What track do I have?

[oplholik]

When I bought lionel tubular 3 rail curved sections for the ceiling RR, I got what at the time I thought was 43" radius. I guess the LHS's box was marked wrong and I think I got 53". Well now they are out of the 53" and I need to order some online. I wish Lionel put the part #'s on the track so you could tell what it is for sure. How is track length measured on curved track? Around the o/s curve, from end to end less the pins? Any way I measure it, it's not the same as the advertised length. Maybe someone can enlighten me. Thanks.

Paul O.

 

[Laidoffsick]

Track length is NOT measured on curve sections, it's all about radius and degree. Depending on the radius, they're either 12 or 16 pieces to make a full circle. An 072 circle is 16 pieces with a 36" radius, measured center rail to center rail. Not sure if that helps your situation or answers your question, but curve tracks don't generally have a measurement from end to end.

 

[DanRaitz]

one quick way to tell O42 from O54 track is by the number of ties per section of track.
O27, O31 & O42 track have 3 ties per/section whereas O54 has 5 ties and O72 has 6 ties.

Dan

 

[oplholik]

one quick way to tell O42 from O54 track is by the number of ties per section of track.
O27, O31 & O42 track have 3 ties per/section whereas O54 has 5 ties and O72 has 6 ties.

Dan

Now I am cornfused. The 42 was what I thought I had been buying, but any of the 42 they have now doesn't match. What I have has 3 brown ties and I believe it would take 16 to make a circle.

Paul O.

 

[Laidoffsick]

Are you sure that's not the plain ole 027 curved track?

 

[oplholik]

Are you sure that's not the plain ole 027 curved track?

I'm not sure of anything at the moment. As I'm having trouble with the loco slowing thru the curves, one curve is worse than the other 3, I need to try replacing with new track to see if maybe that helps, but having trouble getting it at the LHS. Can't order on line because I might order the wrong track. Thanks.

Paul O.

 

[Laidoffsick]

Try this: Take your loco off the track, turn your power supply on to max voltage, and then using a volt meter.... check the track voltage at various spots on the loop. Make sure those feeders are actually working and your track voltage is the same all the way around. With the engine your running, curve size shouldn't make that big of a difference.

 

[oplholik]

Try this: Take your loco off the track, turn your power supply on to max voltage, and then using a volt meter.... check the track voltage at various spots on the loop. Make sure those feeders are actually working and your track voltage is the same all the way around. With the engine your running, curve size shouldn't make that big of a difference.

Thanks. I haven't yet finished my feeders, but was hoping that would help. Circumstances have been keeping me away from the work to be done.

Paul O.

 

[oplholik]

Try this: Take your loco off the track, turn your power supply on to max voltage, and then using a volt meter.... check the track voltage at various spots on the loop. Make sure those feeders are actually working and your track voltage is the same all the way around. With the engine your running, curve size shouldn't make that big of a difference.

Ok, finally got the feeders connected at each of the 4 corners of the run. Checked all the feeders and at various places around the track and got a consistant 13.8 volts. The loco still slows in spots, mainly in the curves and doesn't seem to recover very fast when getting to the straight track. The lights aren't working except at higher throttle settings. I am wondering if the loco is taking everything that this 80 watter has to give. At one point the transformers green light started blinking, but one car in the string had derailed and the loco was having to drag it around. Thanks.

Paul O.