O Scale Engines
The United States started developing steam locomotives in 1829 with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Tom Thumb. This was the first locomotive to run in America, although it was intended as a demonstration of the potential of steam traction, rather than as a revenue-earning locomotive. The first successful steam railway in the US was the South Carolina Railroad whose inaugural train ran on December 25, 1830 hauled by the Best Friend of Charleston. Many of the earliest locomotives for American railroads were imported from England, including the Stourbridge Lion and the John Bull, but a domestic locomotive manufacturing industry was quickly established, with locomotives like the DeWitt Clinton being built in the 1830s.
What's Gauge?
Gauge is the width of the track. Trains must fit the track to run on it.
Most Lionel trains run on either O gauge and O-27 gauge. Only the Large Scale Holiday express Christmas Train runs on a larger track(G Guage).S Guage is another size, but it is referred to as American Flyer.
All O-27 gauge cars and locomotives will work on O gauge track. The longer O guage locomotives and cars will not run on O-27 guage because the turns are tighter.
Gauge is the distance between the outside rails of your track. The middle rail is where your trains gets the power. Both O and O-27 measure a distance of 1 1/4" between the rails. Most ready to run Lionel trains sets sold today come with Fastrack which is O-27 guage.
Lionel O gauge track comes in wider curves for bigger trains and layouts. The smallest circle it can make is 31 inches in diameter. O gauge also has a slightly taller profile for deeper wheel flanges. Lionel O gauge is designed to fit virtually all Lionel locomotives and rolling stock, including scale-proportioned pieces. Some larger Lionels will run only on O gauge track.
Scale is the relationship between a model and its real-world prototype. O and O-27 gauge trains are 1/48th scale.
October 28, 2011
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©Legacy Station Limited, 2011
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