O gauge 2 rail? | O Gauge Forum (2024)

keithb
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O gauge 2 rail?Nov 23, 2023 22:12:21 GMT

Post by keithb on Nov 23, 2023 22:12:21 GMT

I saw a video today of a O gauge 2 rail layout. I never heard of that. How does it work? I googled but didn't figure it out.

Thanks

rtraincollector
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O gauge 2 rail?Nov 23, 2023 23:20:18 GMTkeithb likes this

Post by rtraincollector on Nov 23, 2023 23:20:18 GMT

O 2 rail is O scale. There is a differencesin size. Not a lot but noticeable

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harborbelt70
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O gauge 2 rail?Nov 23, 2023 23:52:59 GMTkeithb likes this

Post by harborbelt70 on Nov 23, 2023 23:52:59 GMT

That would be a DC rather than AC powered layout. It means you can use DCC control which offers more prototypicalsound than 3rail O gauge and better control of things like lighting effects but wiring is certainly more complicated because of polarity. 2rail is not my thing and those who use it are generally aiming for bigger and morerealisticlayouts. As RT has pointed out the cars and engines are closer to true 1/48 scale but from the outside it is not noticeable unless you are fussy. Inside of passenger cars there is asignificant difference but that probably only matters to the likes of me.

Last Edit: Nov 23, 2023 23:55:51 GMT by harborbelt70

keithb
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At Seneca Street Station.

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steveoncattailcreek
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O gauge 2 rail?Nov 25, 2023 3:56:52 GMTharborbelt70 and ron045 like this

Post by steveoncattailcreek on Nov 25, 2023 3:56:52 GMT

. . . and don't forget battery powered deadrail. Rather than using the rails to power and control the engine, the engine is self-powered and controlled by Bluetooth or other RC.

Menards just came out with what amounts to a cute deadrail set, with two battery powered track inspection vehicles, one with manual switch and one with a handheld controller, both designed to run on traditional three rail track (as provided with the set), or two rail O gauge track.

firewood
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"Nice try, Lao Che!"

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O gauge 2 rail?Nov 25, 2023 4:54:34 GMTCountry Joe, dennym57, and 1 more like this

Post by firewood on Nov 25, 2023 4:54:34 GMT

I was an O Gauge 2-railer for quite a long time until the 3-rail bug set in. I had some 1:43 British models and a couple of shelf-switcher end-to-end layouts. I laid my own track and used regular 12 volt Dc just like the HO guys as I only had small, light locomotives. I still have a few items plus some of the Atlas/AHM O scale stuff from the 70s. The Plymouth switchers and EMD F9s were popular pieces with many modelers. The video link shows the Plymouth units - they were hefty little beasts.

Dave


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O gauge 2 rail?Nov 25, 2023 14:00:03 GMTCountry Joe, firewood, and 2 more like this

Post by healey36 on Nov 25, 2023 14:00:03 GMT

I'm a member of a 2-rail operating group in south-central Pennsylvania. We get together once a month to operate the 2-rail layouts of various members. The 2-rail scale world is quite different from that of 3-rail O-gauge. Everything in their world is highly accurate in terms of scale, and they typically operate their layouts in a prototypical fashion, i.e. train-orders, schedules, speeds, consist composition, etc. I've had more than one good-natured butt-kicking for operating transgressions, such as failing to include a boxcar between the locomotive and a string of loaded tank cars when making up an outgoing train. It can be stressful, but always funO gauge 2 rail? | O Gauge Forum (48)

firewood
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"Nice try, Lao Che!"

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O gauge 2 rail?Nov 26, 2023 3:55:39 GMTdennym57 likes this

Post by firewood on Nov 26, 2023 3:55:39 GMT

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Nov 25, 2023 10:04:58 GMT keithb said:

Thanks for all the education on 2 rail.

No worries - we're glad to help.
All the different rail/control systems are starting to merge into remote control units with steady AC voltage to the track, but once things were different.
The old school stuff I'm much more familiar with was usually AC power for 3-rail and 2-rail was DC.
2-rail DC is positive to one rail and negative on the other, reversible by a simple switch at the transformer.
3-rail AC is/was hot to the center rail and return through the outside rails which are bonded together.
One advantage in toy train 3-rail is letting the kids lay track wherever across the carpet and not having reverse-track short-circuits that 2-rail would have - the two conductors are always separated. The old tinplate toys were simply built with an insulated center pickup and grounded through the metal body and wheels - 2-rail requires insulated wheels or axles.

The older 3-rail universal motors have wire-wound fields and armatures - they need a reversing switch on the locomotive that flips power to both the armature and field windings. DC motors with permanent magnets only needed a reversing switch at the throttle.

We could open several more cans of worms like 2-rail AC, 3-rail DC.... O gauge 2 rail? | O Gauge Forum (56)

Dave

Last Edit: Nov 26, 2023 3:57:27 GMT by firewood

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O gauge 2 rail?Dec 27, 2023 13:41:36 GMTfirewood likes this

Post by ron045 on Dec 27, 2023 13:41:36 GMT

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Nov 25, 2023 14:00:03 GMT healey36 said:

I'm a member of a 2-rail operating group in south-central Pennsylvania. We get together once a month to operate the 2-rail layouts of various members. The 2-rail scale world is quite different from that of 3-rail O-gauge. Everything in their world is highly accurate in terms of scale, and they typically operate their layouts in a prototypical fashion, i.e. train-orders, schedules, speeds, consist composition, etc. I've had more than one good-natured butt-kicking for operating transgressions, such as failing to include a boxcar between the locomotive and a string of loaded tank cars when making up an outgoing train. It can be stressful, but always funO gauge 2 rail? | O Gauge Forum (63)

Where is this? I'm in Carlisle. Is this group open to new members?

Ron

I'd rather be lucky than good.

healey36
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O gauge 2 rail?Dec 27, 2023 13:49:00 GMT

Post by healey36 on Dec 27, 2023 13:49:00 GMT

Gettysburg-Hanover-Westminster-Frederick-Mt. Airy-Other...it rotates around. I don't know if they'd have interest in new "members" (it's a rather informal group), as operating sessions occasionally get pretty crowded. I can ask next time I see them.

Last Edit: Dec 27, 2023 13:56:19 GMT by healey36

rtraincollector
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O gauge 2 rail?Dec 27, 2023 14:39:50 GMTfirewood likes this

Post by rtraincollector on Dec 27, 2023 14:39:50 GMT

I had some Lima 2 rail O scale passenger cars. I really liked them, they where the first passenger cars I ever saw withinteriors. I bought my first set of them around 1977.

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O gauge 2 rail? | O Gauge Forum (2024)

FAQs

Why does O gauge have 3 rails? ›

The use of a third rail in rail transport modelling is a technique that was once applied, in order to facilitate easier wiring. Early O gauge track pieces. All metal, with a small fibre insulating washer beneath each central rail chair.

How far apart should O gauge tracks be? ›

A: Put simply, O-Gauge refers to model trains that run on tracks with 1.25 inches between the outer rails. Some O-Gauge tracks have 2 rails and some have 3 rails, but in either case they are both considered O-Gauge because the distance between the 2 outer rails is 1.25 inches.

How wide are O gauge trains? ›

Historically 'O' gauge referred to a track gauge of 1 1/4" or 32mm but is now almost universally taken to mean models built to a scale of 7mm to the foot or 1:43.54, usually rounded off to 1:43.5.

What is the difference between HO gauge and O gauge? ›

"HO" means "half - o;" models are half the size of O Scale. HO is the most popular scale with the greatest selection of sets and accessories, as it allows lots of railroad action in a small area. Children may need adult help to set up or take down the set.

What is the difference between O scale 2 rail and 3 rail? ›

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.

What is the difference between Lionel O and o27? ›

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.

What scale are Lionel O gauge trains? ›

Lionel O-Gauge sets are electric sets that are approximately 1:48 scale and are what most people envision when the think about Lionel. O-Gauge is divided into two categories: Traditional O-Gauge and O Scale.

What gauge are old Lionel trains? ›

A: Lionel trains run on 3-rail O gauge track.

What voltage do O gauge trains use? ›

Transformers. The three-rail O gauge toy trains sold in the United States are intended to run on approximately 5 to 20 volts of 60-cycle alternating current (AC). This is reduced from the standard 115-volt house current by a transformer.

What is bigger than O gauge trains? ›

G Scale is 1:22.5, and runs on a gauge of 1.75 inches. This is the largest scale offered, making them suitable for outdoor use in your garden, as well as large indoor spaces. G Scale model trains are also great for younger children to play with since they're durable and rugged.

What is super O gauge? ›

Ordinary O gauge track has 3 identical tubular rails. In addition to replacing the outside tubular rails with “T” rails, the inside third rail of Super-O track was replaced with an “invisible” third rail made of copper that provided a most attractive alternative to traditional tubular track.

What is third rail power supply? ›

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.

What are the three railway gauges? ›

There are mainly four types of railway gauge used in India, which are: Broad gauge, Narrow gauge, Standard gauge (for Delhi Metro), and Meter Gauge. Broad Gauge: A broad-gauge is also known as a wide gauge or large line. The distance between the two tracks in these railway gauges is 5 ft 6 in (1676 mm).

What are the different types of O gauge track? ›

M.T.H. Electric Trains produces two different O Gauge track systems, RealTrax and ScaleTrax. Lionel Trains produces several different types of O Gauge track systems, most often described as O or O-27. RealTrax, like Lionel's O is the more popular of today's O Gauge track systems.

References

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