railroad@ucbvax.ARPA (12/29/84)
From: lucas@cmu-psy-a (pete lucas) To answer your specific question: yes, there is a big price difference between 0 and 027. 027 track and, to a lesser extent, switches, are generally considered "junk" by serious collectors and often go for a song at train meets (after the requisite haggling, of course). As for current production, Lionel/General Mills has two separate product lines: The "traditional" line is all 027, relatively inexpensive, and mostly looks it. The "collector" series consists of ressurections of old Lionel, including 0 guage switches and such. The latter is definitely aimed at collectors, not the mass market, which explains the prices you found. All things considered, you should almost certainly find a train meet and stick with used 0 guage. Actually, there is a third option, one which is dear to my heart. From 1957 through the mid 60's, Lionel produced a track called Super-O. It was intended to eventually replace O as the top-of-the-line track (which never happened). Super-O has a slightly wider turn radius than O (36" I believe) and is radically different from traditinal tinplate track. Instead of the usual 3 metal ties, it had reasonably realistic (by toy-train standards) closely spaced plastic ties. Instead of a full center rail, it had a less-obtrusive flat copper-clad strip for center power pick-up. Each section came with an easily-lost metal clip for connecting the power rails. The outer rails had flat-topped "T" rail cross-sections, rather than the rounded, tubular rails of O and O27. There was a full line of switches, crossovers, etc available, although the quality of the switches was not as high as O guage. This stuff is harder to find than O or O27 and costs somewhat more than O, but it is usually avaiable at good train meets. It makes a really pretty layout, adding a touch of realism while maintaining the toy-train charm of Lionel O guage tinplate. Of course, there is no current production and little likelyhood that there ever will be. I've run Super-O since my parents stumbled across a Christmas-eve (of 1957) closeout of a top-of-the-line set including a 746 N&W Niagra and 4 major accessories for the wild price of $50! I am exceedingly pleased to report that I still have that set. They don't all get away. -pete