What gauge is Lionel "Large Scale"?

Yes, their "large Scale" was the so-called "G gauge".

Properly, it is #1 Gauge, the next one up from O-gauge (properly and originally "#0 (Zero) gauge": the proper scale for #1 Gauge is #1 Scale, which is 1:32 (#0 = 1:48). So far as I know, only MTH makes proper 1:32 scale trains for #1 Gauge (nicknamed "G" for LGB, unfortunately) anymore, at least at not-stupid prices.

Aren't you glad that you asked? There's more that could be said about the strangeness of "G gauge", but I'll leave that to others.

45 mm

Thanks guys.  That was my hunch, but I wanted to confirm.  I was thinking of making an X-mas setup around my tree that was 1:28 (USA Trains I guess is all that makes that nowadays).  I love the sheer size of the LGB 1:24 products, but I can't stand that their all narrow gauge.  They just look way too toy like.  I guess there's not too much size difference between the MTH/Lionel 1:32 vs. the USA Trains 1:28 so they should be somewhat compatible.  

Does anyone have any experience with these older Lionel "Large Scale" trains?  Were they dependable? 

The cars I have do.  I had an Atlantic type locomotive but it didn't run as well as my O gauge.

LGB is usually "properly" G Scale @ (Nominal)1:22.5

Aristocraft/USA (and I think PIKO) are generally @ 1:29

A few defunct manufacturers were 1:24 (sometimes called H Scale)

Bachmann has some I n the G/H range but also make F Scale, 1:20.3  Accucraft uses this scale, too, as do a handful of garage businesses working in F Scale, standard gauge.  (there are also a few folks working in G Scale [1;22.5] standard gauge.)

Lionel was all over the map, with some in the semi-1:22.5/1:20.3 range and some in the 1:32/1:29 range.

And then there are the latter-day Lionel battery-powered cheapies in Junk Scale (what I call their LS PE set and its relatives).

USA Trains (and former Aristo-Craft) made their trains in 1:29 scale, which is too large for G-gauge track to be scale. I'd say USA Trains is the go to manufacturer for American standard gauge models.

MTH is 1:32 scale which is correct for G-gauge track width. I don't know what scale Lionel is, but it all looks too toy-like for my taste.

LGB is 1:22.5 scale for one meter track width.

To my knowledge, the gauge is called G-gauge because it is commonly used outdoors, as in the Garden - G-Gauge.

From a scale perspective, the problem with most G-gauge track is that the rails are much too high and thick.

Also, a few manufacturers use G-gauge track as American narrow gauge trains. Like 1:20.3 scale for 3' track and 1:24 for 3' 6" track

TrainGuyMcGee posted:

Thanks guys.  That was my hunch, but I wanted to confirm.  I was thinking of making an X-mas setup around my tree that was 1:28 (USA Trains I guess is all that makes that nowadays).  I love the sheer size of the LGB 1:24 products, but I can't stand that their all narrow gauge.  They just look way too toy like.  I guess there's not too much size difference between the MTH/Lionel 1:32 vs. the USA Trains 1:28 so they should be somewhat compatible.  

I have no experience with Lionel Large Scale. I however tried to combine proper 1 gauge (1:32 live steam BigBoy) with Aristocraft 1:29 freight cars and that did not look good at all; so I sold all the Aristocraft and bought MTH, Accucraft and some other 1 gauge freight cars. That looks much better:

Regards

Fred