Lionel Tubular Track is NOT dead!

The other post states that a Lionel Sales Rep said they are not making track anymore. I also have asked Lionel this same question, in 2 weeks I received 2 contradictory answers. Working for a large company myself I know first hand that sales reps and customer service does not always know what they are talking about. Alan Arnold or Rich Melvin should contact Lionels big wigs personally and get the correct info for us all instead of relying on he said, she said, somebody said, I never said, my uncles cousins fathers best friend bosses sister who knows someone who rode a train once told them.

Jerry

Even if Rich Melvin gets one clear concise answer, people will still argue over whether that person is properly informed, or will accuse them of lying, because they heard from someone somewhere that the opposite is the God's honest truth.

"Make" can mean two different things.

Many people seem to think that if a company is not "making" something anymore, that it is no longer available for sale, anywhere, ever. Those people will have a conniption fit when they hear that Lionel is no longer "making" tubular track, even if they haven't purchased a stick of track in decades, or don't even own trains anymore.

The other meaning of "make" is literal. As in, producing product. It doesn't mean that the warehouses stacked to the ceiling with tubular track will instantly disappear.

Why are so many otherwise mature, reasonable, experienced adults acting so irrationally about this?

Matt hit the nail on the head!

There is NO shortage of tubular track! Lionel just got in O and 072 switches back in and we will have any items out of stock shortly. Check our web site for updates.

Long live the " TUBE" !

Oh goody, there is still tubular track available! Maybe there are some train set transformers too???    lol

John Pignatelli JR. posted:

Long live the " TUBE" !

That would make a great t-shirt!

Jerry

George Gilligan posted:

I have a brand new in-the-box Lionel 6-5165 and  6-5166 in their boxes. If you are interested, email me with what you would offer. Thanks. 

George:

If you're selling it, please put it on the FS forum with an asking price.

The seller goes first, not the buyer.

Thanks.

SJS

Here is another video of my O27 tubular layout.  Switches are all constant voltage.

In our internal efforts to get all the "outstanding" projects from years past delivered in 2015 the O31 and O72 remote O gauge tubular switches were part of that effort (like the Neil Young F-3 sets, Bethlehem and PRR D/C 3-Bay hoppers, smoke fluid loaders, etc.) the new O gauge tubular switches are not a "revival" of the line, but rather a final delivery to make good on these lagging projects. 

Thanks,

Mike

Hopefully the newest run of tubular Lionel switches has plastic that's not cracked.

Is Menard's getting their O Guage tubular track from Lionel?

No.

Does any of the forum sponsors sell the Williams by Bachmann O Gauge Tubular Track??

ZWPOWER13 posted:

Does any of the forum sponsors sell the Williams by Bachmann O Gauge Tubular Track??

Yes, Lantz Hobby Shop. There is a handling fee for small orders that tends to cheese off some folks. I have had good service from them on medium to large orders. I bought all of my FasTrack from them. It was a big order.

Somebody is/will become a 3rd party tube maker/importer.  I tihink it will be WBB, Menard's or MTH/Lionel C. Tinplate.

Well I ordered a pair of the new stock O-31 Tubular switches.  I really wanted some to have representative samples of classic Lionel (yet new production).  I tried last year and the switches were prone to all types of odd stress cracks and breaks in the black plastic.  This was probably from mid to late 2000's production...maybe 2012.  The newest batch is perfect...and packaged in a new plastic thermoformed tray.  The old method of strapping the switch to the flimsy cardboard tray was a pain.  New switches also have full LEDs.  

So has anyone bought an O72 switch from Lionel recently? Where did you get it and what's the quality like?

Amazing Mike, so they actually upgraded the tubular switches?

I have not read each and every post in this thread, so I may be speaking on ground that has already been covered.  I found that "O" gauge tubular track allowed the best performance of any of my locos or rolling stock.  Also, I learned never to sell any track I thought I wasn't going to need.  No-one wants to give you anything for it.  But when you need more of it, they want an arm and a leg seemingly. 

wALT, i HAVE SOME OF THEM nib IF YOU ARE LOOKING.

I LOVE your 027 layout Dave. Very similar to what I'm assembling...with only K-Line 027 turnouts. The smaller scale of the rail, compared to the massive size of the regular O, reminds me of smaller scale track compared to normal N or HO in those scales, when I messed with MicroEngineering switches and flex track. When proto and smartly scenic'd, contemporary diesels can look absolutely massive riding on this O27 compared to regular O.

"Tubular Track Is NOT Dead!"

Lord, no, it's not dead. I have stacks of "like new" tubular in my closet.  In fact, I think the stuff has been spawning in there and I have more now that when I first stacked it there.

OH... and it's available on the cheap:  Call BR549. 

(Or email me with the quantity you need and we'll talk turkey.)

My tubular switches work great and seem bullet proof.  Oh they're from the 50s production run.  

Great to see the new packaging and conversion to LED's on the latest 022's.

We have 5 pairs that range in age from early 2000's and newer. other than some cracked plastic, they've performed flawlessly.

Speaking of older turnouts, I had some pre-war "O" gauge switches that the newer stuff wouldn't run on properly.  These were sheet metal with a green base and large lantern.  I soldered new check rails to accomadate MPC era trains and they worked like a charm.    

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Amazing Mike, so they actually upgraded the tubular switches?

Yes.  I took the plunge after buying some last year that were made in the 2000's and early 2010's.  Lots of cracked plastic..motor covers...frame etc.  The new run is very much improved.  Nice solid blister packaging holding it all neat.  I think the tight squeeze of the old packaging caused some of the problems.  LEDs of course...  Just a vast improvement.  Which goes to say..they only get it right at the end...and beginning in this case.  O72s had the same improvements.  I don't see power 027 Switches in the new run however.

Are they still even making the O27 track?

I am shocked.  Shocked I tell you.  Tubular track is dead?  No way.  That is so crazy.  Just like people saying that men landed on the moon or that Elvis Presley is dead.  

BTW you had me at tubular track is dead ( for the fifth thread ).

Tubular track, and I DON'T like it, will be around until somebody finally develops a realistic, simple to use, cost-effective track system.  That means with solid rail, a wide selection of radii for curves and switches, low profile realistic ties, nickle silver or other rust proof mfr., etc.

baltimoretrainworks posted:

The other post states that a Lionel Sales Rep said they are not making track anymore. I also have asked Lionel this same question, in 2 weeks I received 2 contradictory answers. Working for a large company myself I know first hand that sales reps and customer service does not always know what they are talking about. Alan Arnold or Rich Melvin should contact Lionels big wigs personally and get the correct info for us all instead of relying on he said, she said, somebody said, I never said, my uncles cousins fathers best friend bosses sister who knows someone who rode a train once told them.

 

Jerry

HA! Good Jerry!!!

that's a perfect example of how rumors get started.

colorado hirailer posted:

Tubular track, and I DON'T like it, will be around until somebody finally develops a realistic, simple to use, cost-effective track system.  That means with solid rail, a wide selection of radii for curves and switches, low profile realistic ties, nickle silver or other rust proof mfr., etc.

I hear the same sort of thing over on G Scale Central.  What modeler's want is not what the manufacturers are producing.  Most of the replies come in at ; tooling costs not being justified by demand.  In some ways we have to be thankful that there are companies out there who make toy trains.  Granted, it's a business and they wouldn't be in it if they weren't making money.  Some decisions made by the train manufacturers of whether or not to produce or continue to produce a given product, are made with level headed thinkers.  But there are also  the accountants to thank for what we don't have or have any more.  

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Are they still even making the O27 track?

Last Summer I had to wait on a carton of Curves and Straights in 027 on backorder...they were fresh production with Concord NC on the box.  However the ties are now painted brown instead of "printed brown" like they used to be.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Are they still even making the O27 track?

Unfortunately not as I understand it except for starter sets? And that's a shame though it would still be a niche-ish market. But maybe not for some enterprising progressive O'scaler manufacturer. As another post today mentions, coupling it to conventional high-rail O to step down in rail size for sidings, as well as for backwoods and short lines and industrial...the rail height difference is considerable plus add scenery (paints, chalks, ballasts, ties, vegetation...(few folks use prototypical amounts of vegetation and brush...easy space fillers... but that's just the pro Degree Horticulturist and Nat. Resources Specialist in me speaking) it can practically disappear. This runs parallel to other scales now "progressively" using smaller scale rail for the same for additional realism different code rail down to the flimsy. There is the drift to more realistic-appearing mainline track by various manufacturers; the same attention to 0-27 could take the concept to the other end of the spectrum.  The Micro Engineering brand equivalent of O scale 3-rail if you catch my idea. Problem is that most operators have fun as loop runners but even here,  sidings could be just as much an "accessory" as that crossing or other structure feature. Just a thought, but this is the application I'm using 0-27 Lionel and K-Line switches for my layout.  99% of my layout will feature 0-27 shortline connecting to the "round the room" mainline oval of mainline conventional O.  The interchange will feature the changeover; in fact the mainline will be visible for only several feet to service the interchange and plays a secondary roll. The layout focuses on ops of the shortline and 0-27 based track.

Mike W. posted:

Last Summer I had to wait on a carton of Curves and Straights in 027 on backorder...they were fresh production with Concord NC on the box.  However the ties are now painted brown instead of "printed brown" like they used to be.

Hi Mike - 

May I ask where you got a bulk shipment of 027 from?  I'm tempted to do that same.

Menards Hardware/Improvement stores in the Midwest is listing new O Guage track on their website, but haven't seen any 027 yet.

Keep Smilin'

I got my track from both Gryzboski and Charles Ro.  Both packed it double boxed and gave excellent service.

I got a carton each of all traditional pieces.  Only missing O54 Curves...I may add those.  The wider radius O curve that has 3 ties isn't traditional IMO...I think Lionel added it later.   Real Lionel tubular track is still produced from the prewar rolling and stamping machines.  I am sure someone on here can add more to that story.  

Don't forget about the O & O27 Remote Control Track Sections and the Lighted Lockon.  All are vintage cool.

Now that is a nice Tee shirt!  I will take a dozen.

And O72...

I bought some new Lionel O-gauge tubular track, and also successfully "resurrected from the dead" many vintage track sections using EVAP-O-RUST to remove surface rust and accumulated crud. I soaked the track pieces in the fluid overnight, then rinsed them off with water from a garden hose nozzle, and dried them with a towel. Presto, chango!  Ready to run another 10,000 miles.   The product may remove aged black paint from some of the crossties, but that's not an issue for me.  The shiny tin plating wears off with time, but clean vintage track still conducts electricity just fine.

Mike Mottler  LCCA 12394
(ritrainguy)

Mike, make sure the Evapo Rust didnt eat any of the paper insulators on the outside rail of the tubular track.