Super O Switch Track Compatibility

Just get the ones made in 58 or later and you will be fine.

I have a Super O layout for ten years with 4 switches and have never had any issues.  Just get the 112R ones made after 1958

It is interesting that you are creating the D225 Layout. I am in the process of re-creating the D225 layout as well. I am using all Super O track and switches without issue. I am adding in the additional switches shown in drawings as optional which bring the total to 12 switches. So far no problems.

Thanks;

idea-thinker

@idea-thinker posted:

It is interesting that you are creating the D225 Layout. I am in the process of re-creating the D225 layout as well. I am using all Super O track and switches without issue. I am adding in the additional switches shown in drawings as optional which bring the total to 12 switches. So far no problems.

Thanks;

idea-thinker

Awesome! I was going to add the optional switches as well. Does that change the wiring at all?

Also, how did you come up with 12 switches? I think the original plan only has 3, but the optional piece, which would add another 4 I think?

To answer your question about the 12 switches, I have attached a few images that I have found. One image show the original layout and the other show a diagram that has optional switches drawn into the image.

Hope this helps.

Thanks;

idea-thinker

I count 8

I count 12 see highlighted pic

Thanks, Rich, I missed the bottom four.

@idea-thinker posted:

It is interesting that you are creating the D225 Layout. I am in the process of re-creating the D225 layout as well. I am using all Super O track and switches without issue. I am adding in the additional switches shown in drawings as optional which bring the total to 12 switches. So far no problems.

Thanks;

idea-thinker

I'd love to chat about your experience building the layout. Have you started yet? I've been sourcing the track, and found almost all of it, but some of the other items are hard to find.

My original goal was to have this built by Christmas, but that may have been overly ambitious, given how hard it is to find all the parts. (I'm also not sure what can be substituted for new gear)

Some of the things that I've found hard to find include:

No. 38 Accessory Adapter Track

No. 91 Circuit Breaker (Not sure if there is a modern substitute)

Best of luck with your build, and hope we can collaborate on it together.

-Bill

My recollection is that super o will have the same profile  as o gauge tubular and will connect with the pin adapters. However, the 027 profile is lower than the super o and a transition has to be incorporated. Decades ago my brother and I used both types until we transitioned to super o. Never had any issues with super o.

Super O is almost the height(14/32")  of O-27 tubular(15/32") and will connect with the pin adapters. However, the "O" profile is quite a bit higher(22/32") than Super O and a transition has to be incorporated.

I've got a boat load of Super-0... and, LOVE IT!  But, I've changed my modeling and have gone to Atlas.   I have about 90 straights 65 Curves, 8 or 9 112 switches (the key is the hole in the under plate that allows you to tighten (tap) the frog).  Use Constant Voltage with these and put a short straight on the turnout and these switches perform very, very well.  I think I'll inventory it today.

As far as issues... here are a couple of videos (part 1 & part 2) that address function/testing/maintenance of the 112 (*all* switches have issues... Lionel, Atlas, Ross etc...) it's knowing how to deal with them.

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab...ch%3Fv%3DNxuzW89Hwr4

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab...ch%3Fv%3D4Gt35MHYOFI

Has anyone ever tried hooking up a Tortoise to the 112?

@N734WS posted:

I'd love to chat about your experience building the layout. Have you started yet? I've been sourcing the track, and found almost all of it, but some of the other items are hard to find.

My original goal was to have this built by Christmas, but that may have been overly ambitious, given how hard it is to find all the parts. (I'm also not sure what can be substituted for new gear)

Some of the things that I've found hard to find include:

No. 38 Accessory Adapter Track

No. 91 Circuit Breaker (Not sure if there is a modern substitute)

Best of luck with your build, and hope we can collaborate on it together.

-Bill

These can be *built* without much difficulty.  You can build the 38 from a 10" straight,  For the 91 I'd use a modern breaker (better than the 91 for actual protection) until I found a 91.  It's not a bad idea to add a few diodes to the old transformers to smooth the voltage... this is really easy a well.

Much has been written about Super O, good, bad and indifferent. From my perspective with a little help most 112 and 142 switches that show little rust on the rails can be brought back to operating condition easily. There are problems for O gauge trains that have deep gearing on the engines. The rails are smaller in height so most prewar engines have a problem. I did a quick primer on how I approach checking the 112; below are the links. They do not cover all the problems you might encounter with the switch however I believe they will help the novice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxuzW89Hwr4&t=2s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gt35MHYOFI&t=4s

You have to remember that many a prewar collector dismissed Super O back in the day. At the time Lionel was starting to lose market share of the toy industry dollars. I believe if Super O was market correctly and was offered with larger diameters and more detailed engines and equipment it may have survived the times. Lionel was at the time more a toy manufacture than a scale manufacture.

I believe the engineers that were developing Super O had anticipate the need for two rail cars not engines to operated on Super O. That’s why the early 112 switches had the extra ground contact rail copper strip; plastic wheels and insulated axels back into the switch would throw the switch to the correct branch.

Super O is flexible so track geometry can be *******ized to some extent which is a plus. Regards Rob W.