O gauge train travelling on tubular track

[ChinaHaun19]

You shall watch my youtube video if you are interested in seeing a train barelling down the track.

Youtube Video Here

This is my new 15 second long video showing my O gauge Lionel diesel travelling on my weird O gauge layout. As you can see the train is happy with her circumstances, and is barreling down the track at a speed of 49 scale miles per hour. She does slow down a bit for the turns somehow. Yeah the layout is weird. It's 072 half circle mixed with a 31 inch half circle bound together by some straight sections. I like regular O gauge Lionel tubular track (better than 027 track). I like the thicker, sturdier, bolder feel it has. It is heavy and settles into its own shape, carried by my PVC trestle system, and holds the train good. It's a weird layout because well I basically take what I can get when at any hobby store rummaging thru their old used tubular track on a tight budget.

 

[Iron Horseman]

You shall watch my youtube video if you are interested in seeing a train barelling down the track.

Youtube Video Here

This is my new 15 second long video showing my O gauge Lionel diesel travelling on my weird O gauge layout. As you can see the train is happy with her circumstances, and is barreling down the track at a speed of 49 scale miles per hour. She does slow down a bit for the turns somehow. Yeah the layout is weird. It's 072 half circle mixed with a 31 inch half circle bound together by some straight sections. I like regular O gauge Lionel tubular track (better than 027 track). I like the thicker, sturdier, bolder feel it has. It is heavy and settles into its own shape, carried by my PVC trestle system, and holds the train good. It's a weird layout because well I basically take what I can get when at any hobby store rummaging thru their old used tubular track on a tight budget.

Here in America usually one can find the old tubular track by the boxes full that folks are willing to give away as the other option is to send it to scrap. So you might want to ask if they have any in the back room that is headed that way.

 

[ChinaHaun19]

Here in America usually one can find the old tubular track by the boxes full that folks are willing to give away as the other option is to send it to scrap. So you might want to ask if they have any in the back room that is headed that way.

Yes thanks. That is basically where I got what I have. But after I made this post, I was at one of my local hobby shops, and found a plastic bin that had about 25 or 30 pieces of 042 and 054 NEW Lionel O gauge tubular. It was the shiny-est thing I I have seen in awhile. I chose 1/2 circle of 054 and placed it opposite the 072 half circle I already had, with one and a half straight section in the middle. I was partly sad that I could only afford 1/2 circle, but 1/2 circle was better than none, and the find was thrilling. This hobby store is upmarket and does not do much in the way of "used" stuff, which was in complete contrast to the "Other" one under the same name that was located 20 minutes north. Unfortunately, The store 20 minutes north closed down a couple months ago after the building was bought out. This is bad, because that store had what was exponentially the biggest selection of used trains and train stuff of anywhere in the state.

 

[Iron Horseman]

... and he was not even aware they had any at all and just said they don't make it anymore (Menard's does).

The issue I have with the Menards is the scarcity of ties. They seem flimsy to me.

 

[ChinaHaun19]

The issue I have with the Menards is the scarcity of ties. They seem flimsy to me.

I did notice this when I was looking at the 054 curves. Just 3 ties. With Lionel, You got ties every inch when it came to wide curves like 054 and more. the 30" straights didn't look too bad, with 5 ties that is similar to the lionel stuff I have (I think).

Shiny and new Lionel 054 was quite a sight to see. It was just so crisp.

Part of me wonders exactly why all the used tubular you can find is so dang dirty and discolored. Was the vast majority really stored in damp basements subjected to flooding every 4 years?

I tried the vinegar soak deal to de-rust. Even when I rinsed with baking soda, It would flash-rust making it look worse after! A terrible, cruel joke.

 

[Bruette]

You shall watch my youtube video if you are interested in seeing a train barelling down the track.

Youtube Video Here

This is my new 15 second long video showing my O gauge Lionel diesel travelling on my weird O gauge layout. As you can see the train is happy with her circumstances, and is barreling down the track at a speed of 49 scale miles per hour. She does slow down a bit for the turns somehow. Yeah the layout is weird. It's 072 half circle mixed with a 31 inch half circle bound together by some straight sections. I like regular O gauge Lionel tubular track (better than 027 track). I like the thicker, sturdier, bolder feel it has. It is heavy and settles into its own shape, carried by my PVC trestle system, and holds the train good. It's a weird layout because well I basically take what I can get when at any hobby store rummaging thru their old used tubular track on a tight budget.

I liked the video, thank you!

The new Lionel track is called Fastrack. Its available in O31, O36, O48, O60, O72, O84 and O96. It can and will corrode as bad as the old tubular track if not properly maintained. Both types of track do not need to get wet to corrode. Humidity is enough to cause corrosion.

I clean my track first with isopropyl alcohol and last Aero Car Track and Rail cleaner ACT-6006. It not only cleans, it improves conductivity and helps prevent corrosion. It is available from, https://www.modeltrainstuff.com
I'm sure there are other products that can do the same.

In most cases It is possible to restore all types of corroded Lionel track, but it can take lots of time and effort!

 

[ChinaHaun19]

I liked the video, thank you!

The new Lionel track is called Fastrack. Its available in O31, O36, O48, O60, O72, O84 and O96. It can and will corrode as bad as the old tubular track if not properly maintained. Both types of track do not need to get wet to corrode. Humidity is enough to cause corrosion.

I clean my track first with isopropyl alcohol and last Aero Car Track and Rail cleaner ACT-6006. It not only cleans, it improves conductivity and helps prevent corrosion. It is available from, https://www.modeltrainstuff.com
I'm sure there are other products that can do the same.

In most cases It is possible to restore all types of corroded Lionel track, but it can take lots of time and effort!

Yes. I do keep my track lubed up with products that prevent rust from developing! Before, I would just clean but it turned out that some of the things I can use to clean the track actually stop rust from happening. I am NOT using vinegar or alcohol anymore. I have been using WD-40 but later this spring I am considering upgrading to something like what you have recommended.

 

[Iron Horseman]

I have been using WD-40 but later this spring I am considering upgrading to something like what you have recommended.

Yes, the "aerosol carrier" in water displacement formula 40 will eventually turn sticky and collect dust, as will Amzoil Metal Protector.

 

[Snowman]

Geez. When you said "barrel" and "tubular" I was expecting something more like a fast moving train on a hamster wheel.
But you meant the rail, I suspect, and yeah, we still have some of that too, along with the Santa Fe Alco FA and three passenger cars.
Somewhere.

 

[ChinaHaun19]

Geez. When you said "barrel" and "tubular" I was expecting something more like a fast moving train on a hamster wheel.
But you meant the rail, I suspect, and yeah, we still have some of that too, along with the Santa Fe Alco FA and three passenger cars.
Somewhere.

And because I am a weirdo, I made a sudden move away from O gauge into G scale very soon after posting this. The good news is I had only sunk $60 into tubular track beforehand.

I am a fan of sturdy track because of how it looks and sounds. The thicker O gauge tubular track differs substantially from the common O27 stuff. That is nice, but I had known in the back of my mind that G scale LGB is um, a lot nicer. Yes it cost 30 per cent more than Realtrax for example, But at the same time I feel like the value of stopping by the hobby store to pick up two 10" lengths of G scale track makes a greater impact.

Some good quality stuff. Even if some of my rolling stock has plastic wheels, that does not offset the boldness of G scale.