I have always loved the original Lionel 700e but have always wondered why it has to run on T rail track. How come it can't run on tubliar track, FasTrack, or some other style of track. Is it because the flanges on the wheels. What is the reason?
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It can run on any type of track as long as the radius is 054 or more.
ZWPOWER13 posted:It can run on any type of track as long as the radius is 054 or more.
Even if it has flanges on all 6 wheels
Not sure about the original 700E curve diameter (not "radius" - 3RO measures the entire circle, not just half of it, so "054" is the diameter, not the radius; annoying, but there it is, another awkward "tradition"), but the 700E did have smaller flanges, I think (and all drivers were flanged), so the round-top tubular and Fastrack would not be flange-friendly, especially in the switches. GG/Ross/Atlas would be fine - expect maybe in the switches (flange ways). The flanged #2 drivers do, of course, increase the minimum diameter curve required; not sure to what value.
(054" diameter is 27" radius - not to be confused with "027" diameter curves, which are 13.5" radius.....it just gets worse...)
My rails aren't
D500 posted:Not sure about the original 700E curve diameter (not "radius" - 3RO measures the entire circle, not just half of it, so "054" is the diameter, not the radius; annoying, but there it is, another awkward "tradition"), but the 700E did have smaller flanges, I think (and all drivers were flanged), so the round-top tubular and Fastrack would not be flange-friendly, especially in the switches. GG/Ross/Atlas would be fine - expect maybe in the switches (flange ways). The flanged #2 drivers do, of course, increase the minimum diameter curve required; not sure to what value.
(054" diameter is 27" radius - not to be confused with "027" diameter curves, which are 13.5" radius.....it just gets worse...)
Thanks, my rails are flat on top so it wouldn't be an issue.
If you have Amazon Prime, (currently) both of Don Hagar's videos about the original 700E are available to watch. He provides a lot of information regarding the Locomotive including flanges and track diameter.