What is the difference between O and O-27 track?
There are two kinds of three-rail track — O-27 gauge and O gauge. Both are actually the same gauge — 1 1/4 inches between the rails — but serve slightly different needs. Curves in O-27 gauge are tighter than in O gauge. That means that some of the very longest O gauge cars and locomotives are too long to turn the tight corners of O-27 gauge layout. All O-27 gauge cars and locomotives will work on O gauge track. Assemble O-27 curves into a circle and you get (surprise!) a 27-inch diameter circle. If your railroad has limited space, choose Lionel O-27. It’s value-priced, offering various curves and crossovers as well as manual and remote-control switches. O-27 comes standard in all Lionel ready-to-run starter sets. O-gauge track is sturdier and has slightly taller rails than O-27 track. O-gauge track is 11/16″ tall, where O-27 track is 7/16″ tall. Basic O-gauge track makes a 31″ diameter circle so it is commonly called (you guessed it) O-31 track. O-gauge track also comes in larger ra
