Your locomotives likethe generic 4-4-0 and 2-8-0 are nice and great for re-lettering, but is there going to be any new locomotives like a K-28 in the 2012 catalog? New stock would be nice, especially since an On30 K-28 is hard to find.
Fred
Fred,
They're still in the midst of getting the Heisler off the ground and out to the public. As the shipment has now been sent back to China for a rework, I don't think you'll see anything new this year in the way of locos.
In recent years at least the catalogue (and the New York Tot fair announcements) have not contained any major new announcements for On30. These have been made at the NMRA convention in summer. The catalogues have shown new sets, new liveries and the like. The catalogue does show as "new" items announced since the previous catalogue, so the Heislers and lLog Skidders will probably be in the catalogue as "new".
I hope the delay in the Heislers does not prevent the announcement of one or more major new items in the summer, I would hope for a 2-6-2 of some sort, my preference is for a tank locomotive but others will have other ideas.
Hamish
I dont think that we are likely to see a K 28, Simply because it is a "BIG" narrow gauge locomotive and as such needs large radius (wide) curves, which many 0n30 modellers simply do not have the space to provide. Therefore the low sales potential for such a large loco is probably not going to make it a viable project.
I think that we are going to have to be satisfied with the Heisler for the forseeable future, ( which according to Bachmann Europe's website is expected within the next 60 days in the UK)
Although I for one would welcome a Narrow Gauge Diesel loco ( Rich Yoders model is great but a little too expensive for me!!).
That is a nifty little diesel switcher, SP #1 model. TOF
What about a D&RGW C-21 or C-25?
Or - favorite to so many people in the Narrow Gauge World: A C&S engine, such as B4F and preferably in her Rio Grande Southern version, RGS 74 too. Would be awesome.
Cheers, Tom ;) ;) ;)
The SP 50 tonner is a neat little engine, but the model is only powered on one truck, supposedly because there wasn't room for the drive gear on the truck under the cab because the cab interior would have been compromised. Personally, I would prefer both trucks be powered even if it meant less cab detail.
As for the rest of the C series steam locos, remember that these were all three foot gauge prototypes, and larger ones than the C-16. There were many complaints that the BLI C-16 and also the Bachmann ten wheelers were too big, and didn't look right on people's layouts. Even the Bachmann O.F. 2-8-0 drew some similar comments and it is a 30" gauge prototype. The C-25 was especially large compared to the C16, and was a rather unique loco, even when compared with 3 foot prototypes.
Bill in FL
Size is a relative issue. For those modeling actual industrial railways, 24 inch lines or 30 inch lines, the ten-wheelers are huge and the OF 2-8-0, though based on an actual 30 inch prototype, is large.
For these who use On30 for poor man's On3, these are not giant locomotives. It just depends on what your little railroad empire calls for.
Quote from: railtwister on January 06, 2012, 11:57:26 AM
The SP 50 tonner is a neat little engine, but the model is only powered on one truck, supposedly because there wasn't room for the drive gear on the truck under the cab because the cab interior would have been compromised. Personally, I would prefer both trucks be powered even if it meant less cab detail.
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Good info here Bill,, I was not aware that the SP 50 tonner is only single bogie powered!
I find its quite difficult to gain info on it!
I feel also that this would seriously compromise its performance and I would prefer all wheel powere & less cab detail!
Your info has really helped me make a decision on whether I will purchase one or not!
i like the larger size of the 2-8-0,4-60,compared to the mallet,which is dwarfed by the pass cars. i run a fictitiuos class one railroad in on30,as a subsiduary of the P.R.R,so these units are quite at home,love the motion in slow motion,smooth as. have two mallets that have different drawbar pull,i.e. 1 pulls more cars than the other.any ideas on why?
I currently have 2 Mallets both are aproximately equal performance wise,
However I did notice a non sound one I had previously was a little more powerful than the 2 I have at the moment.
Re the 'dwarfed' mallets .... try using a low freight car ( flat or low Gond ) between the tender and passenger cars this visually lessens the size effect somewhat.
Quote from: Stevelewis on January 08, 2012, 04:30:50 AM
Good info here Bill, I was not aware that the SP 50 tonner is only single bogie powered!
I find its quite difficult to gain info on it!
I feel also that this would seriously compromise its performance and I would prefer all wheel power & less cab detail! Your info has really helped me make a decision on whether I will purchase one or not!
Hi Steve,
As long as all wheels are picking up the track current, the only compromise to the locos performance from only having one truck motorized should be in it's pulling power. In this case, the loco is a small switcher, so it's pulling power for yard work is probably adequate, but if you need it to be a road engine, it might be necessary to restrict the train length, especially up a grade.
I haven't seen this loco in person, so I am uneasy about someone basing their buying choice on my statement alone. Perhaps contacting Rich Yoder (the importer) and asking him directly about this loco's pulling power would be the best thing to do. If nothing else, it would give him a chance to hear your concerns about having only one truck powered. I would have done that myself, but one of my reasons for getting into On30 was to not be tempted to buy any brass locos that I can't afford...
Bill in FL
Hi Bill
Dont worry I thank you for your info, it is quite difficult to gain a lot of specific info from the manufacturer, I did ask him re the status of the model and he did advise me that it was 4 whl drive etc eventually then referring me to a reveiw in the press!
However having been in railway modelling for around 50 years ( modelling from Z to 5" gauge) I would be very wary of spending a larger than usual amount on a loco which i feel should have 8 wheel drive but hasnt!
All the small Brass 8 wheel drive H0 diesels (PFM etc) I once owned, were 8 wheel drive and performed well.
I think as you say that gradients would perhaps be a problem, as the locos on the current 0n30 layout do have to climb a few hills!! Which the Bachmann ones do admirably as one would expect!!
So if I want a diesel it looks like I will have to get some more 'bits' from Boulder Valley and an H0 loco for its chassis,mind you there are a lot of USA loco H0 bargains in the retailers over here at the moment, so a sound one is quite affordable!
Steve
From what I've read, the real SP #1 was considered a lemon anyways.