Bachmann Online Forum

Does anyone know where you could get a minitrains Hon30 steam loco?  ??? ??? ???

wt-

They haven't been made for nearly 40 years so you won't find them at any retail store which means you'll have to explore aftermarket sources.  ebay has about 15 MiniTrains items, but no locos right now.  I don't watch for these myself, but I would expect locos come up from time to time.  I'm guessing that they go for a premium price.  Another possibility is  train shows, which most often have many sellers  with both new and used items.  MiniTrains might show up there but, again, it will be a grab bag sort of thing.  The last option I can think of is garage/yard/tag sales.  This is pretty far down the likelihood scale but it's possible something will turn up from time to time.  I wouldn't start a garage sale quest just for MiniTrains but perhaps you already go garage saling.  If not, just watch ads for garage sales to see which mention trains and check those out.  You might even be able to do this without going if there is a phone number in the ad.

In case you haven't already seen it, there is a full, illustrated listing of MiniTrains items at:

                http://ho-scaletrains.net/ahmhoscaletrainscollectorsresource/id85.html

Good luck, and have patience. 
                                                                               -- D

MiniTrains are readily available and are being produced again (in the UK I think). I have included on website below and suggest you 'Google' for others. They have a really sweet Davenport industrial engine...too bad it is in HOn30.


Good luck,
Ray

I modified this post as I found another website (among many):

Part of the MinitrainS line is back.....no steamers, but the Plymouth diesel and the cars are available.

http://www.bigcityhobbies.com/minitrains.html (http://www.bigcityhobbies.com/minitrains.html)

Sid

An interesting adjunct to this post is my renewed interest in the MinitrainS Plymouth locomotive (as well as some of those 'cute' cars). If I were reeeeeally talented, I would convert one of these wonderful locomotives to HO ('not to worry as I am not).

I have a small train board left over from a previous mini layout project; and am considering purchasing the MinitrainS train set - then building a layout to take with us in the motor home. 'Sounds like another project to add to the 'pile'.

Thanks for exposing me to this world (HOn30 that is). I advise you to check out Carl Arendt's website at http://www.carendt.com/index.html (http://www.carendt.com/index.html) for more ideas you can do with your MinitrainS equipment.

Regards,
Ray

Ray......

I couldn't resist.....lol. I ordered the green/yellow set and an expansion set of the dump cars.

Peach Creek seemed to have the best deal and easiest shipping to Canada.

Sid

Keep watching ebay.

Below is a link I have had for sometime as I was making a HOn30 Climax using a N scale diesel as a base.

http://www.hon30.org/index.html

Rich

Hey Sid - You really know how to hurt a guy. That is the same set I have been drooling over since Wtierce prompted me to do a little Internet search. After just dropping $100 on Peco Electrofrog turnouts for the new Sweet Haven extension, I have to 'rebuild' the finances a little (OK, a lot.).

My only concern, with MinitrainS, are the 'strange' couplers they sport. I wonder if one can change these to either Bachmann EZmate IIs or Kadee?

Enjoy your MinitrainS,
Ray

C.NE.,

I seem to recall a magazine article in Railroad Model Craftsman when the original Minitrains were new (and I have it in one of 15 or 20 boxes of magazines downstairs), which in the author converted his unit to standard guage, and claimed it wasn't a big job.

From what I remember, this involved either new axles from appropriate sized rod, or moving the wheels out on the orginal axles to standard gauge, removing the journal boxes on the frame (they are cosmetic only) so the newly extended wheels came through the frame (converting the unit from an outside-frame configuration to inside frame--not too unusual for the prototype, a local cement plant here has a unit like that), and mounting Kadee couplers on top of the platforms at each end to get the height needed (again, I think some prototypes were built this way).  The usual bits of plastic and wire for footboards and other details completed the job.

Hope this helps out if you decide to look at the standard gauge option.

J3a-614, thanks for the information. Actually I have been interested in building a small mini layout using HOn30 for some time...call it a layout for the road. The MinitrainS set was so darn good looking that I started seriously thinking about layout design (layout would probably be something like 1'x 4'). Right now I have a lot of 'irons in the fire' and won't do anything on that particular project. I did find an article on converting couplers on a MinitrainS steam switching locomotive (a locomotive that is yet to be in production). I think the new company is proceding carefully to see if the market will support its HOn30 efforts and will stick with just the Plymouth for now. I understand Peco has HOn30 (9mm) track...I don't know how it differs from N-gauge.

Again, thanks to all,
Ray

Glad you like what you're getting.

From what I've read, the difference in commercial HOn30 track has more to do with appearance of the ties than anything else.  In narrow gauge, ties tend to be longer and wider spaced in relation to the gauge, and may have been more primitive-looking, at least in some cases.  Basically this comes from the track being narrow, but the ties have to be the same distance apart as  on standard gauge because the the same shovels, ballast forks, and lining bars have to go between them.  Similarly, track spacing between narrow gauge lines, say in a yard, will be almost as great as that of standard gauge, becuase the same-sized brakemen ride the sides of 2-foot and 3-foot boxcars.  Likewise, in steam, a small narrow gauge engine will have a full sized cab, air compressor, and headlight--all standard parts just mounted on a smaller than normal locomotive.

These altered proportions are part of what gives narrow gauge equipment its appeal--including to me, and I'm a big-steam fan!

Just to get you started, although the road resembles more a typical standard gauge shortlline, are some links to a narrow-gauger in my area, the famous 3-foot gauge East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Company.

http://www.ebtrr.com/index.php

http://www.spikesys.com/EBT/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUNXgSkYxOA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFC_9szfA5c&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8kpj53hWg4&feature=related

Enjoy!

wt-

Three or four new Minitrains locos showed up on ebay this evening.  Get 'em while they're hot!

                                                                                        -- D

Be aware - if you run across one of the original Minitrains steam lokies, their operating characteristics left a lot to be desired.  They weren't good at slow running, and were noisy too.  You might be better served by looking at some of the small N scale locos with a view to doing a bit of kit-bashing (new, larger cab for instance) to get what you need. 

  Similarly, track spacing between narrow gauge lines, say in a yard, will be almost as great as that of standard gauge, becuase the same-sized brakemen ride the sides of 2-foot and 3-foot boxcars.  Likewise, in steam, a small narrow gauge engine will have a full sized cab

J3a-

Are you certain about this?  I always heard that narrow gauge railroads only hired operating personnel who were under 5'2" and 120 lbs.  They wouldn't stick out nearly as far as people my size, particularly to the front and rear.
                                                                                             -- D

I know something of what you mean; I've developed the same fit problem in seats on the EBT myself.

Speaking of the EBT, that is one road that can use relatively slim personel, particularly in the cabs of the three biggest engines, 16. 17. and 18.  All of EBT's 2-8-2s are what would be called "deckless" engines, in that the boiler and firebox come back into the cab, clear to the rear wall; the engineer rides between the side of the firebox and the side of the cab, and the controls, including the air brake handles, are high up, while the fireman actually works from the tender.  It's very much like a camelback for both men in those regards, and the three larger engines add to the tight fit by being relatively fat.

Strasburg's 475 (the 4-8-0) is the same way; I've heard that the road's crews call the engine "the telephone booth."

The 2-foot gauge Monson's Forneys (which still run in Maine) do not have that particular problem, but they have for decades been notorious as skull knockers because of their low cab roofs.

I will be linking up more footage for inspirational purposes; anticipate!

It amazes me to see the apparent interest in HOn30. Personally, I never had much of an interest in narrow gauge modelling. I guess I viewed narrow gauge as a 'niche market' in our hobby. On30 is just too large for the space I (and most of us) have available - but HOn30 is an entirely different matter. Perhaps it is time for MinitrainS to make its comeback with good running, well made products (not the stuff they used to produce way back when). I think I see an HOn30 layout in the distant future...'certainly something to consider. [Gosh I love the look of that MinitrainS Plymouth. I don't think I have the skills to convert it to standard HO...but I think I know someone who does.]

Ray

Here is a project I have but long time coming. I have a N scale SW1200 as the base for the Climax.

http://www.mrollins.com/climaxpix.html

Rich

Well, here are some narrow-gauge video links that hopefully may provide some inspiration.  A number of these are from China and India, yet I see ourselves as we were a hundred years ago; I can even say I see my father and both of my grandfathers in the Chinese coal miner with the hand-pushed rail car in the second clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gwd6Ra6mDzU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KLvVk37CbQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZdgPYT7AGU&feature=related

Clay hauler for a brick works--looks like the construction boss has or will have an ulcer in the second clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p53mEpq-vCc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3aie80dXqk&feature=related

Wow!  Try duplicating this operation!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7dyreIrLy4&feature=related

Some of those clay cars look familiar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXp8Kyzf1ls&NR=1

Coal road in India:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEikzycEJ3k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frh3PHnGFO0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-rnblPaPrk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYArdE4CAGo&feature=related

Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d1vGxZRFH8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYU-jdNFw_c&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIujUvICibQ&feature=related

Two-foot gauge Shay in Pennsylvania:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgOZAr2bbgQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYc2zAcNZfQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3VrFPe9ML8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuwY7o0pJbk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mX3wdLlEWE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3VrFPe9ML8&feature=related

Export Shay in Taiwan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JUnqW-qwJI&feature=fvw

The appeal of steam is universal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0_AEJknulM&feature=related


Finally, at least for now, is this full-sized narrow-gauge Class A Climax replica in West Virginia--wouldn't you like this in your back yard?

http://www.wchstv.com/traveling/2008/twv080612.shtml

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhJs9lDHjGk

Some of these have been posted before, but considering the subject matter, a repeat performance seems to be called for--enjoy!

Look around and you always find a little more:

Arkansas Lime Company narrow-gauge road, converted to standard in 2000; something like this General Electric 25 or 30 ton model might be a producte to offer commercially, and was also built in standard gauge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtCr4c23GTQ

Clay road in Floridaa; those hoppers would look at home behind a Chinese industrial 0-8-0, or the 0-8-0 would look at home in Florida:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmhXBVO4u4o

Now gone operation at Bethlehem Steel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxHOpxYdt_M&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZMQMy0hXrU&NR=1

Preservation and restoration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovTlmPsQyBk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ljWwJfiCE8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ4r3KyCgow

Some of these units have pretty extreme weathering:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z9a8Uwf_nY&feature=related

Interesting sounds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amCnE3Ocnnk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZdCKm_7wm8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8-5ePG_Hqg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKGLd2MrGzo&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r41fw-JI48&feature=related

GE 25-tonner at Pine Bluff with the famous Cotton Belt 819:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_95_czd7qQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLF2US7T8sg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi1zkb_jNso&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmCraBXOFGM&feature=related

Enjoy.

I am not 100% convinced...but I think this is the track plan I will use for my (not-so-distant) HOn30 layout. The plan is on Carl Arendt's website and is called Pine Ridge II. This is an adaption, by Scotsman Jack Trollope, of an earlier plan. I particularly liked Jack's use of a 3-track transfer table (traverser). I can just see that little MinitrainS Plymouth pulling little HOn30 rolling stock. 'Should be a good project for the motor home.
Now all I have to do is purchase that MinitrainS set.

Cheers,
Ray

I think this is something you will be interested in.

Scroll down, to near the bottom:

http://www.peachcreekshops.com/

http://www.peachcreekshops.com/images/bchsteamer.jpg

Anticipate!

That's right J3a-614...throw some more gasoline on the fire! I plan on ordering the MinitrainS Plymouth 10-car set next week (as of now I don't have a single length of track on which to run it - but what the hey?). That image of the MinitrainS steamer looked interesting and the engine would really benefit from a repaint as well as some super detailing add-ons.

I have built the basic train board for the HOn30 layout; but am having some problems designing the transfer table (traverser). My Monks' Island has two traversers that could have been designed/built much better. [Hindsight is usually 20/20.] The use of Tomar pick up shoes makes them electrically reliable though. I envision the new traverser pit to be very shallow - so I will have to come up with a different method of guide rails. Ah, the trials and tribulations of model railroading!

Thanks for doing the additional research. I have bookmarked the Peach Creek Shops website.

Regards,
Ray

Check out the pics here: http://www.undergroundminers.com/oldwanamie6.html

I believe this operation was 30" gauge, and running as late as 1967!  You could take one of the Minitrains lokies and perform surgery on the cab and make a very close replica of this little mills. 

Throw gasoline on the fire?  Na, just some good, hot burning anthracite. . .

http://www.pioneertunnel.com/

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=244512&nseq=2

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=244513&nseq=1

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=232865&nseq=3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdhA8fXEAUI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6UiVuwLHhE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9xFveQUpAw&feature=related

This other material also showed up--just had to include it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJhrwfqVack&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Ij6OiblKI&feature=related

A German unit here, but I suspect you may find it interesting anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvVVUlbf-YM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIxLH_A74mM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR0bEy-cnkw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV9mMjF_HCM&feature=related

Have fun

The Peach Creak Shops site said that bch has introdused the steam loco but it is not on there website.

Peach Creek probably is making or has an early announcement--afraid we'll have to wait a while.

Thanks ;D ;)

Oh, one other thing--the announcement on the Peach Creek shops page is on a news page; the image and other things will go away when the page gets updated, so you may not want to count on the image staying too long--but then, if the little thing gets here, you'll not have to worry about that.

 Actually it said somthing about bch introdusing the sets that I have and said that they have now added the steamer to there line. So i`m kinda hopeful. ;D

J3a-614, I was surprised by the Pioneer Tunnel website and remembered visiting the place some years ago. I will never forget when our guide turned off all lighting and said the 'lights' you are seeing really aren't there! This is a very interesting place to visit...wear warm clothing (even in summer as the temperature of the mine always remains in the mid 50F range.

Ray