Ever wonder why Lionel Trains run on 3 Rails? | O Gauge Forum (2024)

FAQs

Why does Lionel use three rails? ›

Early toy trains used two metal rail tracks like most real trains. However, manufacturers quickly found that using a center rail for electric power and the two outer rails for common or ground made electrical contact much more reliable and less prone to short circuits.

Lionel developed many different model engines and rail cars, as well as accessories, to allow consumers to set up their trains into life-like layouts. Lionel O gauge trains were introduced in 1915, the size that eventually became Lionel's most popular product.

Lionel's popular Ready-to-Run sets are Traditional O-Gauge, and contain everything a customer needs to run their train in minutes – train set, oval of track, and, transformer.

2-7/8-inch gauge: Joshua Lionel Cowen's first train, The Electric Express, ran on 2-7/8-inch track. Lionel made trains in this gauge between 1901 and 1905. OO gauge: Lionel OO gauge is 1:76 scale and very close in size to HO. It was manufactured by Lionel between 1938 and 1942.

Description. Third-rail systems are a means of providing electric traction power to trains using an additional rail (called a "conductor rail") for the purpose. On most systems, the conductor rail is placed on the sleeper ends outside the running rails, but in some systems a central conductor rail is used.

3 Rail 0 Scale has an Rail in the Centre for Electricity (hence the name) Modern 0 Scale 3 rail is Very common in the USA 2 Rail 0 Scale uses the 2 Outer rails for power, Elminatimg the need for a Rail in the middle, which is more realistic.

The Lionel Santa Fe F3 is the very image of postwar Lionel. It ranks up there with Mickey Mouse and “I like Ike” as a symbol of America in the 1950s. We think it's the best of the best, the most important and most memorable locomotive of Lionel's golden era.

Determine the Value of Vintage Lionel Trains

The collectors' market is highest for trains made before 1969. Particular road names (such as Lionel Santa Fe or Lionel Union Pacific) may be in favor, increasing their value. Rare trains are generally more valuable as well. As quality increases, so does value.

Standard gauge is 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches. This is the gauge used when steam railroading began. It became the common gauge of Britain, North America, and Western Europe — except for Spain, Portugal, and Ireland.

The HO Scale is 1:87, half of the O scale. They run on a gauge of . 625 inches. Because of its small size, the HO Scale has become one of the most popular scales for model trains.

What is the current railroad gauge? ›

…the world is the so-called standard gauge of 4 feet 8.5 inches (1.4 m), which originated with George Stephenson's pioneer Liverpool & Manchester line in 1829.

The primary difference between the track from an appearance standpoint is the height of O Gauge track compared to that of O-27. The O Gauge rails are taller than the O-27 rails causing the train to sit higher off of the layout surface.

In 1969, the company sold their model train lines to General Mills. It continued to operate until 1993 as a holding company for their toy stores. In 2006, Lionel's electric train became the first electric toy inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. The model trains are still in production as Lionel, LLC.

The company introduced the first train in 1901, known as The Electric Express. Interestingly, it's the world's first electric train. Hence, it caught everyone's attention when it was first introduced as a toy model in toy stores.

14 volts are obtained. The voltage required for illuminated accessories depends upon the lamp used. This information is given in the Lionel catalogue. Most Lionel automatic accessories operate best at approximately 12 volts.

There's a limit to how much tractive effort one locomotive can deliver, so railways connect multiple locomotives together to be able to pull more cars.

The darker raised rails – known as the third rail – carry 750 volts of electricity. This network carries over one third of all national passenger weekday trains and is capable of supporting very frequent services of up to 12 carriages, running at up to 100mph.

Common Post War Lionel items, in good* or very good* condition, are going for 3-7 times their original catalog price. Common Post War Lionel items, in fair* condition, are going for whatever parts value they may have.