I have seen several 00641 HO Dewitt Clinton Sets on ebay and like the different style and "old fashioned" look but have read they are too light to run well. Are there any other HO trains that have a different old fashioned look anything like the 00641 HO Dewitt Clinton that DO run well? Any suggestions would be appreciated. :)
WG-
Not really. The very nature of the tiny locos and cars from the earliest days of railroading renders models, or at least models in smaller scales like HO or N, way too light for consistent, reliable operation. Bachmann has made, I think, three tiny trains sets and they all suffer from operational problems due to their diminutive size.
I certainly agree that the small sets are charming but I think you'd need to go to a larger scale, at least S (64:1) and probably O (48:1) to get reliable running. I don't think such models are available in those scales and, they would be much, much more expensive in the larger scales. Equipment goes up in cost as the scales get larger generally, and these models would jump a lot because a manufacturer couldn't depend on selling very many copies. There are very few S-scale modelers and no where near as many O-scale modelers as HO-scale modelers. And the word I've heard is that Bachmann has found that making the HO tiny trains is something other than lucrative.
There's a funky charm to much of the large scale equipment that might appeal to you. Curiously, the funkiest models are among the least expensive as long as you stay away from LGB. Of course, large scale requires quite a lot of space.
-- D
These little locos have to be run quite fast. The metal gear on the motor tends to strip a few teeth off the first plastic with a sudden start gear if the motor itself does not completely fail. Also, the pickups are not the greatest. They are mostly display items.
I have had a couple.
Rich
Rich, thank you for your answer. I am trying to find trains from the early days of railroading and thought these would be appropriate. But after reading about them, I can see they would not be a good choice. I will keep looking for other "railroad early years" style trains. Thanks again. :)
In HO scale there is a Civil War, 4-4-0 General loco good for 1855/1865. Some rolling stock is available for that era but not Bachmann.
think Bachmann had some 1870s rolling stock at one time.
Bachmann has a 1870s/1880s loco that has tender drive and can be improved. One fellow here has done it.
A brass company sells the HO 4-4-0 Lincoln Funeral train but it will cost you arm, leg, first born. Not sure it is available anymore.
Rich
Doneldon, thank you for your information. I agree, some of the larger scale trains are really interesting, but based on the amount of space I have to work with and wanting to make the most use of it, I need to stick with HO size. I will keep looking for "early years railroad" trains and go from there. I am very pleased with my Liberty Bell set and hope I can find something else in the historical venue as time goes by. Thanks again. :)
Hi again Rich. Thanks for the additional info. I hate to admit it, but I don't know what you mean by "rolling stock". I am totally new to this (although have wanted to do it "forever"). :)
Quote from: WriterGal on January 07, 2014, 04:14:55 PM
Hi again Rich. Thanks for the additional info. I hate to admit it, but I don't know what you mean by "rolling stock". I am totally new to this (although have wanted to do it "forever"). :)
Boxcars, flatcars, passenger cars etc. Anything pulled by the loco.
Rich
Ah, thanks, Rich. I suppose I should have realized that. :) Y'all, (yes, I say y'all, being from south Texas, ;) ) I don't suppose there is any way of adding weight to the small trains such as the De Witt or others and possibly a different motor to the locomotive to make them work correctly is there?
i tried for 1890 to 1900. The MDC circus train is to try to simulate a train of that era.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_West_Shows
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/richg1998/Winans%20Camel/MyCamel.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/richg1998/media/Winans%20Camel/MyCamel.jpg.html)
The Camel is from 1850's and one survived on the B&O until about 1898 or so. It was kept in the yard in Baltimore fro switching work.
I do know if you have the time, you can find a tremendous amount of early rail info with Google searches. I have a few hundred Internet links and many, many photos of locos and rolling stock plus a large amount of history.
Rich
Quote from: WriterGal on January 07, 2014, 04:34:36 PM
Ah, thanks, Rich. I suppose I should have realized that. :) Y'all, (yes, I say y'all, being from south Texas, ;) ) I don't suppose there is any way of adding weight to the small trains such as the De Witt or others and possibly a different motor to the locomotive to make them work correctly is there?
Oldest daughter lives in Copperas Cove, TX, right next to Ft Hood. Been there three times, Alamo, three times. Love the river walk.
Rode the steam train not far from Austin back about 1995.
Rich
Rich, thanks so much for the picture and info on the early trains. I am retired now and so have more time to do google searches, etc. "IF" you have any google (or other) links handy, I'd love to have them. I reckon I'll just do a broad google search and see what I can start learning. I know I have a TON to learn. :)
Ah, I love the San Antonio riverwalk too, and of course, the Alamo. (I'm a native born Texan.)
Thanks again
Quote from: richg on January 07, 2014, 04:35:45 PM
i tried for 1890 to 1900. The MDC circus train is to try to simulate a train of that era.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_West_Shows
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/richg1998/Winans%20Camel/MyCamel.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/richg1998/media/Winans%20Camel/MyCamel.jpg.html)
The Camel is from 1850's and one survived on the B&O until about 1898 or so. It was kept in the yard in Baltimore fro switching work.
I do know if you have the time, you can find a tremendous amount of early rail info with Google searches. I have a few hundred Internet links and many, many photos of locos and rolling stock plus a large amount of history.
Rich
Hey Rich, one still exsists. It was operation up until the 80s according to a B&O Museum booklet I found online. (it was produced in the 70s I think)
(https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/1601272_655020751188051_250500333_n.jpg)
(pic taken by me this past summer)
As for the small Dewitt Clinton, I've had no problems with mine, though the Lafeyette can only pull 2 of its three coaches, I got em mostly for display anyway.
(https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/299118_558714430828696_831451752_n.jpg)
The Layfayette
(https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/733919_558714977495308_854873830_n.jpg)
The John Bull
(https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/562228_558714620828677_1137382282_n.jpg)
Also if you want to get some ideas of old time stuff, look at my album located on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.558713784162094.1073741827.558701444163328&type=3 I have a lot of 1880s equipment and should give you an idea on whats out there floating around.
P.S. thats not my personal fb, its a page i created just for my collection.
Hi BaltoOhioRRfan. Thanks for the information and pictures. I will definitely check out your FB album. You said you didn't really have trouble with your De Witt but I noticed you labeled it a John Bull in your pictures. Is your top picture the one you said works okay for you? :)
I forgot to lable the DeWitt Clinton which is the bottom pic, top pic is the Layfayette, and middle is the John Bull all work OK for me but I had to run them a little above realistic speed(30 SMPH(30 Scale Miles Per Hour)
Writer-
The Civil War era models are large enough to operate reliably but still have much of the charm factor of the very earliest trains. They do very well on small layouts with tight curves. (But I still wouldn't go tighter than 18-inch radius curves.) There is quite a good selection of motive power and rolling stock, including passenger equipment. You won't necessarily find much of it at hobby shops (except for some 4-4-0 locos and "Overton" passenger cars) but there is always stuff on eBay. You can go to HO and then do a search for Civil War or Old Time. Be aware, however, that many people interpret anything not currently on real rails as Old Time. So you'll get a lot of stuff which is much later than the Civil War era, like a hundred years later. Civil War is the best search.
-- D
BaltoOhioRRfan, thanks for your info on these. I would like to find as "early" period trains as possible and it's good to know these work ok for you at a higher speed. :)
Doneldon, thanks for your information. I will try searching ebay using your suggestions. I rely on online shopping most of the time because of living out in the country. I did a hobby store search a while back and the NEAREST one to me is 100 miles away. A few trips there and I could start my own railroad for real with the cost of fuel. LOL :)