Some questions on Lionel's tubular track?

Lionel's 027 switch has the same basic body since at least the 1970's.

072 curves and switches go back to the mid 1930s when the #763 Hudson locomotive and other scale size equipment was introduced.

The 0 and 027 operating track like and work the same as the PW ones do.

Same for the 027 uncoupling track with the red band around the electromagnet.

The black ties on the 027 have been changed to brown some years ago.

One important thing, 027 & tubular 031 track is no longer being produced so if you need new ones the supply is running out. Last year Lionel came out with 031 Fast Track and this year other track types in 031 Fast Track should be out as well. They still make the half straight track that has Fast Track at one end and tubular 031 at the other end to connect both types of track if you want to slowly convert to Fast Track.

I might be wrong here, but my understanding is that while the "O-27 track" is no longer being produced, this is not a permanent decision by Lionel, that they just have tons of the stuff in the warehouse now and don't plan to produce more now - but maybe in the future depending on demand.  I would not worry about not having enough of it in the future or start converting to Fastrack just because of this.  

anyway, O-27 track surely is easy to get still . . 

0-27 has been made with at least these variations of ties, I have had them all.

Two types of tie edges in various colors.

1. Turned / rolled safety edges. The sides of the ties have turned up edges at the bottom.   Scratches less, & less likely to "chop" things. They are all brown. Light, med, and dark brown (tan to chocolate). "Wood grain"- I have in two shades med. & dark.
2. Straight edges, 2-Cement greys, 2-blacks, 3 shades of brown, and med brown wood grain. 

  The solid acc. tracks were for "stations". The others for yards, and non station placement. Yes some have black insulation-vs-red. I wouldn't want one as only my black one failed. Luck or lighter windings? Black one seemed newer to me.

0-27 has had two versions of 1122. The early ones have slices in the straight rails for the anti derail. And the later housing is changed for more clearance.

Years are a mystery to me. So maybe I've raised more questions than I answered. 

Lee is correct, they are still producing both O & O27 track. They are just not making it all the time as they once did. They will wait until they have a substantial amount to produce before a production run is made to make it more cost effective.

Thanks for the info.  Why did Lionel change the 027 switch design in the 70's?

Part of it was the change in manufacturing, and the outsourcing to Hong Kong (then part of the UK) I would guess.

Did lionel make any 0 or 027 switches in the USA after 1970 or was it immediately moved to Hong Kong.  If so why for the switches only.  Why not make them in Mt. Clemens.

$$

The simplification of the throw mechanism to eliminate the elaborate rack & pinion set up also paved the way to eliminate the bulbs in the switches and the controllers to further reduce cost & complexity. Another side benefit was to provide an obvious and easy to use manual throw lever for remote switches, and now the manual and remote switches shared practically all tooling and parts(they were quite different prior to 1970).

The power routing feature of the 1022 manual switches was lost, however.

Thanks for the info on the 027 switches...so no Lionel switches, UCS, or crossovers were made in USA after 1970?

I have carded crossovers Made In USA.

Does Lionel still use the vintage equipment from the Pre-War era to form its tubular track?  I heard this equipment was moved from NJ to Mt. Clemens.  Then moved to China.