Hi,

the diameter is 0.83" or 21mm . (about ~ 39.5" in original)

railexpert

Hi Len,

you are wrong with the oversize of the rails.

If you calculate, a code 83 rail is corresponding with a ASCE 50 lb. rail and a height of nearly 4 inches.
A code 100 rail is corresponding with a ASCE 75 lb. rail and a height of nearly 5 inches.

In Colorado 55 - 57lb rail was common on most carriers at the turn of century as most of the lines never had anything much larger than 2-8-0 inside frame locos.

To practice the K27 class locos the D&RGW laid areas with 70lb rail. The D&RGW ended up with fair amounts of 90lb rail on the parts of the line that saw the larger K36 - K37 class locos by the end of service. (Rail was second hand from their mainline as that rail was being replaced with heavier rail.)
The overall huge increase in steam loco size after 1910 saw most railroads changing from 55 - 70lb rail to heavier rail -- even on standard gauge lines. I guess even the Maine 2 footers had much beyond 40lb rail.

The code 83 and Code 100 rails are just right for Narrow Gauge in O scale 1:48, they are oversized in HO scale.

Railexpert

Hi,

in the original and on all Photos I have seen from American Narrow Gauge Railways there is always a poor roadbed. The sleepers lay mostly in the mood, the ballast is cinder. An EZ-track plastic roadbed fits not for this.

Railexpert

Hello,

here is another record with locos for Plantations service. Full of NG locos.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3035822;view=1up;seq=1


Have fun.

Railexpert

Hello,

I have found the Baldwin "Record of Recent construction" in the Internet. It appeared around 1900.
There are shown tons of narrow gauge locomotives in gauges between 1' 11 1/2" and 4'.
There are also other Books of Baldwin locos on this homepage.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89089675870;view=1up;seq=1

Have fun with this wonderful locomotives,  all you may wish from Bachmann.
My favorite is on page 108, a mixture a of Porter 0-4-2 and a Streetcar. I want to build this with parts from Bachmann.

Railexpert

Hello,

see http://tonystrains.com/download/dec-installation-hout.pdf.

This is a guide to the conversion of an analog DC Loco into a digital DCC loco.

At www.tonystrains.com you will find many other tutorials for DCC

Railexpert

This text is from the owner of EDM Models, UK, Mr. Paul Martin, seen on his NG Trains Newsletter.

"Lee Riley  

I am hoping there aren't too many of you out there saying, "who?"

Lee Riley is dubbed by some as the father of 0n30 and he passed away last week at his desk just weeks before he was due to retire. He was Vice President for Development at Bachmann and largely responsible for persuading, some might say conning, Bachmann into getting in to 0n30 in the first place.

Others will eulogise (at length) about his impact on the model trade I'll stick to just one anecdote which may only be close to the truth but I like it all the same. Having been a modeller in 0n2 ½ (what 0n30 was called before it was called 0n30 and what it really should be called if you keep the nomenclature consistent) he tried several times to get Bachmann into the scale. The decider was persuading one of the `crap for Christmas' producers that a money spinner would be a Santa train set to run around the tree and they ordered thousands of units. That order persuaded Bachmann and largely paid for the set that we first saw with the Mogul and Three Coaches.  It was launched to modellers at the 1998 (I think) Narrow Gauge Convention in Colorado Springs.
[......]

I think the coming years might be interesting for commercial 0n30 as we have lost a champion well placed within the manufacturing world.

Paul Martin"




Condolences to family, co-workers and friends.

I hope On30 in the future has a place at Bachmann.


Railexpert

Hello,

I use balancing weights for aluminum wheels. I have got it from my automobile tire distributor. They are facile to handle and self-adhesive. You can they paint black and stick under the loco or the cab roof, where you do not see it.

Railexpert

Hello,

The longest locomotive I have is the 4-6-0 Baldwin. She is longer than the 2-6-6-2 articulated.
The 4-6-0 is 13,500" long with tender. Wheelbase from the 1st to the last wheel is 11,500".

Importand for the turntable size is the wheelbase.

For a 4-6-0 is a 9" turntable to short.

Look at the 12" On30 turntable from Peco.
http://www.peco-uk.com/product.asp?strParents=3309,3316&CAT_ID=3320&P_ID=17219

There are also other HO Products with 12" for kitbashing.


Railexpert

Hello,

see the article for On30 minimum radii from Professor Klyzlr: http://www.npcrr.net/On30/On30Loco_n_Car_Radius_pics.pdf

Railexpert

Hello,

Pro: The function of tracks and turnouts is the same in HO and On30.

Contra: The HO sleepers are too small, too short and set too tight for On30.
(You can hide this with the ballast and by removing every 2nd sleeper)



  Railexpert

Hello,

Length is 14.750", Width is 2.100" and Height is 3.500"  (35cm, 5,3cm and 9cm).

I have no 4% Grade. I think three cars are easy to pull on a 4% Grade with this heavy loco.


Railexpert

For On30 one word: disappointing

Hello,

To understand what Bachmann means with On30, read the Bachmann Message Board  "F.A.Q.s" then" On30" and there "What is On30". There is described after which prototypes Bachmann makes his models:

The prototype locos and cars have gauges between 2' and 3' 6''.    - That's the crucial point.-

The locomotive factory Baldwin delivered the same prototypes in different track gauges.
Bachmann manufactures all his On30 models in the same track gauge, but from prototypes with different track gauges. That's all.

Put the large 4-6-0 next to the little 2-4-4-2 and you won't believe first that they are made in the same 1/48 scale, because the prototypes have different gauges.

Railexpert


   

Hello,

I wonder about the constant nagging of On30.

On30 is not a gauge for railroad empires. (Except maybe you model DRG&W or C&S).
On30 Narrow Gauge is for logging, mining, industry and short lines.
For that there are enough locomotives and rolling stock you can buy from Bachmann and other more to the 10 manufacturers. Alone Bachmann delivers 9 types of locomotives in 50 varieties in 2015.

Not every prototype vehicle lettered for each railway company you wish will be built in On30 as "ready-to-run" model.

When I see what are advertised  for wonderful things every 2 months in the Narrow Gauge and Shortline GAZETTE, I 'm not worry about the existence of On30. Take an journey through the internet too and search for On30.

Rejoice over the existing RTR models and kits, make kitbashing and build your layout.

Railexpert