Lionel O Gauge Tubular

All of the local train stores here in Southwestern PA have healthy selections of brand new Lionel tubular sections - both O and O27.

Imperial Train Company in Imperial PA and Pat's Trains in Wheeling, WV just to name a couple.

 

 

I don't know where you heard it was being phased out. I don't think it's been included in all the recent catalogs but it is still listed in the 2014 -2015 Track and power catalog.

The last announcement I heard in regards to tubular track was last year when they stated it was not being phased out but manufacturing of the track was being slowed to a as needed supply because of the glut of product on the market.

More than one dealer has told me that tubular track is no longer offered by Lionel. There is a lot of it out there to last for years, so I would not be concerned about availability.

Funny if you goto Lionel website and click on Products then on fine a product if you put track in the spot you have to go about 8 pages but they have it for sale.

If you are a tubular track fan, you should check out OGR Forum Sponsor Tin Man 3-Rail.

 

All they do is recondition tubular track!

There should be plenty on hand at most train and hobby shops for now. Lionel may still have it, but when they run out it will be gone. Lionel had previously stated they would wait until they could manufacture large quantities at one time. That has now changed, my LHS was notified of this by Lionel about a month or so ago, Lionel has dis-continued production of all tubular track.

 

My LHS did say that Williams by Bachmann is currently still offering it. They do not currently carry the WBB variety, but said they may look into carrying it after they run out of the Lionel tubular. They sell a lot of it at Christmas time to people wanting to expand or upgrade their Christmas layouts.

I checked there site, and as of December 31st. they have suspended all orders until they fill their inventory.

I don't see the end of production of tubular track as a huge area of concern.  Lionel and others have made tubular track for so long, it would be hard to believe that there would be a shortage for anyone wanting it for their layout. 

Mark,

 

Have you looked at RMT's track system (formerly K-Line SuperSnap)? It is also tubular, but has multiple ties per section, a blackened center rail, and mates to Lionel tubular with transition track or by modification. The track also has electrical connections, so pins are not needed. I still used pins though to ensure electrical continuity as the tabs would sometimes bend out of place. If I were to go back to tubular track, this would be my first choice.

 

Here are a couple of quick pictures I took. You can see a piece of Lionel tubular track connected to a turnout in the first picture.

 

 

I wish someone would put a "jail house whippin" on the person(s) who started this bit of misinformation. The original newsletter stated that production would be temporarily suspended on the over-stocked sizes. This information was sent to dealers over six-months ago.

"Tubular Track Done"

I wouldn't worry about tubular track being extinct in our life time.  Keep your eye opened on the for sale forum. There always seems to be someone wanting to part with tubular track for one reason or another. Fastrack is not "crap" as you put it. It is very reliable switches and all. I've been running the same loop of track except for maybe one or two pieces in the last 10 years and the track is holding up fine. I really have no reason to replace it. If it ain't broke....    Tubular is still great stuff and has been for many years and in my opinion will be for years to come.   It's a personal preference.   

 

By the way thank you for your service on the NYFD.    Military,police and fire fighters are way up there on my list and should be thanked every chance we get. 

I'm a Lionel purist all the way and this trend of true scale O-BAZILLION diameter curves isn't for me. I don't mind Lionel making products of that nature for those who desire them, but I don't want the 100 years of Lionel tradition to go out the window and be forgotten.

 

I just wish Lionel would make a formal public statement on their stance of tubular track, and O-27 equipment.

ACDX Rob,

I stand by my post. I no longer have the need for tube track. If and when my health does improve I will have plenty of tube track. I currently have seven sealed cases of, Lionel Made In USA track and at least six opened cases of same on hand all O-Gauge. Plus, I have five cases of NOS Made In USA Standard Gauge track that my Grandfather bought that's still like new. Yes, you can call me a hoarder. I'm from the old school. The ones who listen as history repeats itself. I'll go quietly back to my corner now. 

       
       


Well then wouldn't that rule out Williams track you were considering in your first post?

No one seems to be able to find the press release that supposedly was put out in the last few weeks, so who knows for sure. Charlie did mention on another post that switches were indeed gone,but track continues.

 

As for switches, good luck. I had two pair of modern Lionel switches. They were terrible, good luck on finding 30 that don't derail your engone because they do not throw properly

 

I didn't say anything, just answered your query about the origin... did you click on the link?

Chris, so far I have about 10 pairs of the 072's from the early 90's that are perfect. No derailing at all.

Only as last resort John, would I purchase WBB Track. So far checking the web, I am finding what I need from several dealers.

Same here, no trouble at all with my 0-72s either.

 

Art

 

Threads like this will tip off the hoarders and those who always want an angle to control the market. We can now probably add used and new O gauge tubular track to the list of shortages such as the ZW shortage of the 1980's and the tight supply of Hess Trucks after the Train Collectors Quarterly 1990's article about Hess Truck collectability. After that article I could find sealed master cartons of Hess Trucks at every train show, but couldn't buy just one at a Hess gas station.

Gentlemen,

   I still have lots of Lionel conventional tubular track, with good 711/072 switches to use if I need it, lots of it still in the stores here western Pa, and the RMT SS is even better conventional tubular than the original Lionel, I see no need to worry about any shortage of good tubular track, far as I can tell it will be around when I am running trains with the Supreme Architect.

 

PCRR/Dave

For what its worth I was at a TCA ATLANTIC DIV SHOW IN Janurary and a dealer told me he got a letter from LIONEL that tubular track was being discontinued.

 

GG1GUYY

 

Unfortunately, no one has reported seeing this letter first hand or been able to point to an official press release. Secondly, there is confusion as to what "discontinue" means - Is it a temporary production stoppage due to inventory/supply numbers or is Lionel completely abandoning it all together? What I am really looking for is for Lionel to make a formal public statement on their stance of tubular track (and O-27 equipment).

Don't hold yer breath.  History has shown time and time again, Lionel will "NEVER" abandon anything they could make money on.

You take that to the bank.

Joe..

I bought some of it a couple years ago to operate my giraffe car, about fell over with the prices compared to Fastrack, Atlas and the other newer tracks available. Maybe it's all a big plot to increase the prices of tubular track that has been way too cheap for way too long?  

Just bought some new Lionel tubular track from Charles Ro for the new layout. No problem here. 

Speculation, rumor, I wish Lionel would take the initiative and actually contact OGR and CTT to set the record straight. Is that so hard for them to do? So and so said they heard from a friends cousins grandmother who knows someone who had a friend who used to work in a hobby store a while ago that Lionel maybe might not be sure if they might still make tubular track anymore or not , JUST DOESN'T CUT IT! 

Come on Lionel man up and let us know one way or the other.

 

Jerry

My LHS has a whole wall of it.If you need it let me know.I will get it and ship it to you.Case CLOSED.Nick

Based on past performance I would not expect Lionel to provide any information on this issue.

You do realize that Lionel's lack of information and the swirling rumors are what we are venting about here.

Now that Ross has started to make "O" Gauge tubular track switches, if Lionel would pull the plug on producing "O" gauge track if Ross would start making it. If that happen, Steve would make so many more different switches and track items as compared to Lionel. Maybe, he would even produce a gray rubber roadbed to go with it.

I missed the O-72 part. Mine are those terrible O-31 switches from the mid 90's. Everyone I know hated them

GOD I HOPE SO!! STEVE, please be reading this!!

Mark,

I've checked out the track in question. The quality is very good. One of our sponsors, "The Western Depot", has it in inventory.

Thanks for the heads up! So far I am finding a good amount of Lionel supply from our forum sponsors and locally.

Actually they did, when they first made tubular an occasional production item. They said they will make it until it is no longer viable to do so. If you dig around here enough you can probably find that statement. They have also said this at York.

Most of the comments made here have been "My hobby shop got a letter", but guess what, no one here has posted that letter. Certainly we have enough hobby shop owners who post here that if a letter existed we would see it by now. Also Lionel has been pretty good about passing press releases onto OGR when appropriate.

So until Lionel states otherwise there is no need for them to re-address this subject every time the rumor is posted.

FWIW this at least the 3rd time that I have seen this rumor go around in teh last few years. Starting with the Lionel catalog a few years back that was the first not to list tubular. Guess what the stuff is still here.

Thanks for all the heads up from advising on dealers still having it in stock. I am stocking up to build my dream layout. Also searching the buy/sell forums :-) I mostly need tons of straights!