[Johnmcbailey]

Merry Christmas!

I received a train set in 1996 for Christmas when I was 10 years old. It was boxed up and moved about 10 times since then (when I graduated from college I joined the Marine Corps). This year (2019) I unboxed it for the first time in about 6-7 years and to my surprise and excitement it worked!

Anyways, i sent some videos to my family for them to see and for Christmas they sent me a Marine Corps box car!! But....it isn’t to the correct scale. It fits on the track but it doesn’t look like it’s the same size. What’s going on here??!!

My track measures 1.25 between the outside rails, so it looks like it’s O-gauge?

My locomotive has “Lionel and 8641” written on the side. It’s about 9.5” inches long.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
John

 

[Krieglok]

Your old set is “O27” which is slightly smaller than scale “O”. Your Marine boxcar is scale O which would be slightly larger in proportion but has the same track gauge....

Check this thread for more info...

https://www.modeltrainforum.com/showthread.php?t=5126

Tom

 

[Johnmcbailey]

Thanks Tom!

 

[Krieglok]

My pleasure. If you want to add to your set, car or locomotive wise, look for O27 equipment. That will fit with your set and perform well too.

Tom

 

[bigdodgetrain]

if you watch real close to real trains you will see different size box cars and other freight cars.
yours fits right in.

 

[Big Ed]

Welcome,

In the real world they have what they call a hi cube box car. It looks like yours when put along side a regular box car.

Sizes explained in here,
https://www.modeltrainforum.com/showthread.php?t=5126

 

[Bull6791]

Fastrack. I always wanted to know if that is true O track or not. Thanks

 

[Bull6791]

What is the verdict on fastrack. Thanks

 

[Tom_C]

What is the verdict on fastrack. Thanks

O gauge

 

[Bull6791]

Thanks. Is it true O track. Which is higher or O/27 track which is lower track. Thanks

 

[Millstonemike]

That box car is big and proud - a stately edition to your set. Like that special group you're in. Many thanks for your service and Marry Christmas, Happy Holidays.

As Ed and Bigdodgetrain mentioned, there are different size cars in real life. But that doesn't entirely explain the size difference of your new car. "O-Scale" can mean many different things. But the predominant meaning is model trains that will run on "O" track (1.25" between rails). True O-Scale is 1:48 scale. But for a myriad of reasons, many (most) model trains are not true 1:48 scale in all dimensions. This thread offers insight into the various sizes of O-Scale trains.

If I was adding another car or two, just for the holiday season for years to come, I'd look for some between the sizes you have. I think that would help them better meld together, appearance wise.

 

[Bull6791]

Mike. Based on your definition of true O track. Is fast track true O track. What track are you using. Thanks.

 

[Tom_C]

Bull, fastrack is O gauge. All 3 rail Lionel track (that I'm aware) is O gauge. O/27 gauge is the stuff made with 27 inch curves, but it's still O. I think you should open a new thread if you have specific questions about the track.

 

[Bull6791]

Thanks

 

[Big Ed]

I never had Fast track so could not answer your question. I know it is O but did not know if it is true O.

Here is a size comparison o/27 and O.
You can mate o/27 to the O but you have to shim it up because of the height difference.
Plus O track tubes are beefier then the o/27 track, and the ties are a bit larger then the o/27 track.

Plus the pins to connect are different. I think they sell o/27 to O pins. Or you can make some out of nails.