If you think HOn3 and HOn30 is confusing you should look at the different gauge/scale combinations for narrow gauge used in the UK. Appart from G scale there is another large scale called SM32, this is 16mm/ft gauge running on O gauge (32mm) track to represent 2 foot gauge. The British equvalent to On30 is O 16.5, there is also a gauge called O 9 for those wishing to model 18" prototypes in O scale.

In the smaller scales (4mm to the foot) we have OO9 (with kits available for prototypes from 18" to 3" gauge) although there is the more correct OOn3 for the 3" gauges. However, I know of several who use TTn3 (3mm/foot scale on 9mm (n gauge) track to model 3ft gauge prototypes. and then for 2mm/foot narrowgauge there is n6.5 (2mm/foot on Z gauge track) - someone will probably tell me I've forgotton one or two!

Also, to the best of my knowlege there are no-mass produced ready to run British outline narrow gauge models particularly in the smaller scales.

I also wish bachmann would make it's On30 range in on HOn30 - I would but a dozen Wood Side-Dump Cars straight off as they are very similar to some I've been trying (and failing!) to scratch build for years.

Sorry I still can't get the hang of the Quote button!

However, I just wanted to say that PECO have been doing narrow gauge (009) track and loco body kits for at least 25 to 30 years (although I'm not sure if this was initially restricted to the UK). Although Bachmann Europe make some really nice HOe locos and rolling stock (under the Lilliput brand) I cannot seem to find any track. As to using n gauge track vs HOe or HOn30 track I thing it depends on your Railway or Railroad (or Tramway in my case). I find that the slightly over-scale n gauge track looks more like the track used on the prototype  I am trying to recreate (the 2' 4 1/2" Glyn Valley Tramway in Mid Wales). I guess it's a case of look at your prototype and shop around for the best match!

Regards

Steve

Quote from: CNE Runner on November 25, 2012, 10:42:22 AM
Les - Gosh, the last thing I wanted to do was give you a headache! You actually 'hit the nail on the head' when you talked about HO scale cars on N scale track (notice I didn't say 'gauge'). You made the point I guess I didn't. The HOn30/HOe cars will run on N-scale/gauge track...but will look strange.

Another good point you raised is why 30" gauge? I guess the Rail Gods had to choose from the myriad of gauges that were evident in U.S. railroads throughout history and settled on 30". Having one, commercially available, narrow gauge probably influenced manufacturers to 'get on board' and produce narrow gauge products.

[Mr. Bach Man please excuse this 'plug' for another's track products - I am trying to stay within the forum rules.]

Peco makes some excellent track products in OO/9 (with is equivalent to HOn30/HOe). They seem to have entered the narrow gauge market recently; but have a decent variety of track to offer. Tillig also is in the narrow gauge market. Tillig offers dual-gauge track and turnouts as well - should you want to consider a conjoined track plan of standard (HO/OO) and narrow (HOn30, HOe, OO/9) gauges.

Hey Woody, you are right...it is confusing! [Now I'm the one with the headache.] Say, when are 'they' going to make Civil War products in broad gauge?

Regards,
Ray

To Jhanecker2, Regarding couplings in the UK.

Unfortunately this isn't easy for me to answer as I have not seen an actual Bachmann Potter. The Franchise for the Harry Potter train set being held By Hornby who dress up one of their own similar loco as Hogwards Castle. However, we are in a bit of a transition in the UK as far as couplings are concerned so it is probably easier for me to add links to the couplings used.

In the UK the predominant scale is 00 rather than HO but 00 is a compromise scale as it is 4mm/1 foot (rather than HO's 3.5mm/1 foot)running but running on the same track gauge as HO (I will not go into the whys and wherefores here but just mention this difference to avoid any confusion later).

Since late 1960's and early 1970s ready to run models produced for the UK market use some form of Tension Lock (I think you may call these Hook and Bar) Couplings. Initially these were wider versions of that used on the Bachmann Thomas the Tank, see http://www.newmodellersshop.co.uk/images/hornby_spares/x8025.jpg for an illustration.

In the mid 1970's a company called Palitoy entered the model railway market using the brand "Mainline". I understand these models were actually made by a company called Kader (who now make the Bachman UK range) and it was they who introduced an intermediate width tension lock coupling, see http://www.jacksonsmodels.co.uk/images/_lib/bachmann-36009-couplings-x10-oo-gauge-9006306-0-1342369267000.jpg (which is very similar to the Bachmann Thomas couplings)

However, in recent years new narrow tension lock has been introduced which is slowly becoming standard, see http://images.intelligentretail.co.uk/JACKSONSMODELS/9006295.png which is now standard on all Bachmann UK models and a number of other manufacturers (is this what is used on the Potter locomotive?). However one manufacturer still has a large proportion of its range using the original wide coupling!

I personally have stuck with the wide and intermediate couplings as they work well together and some of my earlier stock has the wide coupling bar moulded on making it difficult to change, whereas the narrow types are generally easy to swap.

Sorry about the rather long drawn out answer to what seemed like a nice straight forward question!

Best wishes

Steve

Hello AVale

Comparing pictures of the spare parts for the Harry Potter loco on this website with my own "GWR Modified Hall" produced by bachman UK, they appear to be the same model only mine is green and yours is red. - This is hardly supprising since the loco used in the films is an ex-GWR Hall.

Consequently, if you need a service sheet for the Locomotive, I hope this link from the Bachmann uk site will help:

http://www.bachmann.co.uk/pdfs/31-776.pdf

If you doubt your power supply you could always try a 9 volt battery just to make sure the wheels turn the sort I use is a PP3 (not sure what you call them in the states but here is a link to Wikipedia showing what I use:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-volt_battery

Hope this helps

Regards Steve.

Quote from: rogertra on November 21, 2012, 06:34:48 PM

Quote from: CNE Runner on November 21, 2012, 01:01:10 PM
81F (and odd surname...but you did say you model Welsh railways) Cheers,
Ray

81F, as anybody who has even the slightest knowledge of Britain's railways will tell you that it's a "shed code". Every single UK locomotive shed had a shed code and all locomotives allocated to that particular shed carried a cast iron "Shed Code Plate" attached to the bottom of the smokebox door with the shed code outlined in white paint.

81F is the shed code for Didcott and the "F" indicates that 81F is a subshed of 81A Old Oak Common, the ex GWR railway shed for Paddington Station, the GWR's terminal in London.  BTW, although in UK parlance OOC was was a locomotive shed, it actually contained four turntables inside the rectangular building with, I believe, entrances to the turntables on all four walls. Well, at least three walls.  It's been around 45 years since I was last there and most of it no longer exists.

In 1948, OOC had around 265 steam locomotives on its allocation.

Yes, it was a big shed but not the UK's biggest.

Hi,

Your very close Didcot was actually 81E. 81F was the next shed down the line which was the former Great Western Railway shed at Oxford, which is my home town. Oxford actually once had two sheds. The other was on the old LMS line and was a subshed of Bletchley and at nationalization and shared its code of 4A. Sadly nothing is left of either sheds now since the use of locomotives on the British railway system has all but gone (except for freight). Fortunately Didcot still survives as a museum dedicated to preserving various aspects of the former Great Western Railway.

I am new to Bachman US HO scale models and I was wondering what is the Difference between the "Spectrum" and "Silver Series" range of models.

Currently I only have 1 locomotive and 2 coaches in US HO scale which I hope to use (just for fun!) on what would otherwise be my British outline model railway. I am now about to install a couple of tunnel mouths and an over bridge. AS I hope to get a few more US models in the future, I wondered how much clearance I should leave above the top of rail level?

Please note, I would like to keep things as low as possible since I do not want my lower British stock to look to out of place.

Many thanks Hunt, it now works.

Have you seem this earlier thread?

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,21716.0.html

However, the way I used to remove similar mouldings on other British outline stock was to use a drill a little larger than the round moulding. This was done very carefully using a hand drill. Once I had removed about 3/4 of it I then finished the rest off using files and a scalpel.

I should add that this was to give my wagons a more prototypical appearance in the days when I could see to use 3 link or screw link couplings rather than fitting Kadee couplings.

I've just received the DCC fitted Bachmann HO 2-8-0, SF #2511 BAC51311. The loco runs beautifully but I cannot work out how to switch the Headlight on!

The main problem I have is the instructions tell you how to do it with the Bachmann DCC system, but I have a Hornby Elite (I should also add that this is my only loco with any form of light pre-wired) can anyone help?

best wishes

Steve

Excellent detail - Repainted it would even mahe a good BR or LNER brake van for the non thomas modeller!

I would suggest that Arthur is one of the earlier Stainier 3MT 2-6-2Ts. The give away for me is the curve between the two parts of the running boards, just in front of the cylinders - This was omitted from the Ivatt, while the BR standards have a definite slope. Also the lack of top feed apparatus (the bump between the dome and the chimney) which is found on the Ivatts and BR standards but not on the original Stanier boiler. Also, judging by the two shades of grey in the links below, I would suggest that the Stanier version may have appeared in LMS red like Arthur, whereas the Ivatts would only have been black (LMS or BR).

http://sg.ebid.net/perl/auction.cgi?auction=72193444&mo=auction#pic

http://www.railuk.info/gallery/notes/getimage.php?id=903

Best Wishes

Steve

Since much of the "smoke" that comes out of locomotives chimney is steam the air temperature will make a big difference. Another factor is the type of coal - anthracite will produce hardly any dark smoke. Also it will depend if the loco is working hard and if the driver is playing to the cameraman.

Hope the two clips I found on the net are of interest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_e03j8ANvs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekSAy-ohlrM

Of some possible interest is the fact that the locomotive in the first clip, King George V, visited the USA in August 1927 to feature in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's centenary celebrations. During the celebrations it was presented with a bell and a plaque, and these are carried to this day. Does anyone out there know of any other locos that appeared and are there any models of them?