O gauge track

Welcome back after your 60 year break!

There's a few types of O-gauge track on the market now.  Although any of the 3-rail tracks will likely work with your 2046 engine, the different types of track don't always go together very easily.

I'm guessing your track is either the old Lionel "O" or "O27" track.  They're the same distance between rails, and they both work with your engine, but one has three black ties per section with rounded bottoms.  That's "O" tinplate track.  The other probably has brown ties that are slightly shorter than the black ones and don't have the rounded off bottoms.  That's "027".  They can work together but they're slightly different heights when sitting on a table and make a noticeable jump when transitioning form one to the other.

There are newer types of track that look more "realistic" but I'm betting it's not what your set from 60 years ago used.

You can buy brand new "O" gauge track that fits with the classic Lionel "O" gauge track perfectly.  It's very cheap and you can get it at Menards.com.  Better bet than eBay...you'll pay a tiny bit more for brand new stuff that looks and works great.

If you buy from eBay, make sure you get "O" or "O27" depending on what you already have.  There's more O27 available, and it's cheaper, and can run tighter curves, but some people like the slightly bigger "O" look.

+1 on Jeff's description on tubular tinplate track - if your straight sections are 10" long, you have the O track.  If you want to purchase additional track and your local shops don't have it, order it from Menards.com.  The best deal is the bulk 24-piece box.  Note that Menards offers a variety of circle diameters from 30" to 96".  The larger the circle, the better your train will look in the curves but space is always a limitation.

If you have O-27 (8-7/8" straights), that track is not manufactured these days but still can be found in stock at hobby shops or on the web (new or used in good condition).

There are other track systems available - they look better with more ties, roadbed, etc. but are more expensive.  All of these newer systems (except for MTH "ScaleTrax") have adapter pins or transition pieces that can join the new track system to tubular O track.  Joining to O27 track can be done with a bit of fussing with differences in pin diameter and track height.

BTW, the 2046 runs fine on the newer track systems (Lionel FasTrack, Ross, K-Line, and Gargraves) I have.  The key to smooth running is electrical conductivity in the track joints.  Using new and/or clean track eliminates a lot of frustration arising from the bad track section that is always at the back of the layout or in a tunnel.

Thanks - huge learning curve.   But answered my questions completely and more.   I'm not sure I'm back after 60 years because as a kid I just played with it.   Now I'm building something for my son and his boys.   Not to mention this type of project is good these days.    From your description I have the 027 gauge.   Checking now with the Ebay dude.   Lots of tracks, splitters etc.   I also have the brown ties.   I think I'd prefer to 0 gauge as the engine front every so often touches the track and sparks, but I don't have it attached to the board yet (I do believe that would help keep the track from rising). 

A tip on cleaning track ... metal polish (Brasso is the least expensive) is good for tubular coming out of storage.

Boy the things we forget - used Brasso in the Corps but never dawned on me 60+ years later.   

Not sure the size of your planned layout or if you are planning on junking the old rusty track in favor of new tubular track, but you might want to consider Lionel's Fastrack as an option.

True, it will cost more and is a little noisier, but it goes together easily and quickly, has terminal sections that connect directly to your transformer, looks good, has an integral roadbed built in, has switches that are very good, stays put very well even w/o track screws, and your 2046 will run fine on it.

@flaming8 posted:

Thanks - huge learning curve.   But answered my questions completely and more.   I'm not sure I'm back after 60 years because as a kid I just played with it.   Now I'm building something for my son and his boys.   Not to mention this type of project is good these days.    From your description I have the 027 gauge.   Checking now with the Ebay dude.   Lots of tracks, splitters etc.   I also have the brown ties.   I think I'd prefer to 0 gauge as the engine front every so often touches the track and sparks, but I don't have it attached to the board yet (I do believe that would help keep the track from rising).

Flaming8,

Unless you are currently running on carpet, the front of your 2046 touching the track has nothing to do with O or O27. You might have a bend in the "cow catcher" from an earlier fall to the floor that you forgot about. Trying to straighten it night cause it to crack, so be careful. Try a piece of insulating tape on the tip. Check the front truck - it might not be mounted correctly or have something missing like a spring.

As to your O27 height track, you should know that it also came in wider radius' besides 27". It can also be found in 42", 54" and (very hard to find) 72" radius'. As far as I'm concerned, buy the widest radius track that you can fit. The trains will both look and run better. Switch tracks also came in 42" radius.