Bruette
Well-Known Member
I wanted to calculate how many scale miles of track I used for my Christmas layout. Then I thought "what scale is Lionel's FasTrack?"
When I first got deep into the hobby in late 2012 O was usually referred to as O gauge unlike HO, N and others that are referred to as HO scale, N scale etc.. The reason is Lionel being the leader in O referred to O as O gauge and often still does. Lionel does that because most of what they make is traditional scale or O27, not true 1:48 scale.
In recent years they have focused more on what they use to call Standard O which was often close to true scale and sometimes was true scale. As far as that goes sometimes traditional O was close to scale. The Lionel GP9 of the 70s was one, although not very prototypical, it's size is very close to 1:48 scale. Now the are making high-end Legacy and top of the class, Vision Line equipment both of which are what Lionel calls Scale O, true 1:48 scale.
Traditional scale is still Lionel's best selling equipment. As it is with all O gauge manufacturers. Williams by Bachmann calls it semi-scale. MTH makes Rail King which is traditional scale even though I have never seen them say it is actually smaller then true scale. Put an MTH Rail King boxcar for example next to a Lionel traditional scale boxcar and or a Williams by Bachmann semi-scale boxcar and you will see they are all about the same size.
I'm coming to my point, thanks for sticking with me.
Lionel's FasTrack pre-dates Lionel's Scale O, even though they have been making standard O since the 1970s. That brings me to my question, what scale is FasTrack? It comes with Ready to Run (RTR) traditional scale sets and it's the only track Lionel now makes. Don't worry traditionalists, you can still buy new, "old school" all metal 3-rail track from several different makers.
So there is my question; What scale is FasTrack? Traditional scale, true 1:48 scale or something else?
When I first got deep into the hobby in late 2012 O was usually referred to as O gauge unlike HO, N and others that are referred to as HO scale, N scale etc.. The reason is Lionel being the leader in O referred to O as O gauge and often still does. Lionel does that because most of what they make is traditional scale or O27, not true 1:48 scale.
In recent years they have focused more on what they use to call Standard O which was often close to true scale and sometimes was true scale. As far as that goes sometimes traditional O was close to scale. The Lionel GP9 of the 70s was one, although not very prototypical, it's size is very close to 1:48 scale. Now the are making high-end Legacy and top of the class, Vision Line equipment both of which are what Lionel calls Scale O, true 1:48 scale.
Traditional scale is still Lionel's best selling equipment. As it is with all O gauge manufacturers. Williams by Bachmann calls it semi-scale. MTH makes Rail King which is traditional scale even though I have never seen them say it is actually smaller then true scale. Put an MTH Rail King boxcar for example next to a Lionel traditional scale boxcar and or a Williams by Bachmann semi-scale boxcar and you will see they are all about the same size.
I'm coming to my point, thanks for sticking with me.
Lionel's FasTrack pre-dates Lionel's Scale O, even though they have been making standard O since the 1970s. That brings me to my question, what scale is FasTrack? It comes with Ready to Run (RTR) traditional scale sets and it's the only track Lionel now makes. Don't worry traditionalists, you can still buy new, "old school" all metal 3-rail track from several different makers.
So there is my question; What scale is FasTrack? Traditional scale, true 1:48 scale or something else?