is there an easy way to identify the size of a SINGLE piece of curved Lionel tubular track?
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Put it on a photocopier. Make a dozen or so copies. Paste them together on the floor. See what size circle you get.
Or make several different diameter circles (27, 31, 42, 54, etc) on plywood with a pencil. See which circle the piece of track most resembles.
You'd think a manufacturer as famous and successful as Lionel would stamp part numbers on its products.
thanks. I think it's either 54 or 72. I was hoping maybe the number of ties or something like that would be an indicator.
Actually, I'd like to amend my remarks. Make enough copies to create a half-circle. No need to waste paper.
Look up the catalog image. Also, the closer to being straight it is, the wider the radius
No copies. Just two straight edges. You can get by with one. Lay the track with one end perpendicular to the edge of the table. That would be the edge of the three rails all touching the edge of the table. Now take the straight edge (ruler) and place it against the edge of the other three rails. Look to see where the imaginary line of the ruler crosses the edge of the table. Measure the distance from the track to that point. Double that number, and round it off to the nearest known track size.
Aren't you the clever lad!
You used to be able to tell by the number of ties in the curve, not so with current production track. The older curves had 3 ties for 031, 4 ties for 042, 5 ties for 054 and 6 ties for 072. I guess it is to cut production costs but 042 now has 3 ties and 054 has 4 ties, not sure about 072.
Lee Fritz
