Great video! Often times I think people forget the main point of O gauge, to be fun trains! Would like an O gauge series.

My best advice: Go to train shows; The amount of stuff there is cheaper than what’s sold online

Right on. Rivet counters can be annoying at times.

I've said this a lot to people in this hobby: HO is focused on realism O is focused on fun Some people in this hobby are really not friendly to beginners or people who model different scales, which is a shame. This hobby should be open and fun for everyone! Also, maybe try an On30 locomotive? O scale, but gauged for HO scale track to represent narrow gauge.

Welcome to the rabbit hole! Will also echo going to train shows + smaller hobby shops when traveling will net some good nuggets.

This is why I like O gauge, you can have derailments and high speed and have trains hit stuff, it is fun.

Does any one remember Lionel's Film called "The wonderful world of trains" That film really showed people how fun trains used to be and not just realistic toys for Rivet counters

One of the fun things about O guage is that there are so many options. O guage trains have such a long history that one may choose from over a century of toy trains and they will all run on the same track. There are so many fine products from the long history of Lionel, but there are also great trains, rolling stock, and accessories from Marx, K-line, Pre-War American Flyer, Williams, and so many lesser known makers and it will all run on that track from Menards. It opens up over ahundred years worth of fun for the collector and operator.

As a postwar Lionel collector and operator, I can’t agree more with your comment about how the modern offerings are out of touch with people who just want to watch a train run in circles lol. But yes, post more about your ongoing journey to the dark side of nonrealistic but fun O gauge trains!

O scale is my scale of preference, welcome to the club, you can never leave

Welcome to the O Gauge world my friend. As someone who’s been into O Gauge for a long time, it’s great to see others discover the magic of these trains.

I got my start in O gauge when my dad bought a little layout jam-packed with scenery and a MTH train set to go with it. For my birthday I got the erics trains es44 which i was super happy to get. (I also ordered the matching caboose as well) I would say that O gauge is very fun to just mess around with. No matter how old, they will keep on chugging along like they are brand new.

I've loved trains since I was a little kid, and I'm 70 now. I don't have any permanent layout because I have no room for it, but I own a set of HO, N and Z scale. Recently I bought a small set of O gauge from Menard's (I had to mail order it because there are no Menard's stores near me). I only rarely play with any of them, but there is film of all of them running here on the Tube. I enjoyed your video.

Great video. I like how you are interested in a lot of the older items. I can’t remember the last time I heard somebody say they didn’t want fast track but instead wanted to old tubular track. I love it! I would love to see more o gauge content

If you want to get really far down the rabbit hole, i recommend looking into lionel postwar operating accessories. Especially the ones that will unload cargo from the freight cars.

I got into O gauge when a guy who brings my family and I firewood brought me a Lionel O gauge train set, I've since increased it to several Lionel postwar, one Lionchief locomotive, and three Bachmann Williams locomotives. You should get a Bachmann Williams 4-6-0, I got one of my own, and even after doing a repair job on its tender, she's a good runner

Those postwar Lionels have some great smoke units in them, they just put out so much smoke very reliably.

As somebody who has O scale, welcome to the club. I love my premium o scale equipment,but nothing gives me more dopamine than watching my Williams ten wheeler at full power yeet itself into Lincoln log.

Dang, this video made me want to get out my grandfather's old Lionel, now in my collection. So many fun memories with that!

9:52 a lot of the more modern o gauge engines can run at reasonably prototypical speeds. I’d also reccomend going with a minimum curve radius of O 54 although I highly recommend o72 curves. The higher speeds won’t cause derailments, and if you ever get any larger engines, a lot of them won’t run on O31 (some of older “scale” sized ones can be found for reasonable prices at train shows and occasionally on the used market online). Great video. The old postwar and MPC stuff can be really fun

Traditional O is about fun, a reminder that sometimes it's just nice to sit down and play trains. Would definitely watch more O gauge stuff if you do it. Do O-27 myself, lets me squeeze a lot of train action into a fairly small space. Big fan of the operating accesories like the loaders and dumpers, gives the trains something to do. Have you considered mounting your track to a board with some casters on the bottom so you can just stow a layout under a couch or bed so you don't have to keep taking it apart?

2:49 Can confirm they are like drugs I spend hours on ebay looking for stuff.

O-gauge for me has always been the one where you can get away with more silly stuff. I'd probably collect some, too, but I don't have much room in my house, lol.

Looks like your off to a great start! Love your general! I just got back into o gauge trains just this year after some 35 to 40 years! My start was with marx wind up trains. Now I have two wind up loco's and two electric ones. The fun thing about o gauge is that you can do what you want to and no one will really care. (at least for me) I wish you luck, and thanks for sharing!

Keep on training on,o gauge is fun,my grandpa has a o scale in a storage room in the basement/ground floor of his house,it consists of:1 steam locomotive with tender(the steam engine resembles the Blue Streak Freight set,but black metal,and has a 3 wheel driving configuration),the loco used to have bogie things on the front and back,but they had to be removed,the tender is nothing special,1 big black flatbed type car with walls(possibly a coal carrier,resembles the red flatbed type car,but of course,black)tanker,the tank part is grey,1 caboose,a billion straight and curved track pieces(im exaggerating,but there is a lot of them,they resemble the track your friend gave you,but cleaner and most of the pieces have black ties),and 2 switches(a bit rusty,but still functional,and even detailed with red and green signals,solid,not transparent,and no lights,which you turn to switch the track,it’s on a big black base,and is Less compact than your switches)

Glad to watch a O gauge series as we are going all in...

You are on your way , keep going strong ! Your going to love it .

I'm at that stage in life where I'm getting back into the hobby. Although I had HO, O, and G as a kid, I'm diving head first into O. There's just a level of fun in that gauge that the other's can't replicate. If I wanted something real, I'd go outside. I want to recreate the kind of operating and interactive layout that my local hobby shop had. PS: I just subbed, so I'd love to see more O gauge content!

I grew up on Lionel O gauge and only got into HO within the last few years. Even though I love my fancy new HO trains, there really is just something special about old Lionel. :)

I just joined your channel…I started HO….took me one year to convert…I agree with previous comments….MPC Williams K Line for engines easily available for engines affordable…Menards a God sent for track cars and buildings

Thanks for a great vid! O gauge has it's high points, not to mention some history to it. The first train set I ever played with was an old, hand me down Marx set that first belonged to my older brother. At some point someone gave me an old lionel engine and tender and some track. I still remember my dad showing me how to make the smoke work and playing with set with me, one of my fondest and earliest memories. It's been over 40 years since I had an o gauge, now I have a Marx wind up set in o gauge. Marx made nice sets, and I'm glad to be back into it. Best of luck to you!

I still have my father's Lionel 262 steam loco and cars from 1931 that my grandfather bought for him. It runs great, and I love the ozone smell. Ever now and then l'll set up a "Carpet Central" làyout and run them.

I’ve been getting back into O gauge over the last few years. Buying stuff like the operating accessories from Lionel that we could never afford back in the 90s. Semi scale or postwar mostly but with at least one scale Hudson in the planning purchase stage. MTH Railking is generally a good buy and you get some unique locos like the streamliners of the 30s.

I always enjoy your videos👍

I currently have a Menards Weathered Santa Fe Boxcar and a Reading and Northern Hopper. The couplings for both cars which I obtained in 2019 have this metal latch on the bottom which means you have to pull the latch to get the coupling to open. (Not Lionel-Style) I'm curious to see how buying new Menards freight wagons will turn out for me. BTW, In case anyone is wondering, Menards has their model trains in their stores for a few months up to christmas. But they are sold year-round online so that's good news.

Santa brought my father and I my first layout in 1949.Two Lionel post war sets, Pensy GG1, steam turbine.Still working in my garage. I'm 78.Thank you Mr. Cowen.Yes start the O series. I keep ordering from Menard's. Just got the movie theatre! I have a working drive-in.I play intermissions all night!

Such a great video! Thanks for holding down the fort for Gen Z. We play with trains, too!

Yes, until recently, you could get a O gauge set with 0-27 track and it would fit into a smaller space then your HO sets. Yes, the wider radius track looks better and you can run the trains faster on that curves, but it does take up more space. Just like the true to scale stuff. Hopefully is a month I will have a 45" by 162" set up in my kitchen area. Problem is I found that the floor has a problem and needs fixed ASAP, now by me, and maybe the foundation is in question as well. So this has delayed my next rain set up plans and I hate it... A set up like yours would fit in that spot.

I would love to see more O gauge series. There are so many accessories to add that integrate easily into the track system and everything is just 2 wires

My dad had a old o gauge train and tender but with not track, or a transformer or clip. But he was at Menards and he found the tracks and the train works like a charm! He also got the transformer from a eBay listing

This video strikes a real chord with many viewers….it sums up the addictive nature of O gauge. You have a fun layout, and that’s what it is all about. Now add a Lionel 60 trolley, and you are well on your way!

I have a bunch of O gauge stuff at my grandparents house. Most of it’s pretty old, with a lot of extra track which is heavily rusted in some places. All the engines work great.

As both a O and ho gauger, I can say with joy that you NEED a hudson

I have a O gauge layout and I sell old cars at train shows. If you can get to a train show then you can pick up some good cars for cheap.

welcome to o scale! hope you have a good time :]

I had Lionel O gauge when I was a kid back in the '60s, a 1130 steam engine and some cars like the exploding box car that worked like a mouse trap spring when the missile hit it from my missile launcher. Such fun! Many years later I've been getting back into it. My childhood set is long gone, but I've found that I can get lots of the same stuff used on Ebay. There are apparently a lot of other guys bidding on it too, and they seem to have more money than I have, so I lose a lot of auctions. But every now and then I get something really dirt cheap because I guess nobody else wanted it. The things I get are usually advertised as 'not working', 'for parts only', 'does not run', etc. But I've found that most of the time all an old legacy engine needs is to have its motor brushes cleaned and its axles and gears oiled and it runs like new. Sometimes they come with missing parts, like the rear wheels and its hitch that connects it to the coal tender. I figured out that I can fabricate a hitch out of popsicle sticks and some wood glue that works just fine. I paint it black so it matches the engine shell and it blends in so well you would never know it was made of wood instead of metal. With a little experience I've figured out how to make all kinds of repairs on these engines and the majority of my 'does not run' 'for parts only' purchases run just fine now. Sometimes they don't even need that. My most recent acquisition on Ebay is a 8633 engine that was advertised as 'not running' and 'untested'. Nobody else bid on it so I got it for $13. (plus shipping which was another $13). When I put it on the track to see what was wrong with it, it took off and ran perfectly, no repair or maintenance or anything needed. Some sellers just don't know how to test these engines so they sell them for whatever they can get someone to pay for them, and a lot of buyers won't buy anything that is advertised as 'does not run'. Playing this game on Ebay for the past several years I now have nearly a dozen 1130 engines just like the one I had as a kid back in the '60s. And I have them all running. 😁

MTE!!! Please open up the tender on the blue engine and check the foam keeping the sound board from grounding with the frame. Even if the foam looks ok replace it with new foam. If the board hits the frame there’s no more sound as it fries the soundboard.

I kinda want to make a video on how I got into o-27 now thanks for the inspiration

Can you do a video on the difference between lionel "g gauge" and "ready to play"?

To stop the tracks from coming apart you can use pliers to squeeze the holes on the track tighter

If O-Guage is like drugs, then o-gauge boxcars must be the weed because THOSE SUCKERS ARE ADDICTIVE

In one of his books, Tom McComas writes an interesting story about your 8303 Blue Streak locomotive. Both the 8303 and what became known as the "Baby Madison" passenger cars were first produced in 1973. Lionel was actually considering mating the cheap plastic 8303 with some equally cheap matching passenger cars and calling it the... wait for it now...The Blue Comet! They even made prototypes! Thankfully long time Lionel employee Lennie Dean talked them out of it; saying they should save the Blue Comet name for a higher quality set. Which Lionel did in 1978, using a MUCH higher quality metal 4-6-4 Hudson and upgraded with 6 wheel metal trucks version of the Baby Madison cars!

Zip ties work good to hold the track together.

I like the old o scale whistle

I dont know if you figured this out yet, but using rubberbands to hold the menards track together is what I do. Just wrap it around ties.

Welcome to the O gauge world. I dove in about 3 years ago, and am looking back with no regrets.

I got a friend of mine who enjoys older O gauge stuff!

Menards sells and make trains they are good quality trains for decent low prices the new buildings and cars are good

Man you got some nice trains I want to get the general and I collect ho as well I have chugginton in ho which is super rare 😊

Love the Turbine!

will you do a ho scale collection video

I have the O scale santa fe super chief I got it from my uncle but I don't know what year it was released

Welcome back to the light side of the force...

I grew up with old HO stuff, and got into N gauge and been deep into that for awhile, I also got into G, and I wanted something in the middle lol so next thing you know I had a 1951 Lionel 2046 Hudson and a loop of track and it was over for my wallet after that!

TBF, if you are able to go or proxy a Greeneberg show you can get pretty much anything you can think of for under $150.

0:00 so you have an Australian model train? And also yes I do kinda miss your workshop.

0:33 I agree so much Old mainline and Hornby were peak

I’m gonna guess your track switches are Lionel cus I haven’t seen Menards track switches yet.

Modern O is expensive for sure, but I think your venture proves that as long as you stick with the second-hand market, it can be about the same or sometimes even cheaper than the smaller scales. I also recommend looking to Marx if you want more budget-friendly O Gauge items (For real! I only spent $4 on a caboose once).

Cool review of your O Gauge trains and rolling stock.

Lionel inc and Mac stuff is underrated and affordable

I have a 12x4 ho lionel layout. A 4x4 027 lionel layout. A 27inch x 45 inch temporary Christmas 027 layout. And a 2x2 n layout. Enjoy all you scales. Great video

The preview of the Blue Streak got my attention. Yes, if you are not to picky you can get some nice working used things in almost any scale or gauge. Anyhow about the Blue Streak. You might already know this but on the sound systems of the 1970's to maybe the 1990's the electronic circuit board is setting on a piece of foam. It ages away and then the board will touch the metal bottom of the tender, then short out and die... So if you have not opened the tender you should and then remove the rotted foam and put in several layers of double sided tape, or other good foam or even cardboard. Be careful about getting it back together, that large capacitor has a spot it has to fit into inside the tender. Also many of these due to age the capacitors get weak and need to be replaced. Sadly due to the age of these if you never heard a good working one you would claim the sound of steam is just static or hum. That set was on the cover of the 1973 Lionel MPC catalog. I have several sets of the Blue Streak and a few more engines and tenders as well of that set. Other O gauge past brands to check out. MarX, Industrial Rail, RMT, Taylor made Toys, Atlas, Weaver, Williams, American Flyer, Ives, MTH, Kusan. You know many of these from that price guide you have there...

Bring on the O !!! No one will ever say, my dad had one about H/O trains. Lionel is an American tradition.

Great vid. Where'd you find the F-150 Lightning?

Ok I started with tubular track second year couldn’t run my engine cause the track shorted out, so I saw the light and switched to Fastrack no more shorts, third year I got track clips to keep the track from coming apart I had a o-31 oval connected to a o-60 oval by four switches. Is this expensive, yes but I love it.

I just realized the turbine headlight randomly started working for like 3 shots

4-6-0 when please I need more background research on the boy

😊 I know some of the clips on my old layout we're actually nails that someone just like roof nails not roof nails like nails you will hang up all the pictures on the wall yeah that kind of nail just trimmed it with like a grinder or some kind or some kind of sandpaper and put in the track that was it that's how our track was all together

I like O for booth fun and realism if you wanted love both. and on the opposite ends are Standard Guage for fun and HO for realism but O bridges that gap and you can really go any direction with it

I know i will get hate for owning a Lionel berk but it’s for a manorial to someone who I miss very much my grandfather he loved berks

For the menards track take some needle nose pliars and squeeze the ends of the rail to keep them tight

Love menards o gauge trains and track. It's a great builder and very affordable for new stock. Does it have some issues, we'll some but not all. It's great stuff.

As somebody who does HO, O and Gauge 1; we need to get you into a Gauge 1. HO is good for detail, O is good for fun, but Gauge 1 is good for a true hands-on experience. You haven't run a model train, until you've run live steam.

All my model trains were gifts from my dad

I just zip-tie my Menards Couplers Closed

I have been in the o gauge community/hobby my whole life(the better part of 20 years)

The Menards Locos are great, just lightly grease the trucks and axel bearings.

HE HAS THE PYGMY TURBINE

Welcome to O gauge., Subscribed.

LGB can be had for cheap too so can bachmann big hauler

O scale might be fun, but personally I think n scale is cheaper, just as realistic and fun, plus it can fit in most spaces.

I would say offer more O gauge content if you can. While I'm primarily HO scale, I do have O Gauge, S Guage, and N scale. So, I don't mind seeing other scales. Also, an important tip, enjoy the hobby for yourself. I've been part of fine scale modeling, and for most of the part, the only people that really notice anything are the small group of fine scale modelers. For most of the general public, it's just another train that looks neat. So, I ask: Who are you trying to please? The answer should be yourself and keep things fun to enjoy.

You can get some real bargains at train shows (like a whole box of 0-27 track! Check the cardboard boxes under the tables, that's where the good stuff is! (Unless you want to pay $500 for a loco!

Out of all my train sets ahead over the years. My first one was a Lionel and I had it when I think I was five. It only lasted a month before breaking. First the cow catcher broke then the pistons and then the motor jammed and I just stopped caring and then my father went and got me a marx 666 steam locomotive and I still have that engine to this day. Of course the shell chance multiple time but the motor is never stop. Working still works this day. Of course the wheels are going to need repairs soon enough to lubricate and 3 days. So yeah oh wait every are you already did the lubrication for my marks collection. Now I have to do the lion nails. Whatever you do, remind yourself. Don't over lube the engines or cars. You'll regret it all right. Bye

I just subscribed, i got one of the jersey central MPC locomotives, yes i wanted as a kid, i got one at age 55.

A very nice video. I enjoy all sorts of model trains, but am a tad more into HO scale as it's what my grandfather had and my model railroad club uses. I have absolutely nothing against O scale, it's just that I look at the prices for its locomotives and rolling stock and think, "Ummm, maybe not."

The front smoke box door on the turbine comes off replace the bulb

*_“the_* *_carpeting”_*

hi yes i want more o gauge stuff