Lionel Super O track with Gargraves switches

Not sure if you can get adapter pins or not for Super O to Gargraves track. Check both www.gargraves.com and www.rosscustomswitches.com for the adapter pins. It is possible that Atlas pins might work, not sure but you can always try. If they don't have the adapter pins at Ross or Gargraves you may have to solder the tracks together.

Lee Fritz

I looked for a picture of Super O track from the end. It looks like you could mate the outer rails to the switches. But the center rail would be something different because it uses a flat copper center rail which had special clips to join them. Gar Graves has or had mating pins that transitioned from Gar Graves to tubular.................Paul  

paul 2 posted:

I looked for a picture of Super O track from the end. It looks like you could mate the outer rails to the switches. But the center rail would be something different because it uses a flat copper center rail which had special clips to join them. Gar Graves has or had mating pins that transitioned from Gar Graves to tubular.................Paul  

Paul, do you know the shape of Super O track? It is metal rails or blades that stick up, unlike tubular track which is rounded off on top. So regular Gargraves adapter pins won't work with Super O.

FYI; my friend who lived a few houses away from me had Super O track so I know what it looks like. You may have to adapt Super O first to tubular track then to Gargraves pins.

Lee Fritz

You don't need to scrap a good plan for need of an adapter pin for the center rail. You can fashion your own easily based on the 32-34 Lionel O-27 adapter, or file the 32-34 to match the GarGraves/Ross center rail profile.

ADCX Rob posted:

You don't need to scrap a good plan for need of an adapter pin for the center rail.

You can fashion your own easily based on the 32-34 Lionel O-27 adapter, or file the 32-34 to match the GarGraves center rail profile.

That's a great idea Rob. I didn't know that Lionel made adapter pins like that. Also when using adapter pins you may have to file down the track surface to keep the engine or other cars from derailing.

Lee Fritz

phillyreading posted:

Also when using adapter pins you may have to file down the track surface to keep the engine or other cars from derailing.

Lee Fritz

You don't need adapters for the running rails.  The GarGraves/Ross pins just need to be trimmed/milled  a little to fit the Super O rails, they are very close in dimension.

Lee, I found this pic of super O. Looks like the outer rails have a flat copper pin and the rail head seems flat like Gar Graves. Of course the center rail had that special clip to join the tracks together. My thought was you could get the outer rails to work with Gar Graves.  The center rail would not work as is but maybe soldering that would be the way to go...................Paul

The quickest way to make the center rail connection is to bend the GarGraves/Ross center rail pin ramped down slightly to meet the recess in the Super O copper strip and tack it with a bit of solder. The slight resulting bump can be Dremeled for a smooth transition if needed.