O" Layout until the trains were put away 3 or 4 years later.  Since I had two locomotives, and a two track mainline, I ran those engines a ton.  My Brunswick 2340 GG-1 does have some roller wear, but, 60+ years later, with a mechanical rebuild -- and no new rollers -  the engine is still a stump puller!

@Putnam Division posted:

The 1st year of the General.....1959.....

This is the O27 set......

This is the Super O set......

Peter

Christmas 1959!

Thanks NYC Fan -- great additional photos.  Since I received my first set at Christmas, 1960, I was able to quickly also obtain the 1959 catalog at Lopo's, since they still had leftover stock from the prior year.  That General is a set that I always wanted, particularly with all the westerns showing on TV's such as yours in the 5th picture.  Many of those late 50's, early 60's shows featured General style locomotives at that time.  I did finally get a General set much later in life.

As to my #2340 Brunswick GG-1, it was introduced in 1955, along with the identical, #2340 Tuscan GG-1 that I recently purchased.  Those 1955 GG-1's  were mechanically identical to the Lionel 1950, #2330 GG-1, according to the text that I have.  (Peter inspired me to use a text rather than catalogs.)

All three of these GG-1's had MagnaTraction.  I know that my GG-1 ran exceptionally well on the Super-O Track because of the MagnaTraction, which was important because my mainline used an entire graduated trestle set, and, an elevated trestle set.

My set came with Lionel tubular track, but my father got it upgraded to Super O.  Every O gauge layout I did had Super O except the last one, which was Atlas.

@dorfj2 posted:

The set Frank is describing is the 1957 2293W set - first year Super O track was cataloged - also the first  GG-1 with a solid stripe not 5 stripes

Great set 👍🏼🚂

That's the very one!  Thank you!