Barry Melek Electric Train Sets

O Gauge Train Sets

O Gauge Trains - Top 3 Mistakes to Avoid

O Gauge Trains

 

Before you get too overly excited and jump in your car and dash down to the hobby store to get your hands on one of those beautiful O gauge trains in the store window-stop!

Take a breath and just arm yourself with these tips first so you save yourself some hassle down the road.

There are three common mistakes that amateurs make when trying to put together an O gauge (aka O scale) set.

Let's take a look at them:

• Do your trees and the rest of your scenery have the proper scale in relation to your models trains? Remember, O gauge trains are bigger than most of the other train scales. They have a scale of either 1:43 or 1:48. That's relatively big for a model train. Now remember, in real life trees and buildings actually tend to tower over trains. A lot of model railroaders make the mistake of making their buildings and trees too small. Having the right proportions for your layout creates a beautiful sense of depth. There's nothing like seeing your O gauge train come steaming out from around the mountain and then through a tree lined bend.

• Are the turns on your track too tight? Because O gauge trains are bigger they often need more track to be able to make a turn. This isn't N scale where the trains can practically make hairpin turns! If you create turns that are too sharp you're gonna end up with a pile up. Also keep in mind that just because 2 models are both O gauge, doesn't mean they're necessarily the same length. One of your trains may be able to make a corner but the other one may not.

• Can your train make it up your steep grades? Again, because O gauge trains are pretty big and heavy you will need quite a bit of track to get them up hills and inclines. Unless you have a large space to work with, you may not want to plan for an elaborate track that goes over and under itself in a bunch of crazy ways!

Well I hope these tips will keep you from pulling your hair out when you get down to building your O gauge. And for heavens sake don't let these "common mistakes" shy you away from choosing O gauge as a train set. O gauge is by far my favorite type of model train and I would encourage anyone to take them up in their collecting and building endeavors!

For some great tips on O gauge trains head to Lionel Toys.

 

About the Author

I'm a lover of model trains! I especially love the deatil and craftsmanship that goes into "O" scale Lionel trains. I guess it comes from waking up every christmas to new models and accessories under the tree...

Jack

Lionel O Gauge Super Streets Train Grade Crossing $22.99 This section makes it possible to cross over regular train "O" gauge track from SuperStreet track layout. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

13-Piece 'G' Gauge Christmas Train Track Pack For Use With Eztec Train Sets $49.99 'G' Gauge Track PackItem #90210075Add more fun for your Eztec train set with the 'G' Gauge Track Pack Includes 6 black curved tracks, 6 black straight tracks and 1 black cross trackThese interchangeable tracks must be used in addition with Eztec train setsTrain not includedStraight track dimensions: .63"H x 10.25"W x 3.63"DCurved track dimensions: .63"H x 13.25"W x 3.5"DCross track dimensions: .63"H x 8.75"W x 8.75"DMaterial(s): plastic Type: Decorations Color: Black

Lionel O Gauge Super Streets Train Conversion Transition $8.99 SuperStreets roadway is functionally O gauge three-rail track built very unobtrusively into a realistic street. Because at heart SuperStreets is O-gauge track, you control the traffic on with your existing transformer. Visually the roadway pieces look very much like the concrete and asphalt streets in cities and town of the last seventy-five years. There is a countersunk screw hole in each piece, hidden by a detailed manhole cover. RailRoadster vehicles are designed especially for SuperStreets. However, any O gauge engine or motorized unit like vans, speeders, inspection vehicles, and trolleys run on SuperStreets. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Lionel O Gauge O-27 Train Dump Bin $22.99 This Dump Bin can hold coal, stone, sand, and removable separators allow room for dumping logs. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Lionel O Gauge Super Streets Train Intersection $10.99 Combine two intersection pieces for one-lane crossed by two. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

An Advertisement for Hornby Model Train Sets $49.99 An Advertisement for Hornby Model Train Sets - Giclee Print

Lionel O Gauge O-27 Train Display Base with Track - 13 Inches $19.99 Showing off one of your O/O-27 scale railroad cars has never been so easy with this 13 inch Display Base. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Lionel LIO65500 O Gauge Straight Track $15.16 Rails are slightly taller compared to O27 gauge track. Silver colored metal rails with Black metal ties. Easy to use, extremely durable and reliable. Designed for maximum conductivity. Track rails are shaped to minimize wear on train car wheels. Scale: O 1: 48. Length: 10" (260mm). Width: 2-1/4" (58mm).

Lionel O Gauge K-Line Train Super Snap Curve Track - 31 Inch $3.49 An easy super snap track that will allow you to increase the size of your layout. It can be used with other O Gauge tubular track. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Lionel Thomas & Friends Electric O Gauge Train Set $299.99 Available with the PowerMaxTransformer and the FasTrack track system, Thomas & Friends? are ready for some exciting adventures on the Island of Sodor. Accompanying Thomas are his faithful coaches, Annie and Clarabel, as well as two very responsible railway workers and our favorite Controller, Sir Topham Hatt. Thomas? moving eyes ensure that your journey on everyone?s #1 engine is a safe one, and the removable roofs of Annie and Clarabel allow you to load and unload your passengers. For ages 3 years and up.

Lionel O Gauge Super Streets Train Right CurveTrack - 36 Inch $18.99 Roadway pieces have a textured finish, resembling the concrete and asphalt streets in cities and towns of the last seventy-five years. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Lionel O Gauge Train Pennsylvania Flyer Expansion Pack $119.99 A great addition to your Pennsylvania Flyer Set. This Expansion Pack is also suitable for use with any Eastern US Road Name Railroad. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Lionel O Gauge K-Line Train Timken Freight Truck $6.9 A great accessory to always have on hand. You never know when you'll need a spare freight truck. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Lionel O Gauge Super Streets Train Half Straights - 5 Inch $15.99 Roadway Pieces have a textured finish resembling the concrete and asphalt streets in cities and towns of the last seventy-five years. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

K-Line Train O Super Snap Curve Track - 120 Inches $5.79 This easy super snap track will allow you to increase the size of your layout. No worries because it can be used with other O Gauge Tubular Track. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

K-Line Train O 1/2 Curve Snap Track - 31 Inches $3.49 This easy Super Snap Track will allow you to increase the size of your layout. No worries because it can be used with other O Gauge Tubular Track. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Boys Club Evening Activities, Train Sets, February 1932 $24.99 Boys Club Evening Activities, Train Sets, February 1932 - Photographic Print

John Bull, Train Sets Hobbies Magazine, UK, 1950 $19.99 John Bull, Train Sets Hobbies Magazine, UK, 1950 - Premium Poster

Lionel LIO12896 Tunnel Portals for O and O-27 Gauge Trains $23.96 Set of two tunnel portals with raised Lionel lettering and classic Postwar styling. 2 Tunnell portals for O and O-27 gauge trains. Detailed molded construction, Portals with raised Lionel lettering, Classic Postwar styling. Lionel tunnel portals add to the fun. Everyone wants to see the train go in the tunnel! Install on your permanent layout or just make a temporary tunnel with some boxes. Dimensions: 7" x 8-1/2".

Lionel LIO12896 Tunnel Portals for O and O27 Gauge Trains $29.67 Set of two tunnel portals with raised Lionel lettering and classic Postwar styling. 2 Tunnell portals for O and O27 gauge trains. Detailed molded construction Portals with raised Lionel lettering Classic Postwar styling. Lionel tunnel portals add to the fun. Everyone wants to see the train go in the tunnel Install on your permanent layout or just make a temporary tunnel with some boxes. Dimensions: 7 x 81/2 .

K-Line Train O Shadow Rail Track Curved - 96 Inches $4.59 K-Line's Shadow Rail Track features the realistic Super K Track, complete with multiple plastic ties. Adds a blackened center "shadow rail" to give 3 rail track the appearance of prototypical 2 rail track. With the nearly invisible center rail, you can achieve the railroading realism that you demand for your O Gauge layout. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Mikeapos;s Train House MTH3075366 Chicago Northwestern 4Bay Hopper $63.76 High quality traditionally sized RailKing Freight Cars provide detailed bodies and colorful paint schemes for the O Gauge railroader. MTH makes an enormous variety of RailKing Freight Cars including many different car types and roadnames. No matter what era or part of the country you are modeling RailKing is sure to have something for you. Roadname: Chicago Northwestern. Intricately Detailed Durable ABS Body. Metal Wheels and Axles. DieCast 4Wheel Trucks. Operating DieCast Metal Couplers. Colorful Attractive Paint Schemes. Decorative Brake Wheels. Separate Metal Handrails. FastAngle Wheel Sets. NeedlePoint Axles. Dimensions: 133/8 x 23/8 x 37/16 . Operates On O31 Curves .

Lionel Corporation Employee Testing New Model Train Sets $79.99 Lionel Corporation Employee Testing New Model Train Sets - Premium Photographic Print

John Bull, Trains Train Sets Trees Hobbies Magazine, UK, 1950 $19.99 John Bull, Trains Train Sets Trees Hobbies Magazine, UK, 1950 - Premium Poster

Proto® - 25 Blade Master Feeler Gauge Sets $16.1 Convenient-to-use gauge sets. Feeler & pitch gauge sets contain twenty-five short blades. Blades are imprinted with both decimal size and metric equivalent. Gauges include holder.

Lionel LIO65540 O 90 Degree Crossing $32.85 90 degree crossover section for standard O gauge track with Black Ties. Add fun and functionality to your O gauge train layout with a crossover track from Lionel. Compatible with O track of other manufacturers. Length: 85/16.

Lionel O Gauge K-Line Train Super Snap Curve Track - 96 Inch $4.99 K-Line's easy super snap track will allow you to increase the size of your layout. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Lionel O Gauge Super Streets Train Straight to Curve Connector - 2.5 Inch $11.99 Roadway Pieces have a textured finish resembling the concrete and asphalt streets in cities and towns of the last seventy-five years. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Lionel O Gauge K-Line Train Bridge Piers - 1 Pair per Package $26.99 Support your girder bridge with this pair of realistic sturdy stone-style bridge piers. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Lionel O Gauge Super Streets Train Curve to Curve Connectors - 2.5 Inch $11.99 Roadway Pieces have a textured finish resembling the concrete and asphalt streets in cities and towns of the last seventy-five years. Type: Trains Gender: Male Age: Child

Dinosaur Train Paulie With Train Collectible $8.29 *Train car matches the dinosaur! *Figure fits securely inside the train car *Works with all dinosaur train sets and figures *Train Car measures approximately 4.5 inches long *Brand new Dinosaur Train is an American animated series created by Craig Bartlett and produced by The Jim Henson Company for PBS Kids. The series features a curious young T. rex named Buddy who, together with his adopted Pteranodon family, takes the Dinosaur Train to meet, explore, and have adventures with all kinds of dinosaurs.

Dinosaur Train Tank Collectible Figure & Train Car $6.99 *Train car matches the dinosaur! *Figure fits securely inside the train car *Works with all dinosaur train sets and figures *Figure 3 Inch & Train Car 4.5 Inch *Brand new Type: Novelties & Gifts

Dinosaur Train Ned Collectible Figure & Train Car $6.99 *Train car matches the dinosaur! *Figure fits securely inside the train car *Works with all dinosaur train sets and figures *Figure 3 Inch & Train Car 4.5 Inch *Brand new Type: Novelties & Gifts

Dinosaur Train Conductor Collectible Figure & Train Car $6.99 *Train car matches the dinosaur! *Figure fits securely inside the train car *Works with all dinosaur train sets and figures *Figure 3 Inch & Train Car 4.5 Inch *Brand new Type: Novelties & Gifts

Dinosaur Train Tiny Collectible Figure & Train Car $6.99 *Train car matches the dinosaur! *Figure fits securely inside the train car *Works with all dinosaur train sets and figures *Figure 3 Inch & Train Car 4.5 Inch *Brand new Type: Novelties & Gifts

Dinosaur Train Morris Collectible Figure & Train Car $6.99 *Train car matches the dinosaur! *Figure fits securely inside the train car *Works with all dinosaur train sets and figures *Figure 3 Inch & Train Car 4.5 Inch *Brand new Type: Novelties & Gifts

Proto® - 25 Blade Long Feeler Gauge Sets $49.9 Accurate and easy-to-use feeler gauge sets. High-quality measuring & leveling tools ideal for user's mechanical needs. Feeler & pitch gauge sets are ideal for many uses. Features gauges with 25 blades etched with decimal and metric equivalent measurements. Comes in a steel blade holder.