Preferred Diameter for Post War Trains

@Big John Henry posted:

What is the most preferred diameter for the post war trains? I like O-54. It is Interesting that Lionel never developed turn outs for the O-54 diameter track in O gauge or in Super O. Just wondering. Also it is not often found on sale. I miss it.

"Preferred" in what sense? Most postwar trains will navigate O-27, and in a lot of cases such tight curves are necessary to squeeze the track into the space available. For instance, I used O-27 to fit four loops (including one elevated) onto an eight foot by eight foot layout:

OTOH, when I acquired a more recent GG-1, I had to replace the track on my secondary layout with much larger radius curves, in order to allow it to stay on the track:

So, it all depends on what you are planning on running, and how you plan on running it.

072 will allow you to run almost anything Lionel made.

031 was the standard for most postwar trains, but some prewar models required 072.

027 was the Ives minimum and carried over to Lionel 027 line after Ives was brought by Lionel.

Old Ives were sold as Winner lines and Lionel Jr, before Lionel 027.

027 and 072 were the only turnout switches offer until 036 was offered in Super O only.

Fastrack is now offered in many sizes but quite $$ for my taste.

I like Atlas O when I can find it cheap.

I think you answered it with "Super O"...they could have gone with anything when designing it, but went with the 36 inches.  If they designed it in the 90's it may have been larger, but while actually in the postwar period, using and building postwar trains, Lionel "preferred" 036.

When I was young, I had 031 O scale track. One day the store showed me 072 and I was hooked. Present day, my  track is Gargraves and all curves are a minimum of 072.

Nothing magical about O-54. If you like it, use it. Otherwise there is no “preferred” diameter. Each person favors different track for different purposes.

I like O-27 curves for my small 3-by-8 home Halloween-themed layout. It adds to the Lemax building’s charm and works well with my traditional-sized equipment, including my postwar 675, 2037 and 2046 steamers.

At the club layout, it’s all larger-than-O-72 GarGraves track. That’s where I run my scale equipment, including my MTH Big Boy.

@Big John Henry posted:

What is the most preferred diameter for the post war trains? I like O-54....Lionel never developed turn outs for the O-54 diameter track.

I think you answered your own question. If you like O-54, then stick with it.

You can use an O-54 Ross Switch and mate it with tubular Lionel track using Ross #901 adapter pins. Lionel postwar engines and cars will traverse through Ross switches just fine. 

I started thinking postwar and that was it.  Fortunately a hobby shop owner in FL helped me to get my priorities figured out BEFORE jumping.  I think (in this order):

1. Space you have for a layout.  Mine is 12 X 16 - a "U" Shaped walk in or around layout.

2.  Then the widest turns that will fit that size, leaving 2-3" clearance on all edges where there is to be a curve.   Mine are 072, 060 and 048 hidden under a mountain.

3.  Then start w/postwar, BUT if you are like me- you will quickly gravitate toward walk-around control:

- Lion Chief, Lion Chief Plus and Plus 2.0.    - TMCC  or maybe Legacy.

- As you start to think more "scale", this will mean wider curves.  I would love to run articulateds or large steam- but the layout will not allow them.  So- I run LionMaster articulateds, and locos up to a 773 (Century Club.)  And 4-axle diesels.

As part of this you have to consider the circuit breaker protection you need- available by add-on to say a 275 watt ZW.  But maybe better would be a modern transformer that has the circuit protection built in- a CW-80 or GW-180, even a ZW-L.  The circuit breakers are critical with modern locos that have circuit boards!!

I'm thinking it might have been 42 " for a 4x8 layout? 54" is just a little more than the space would allow go D-O- H?

My personal experience and my friends' experiences would say as large a diameter as you can. It really is hard to go bigger. My layout is Fastrack with the outer loop at O48 and the inner loop at O36. I did add an elevated O42 tinplate loop later on. I find I can run most of what I want but not some of the really big stuff.  Of course, room size also limited me. I happen to enjoy GP units so my layout works good for my interests. Find what you like and have fun.