Stevelewis wrote:
Thing  to  remember  0n30  is  7mm /foot  scale,  EZ track  is  imtended  for  HO  which  is 3.5mm/foot scale,  so  the  sleeper (ties) are  small  and incorrectly  spaced  for 7mm scale.

That's not right.

The American On30 is 1/4 "/ foot scale = 6.35 mm / foot = 1:48. Learn more about it  in the NMRA Standards.
(The British O scale is 7 mm/ foot scale = 1:43,5.)

EZ track is a HO 1:87 scale track, the space between the sleepers is too narrow and the sleepers are too smal. The gauge for On30 and HO is the same 16,5 mm. BUT NOT THE SCALE!!!!
Correct On30 ready built On30 track have  Microengineering  www.microengineering.com and Peco www.peco-uk.com/prodtype.asp?strParents=3309,3316&CAT_ID=3320&numRecordPosition=1.
For handlaid track see Wenz wenz-modellbau.eshop.t-online.de and  Fast Track www.handlaidtrack.com.

Railexpert  

Hello,

The longest locomotive I have is the 4-6-0 Baldwin. She is longer than the 2-4-4-2 articulated.
The 4-6-0 is 13,500" long with tender. Wheelbase from the 1st to the last wheel is 11,500".
I think the 2-8-0 Consolidation is in the same range.
The 2-4-4-2 is 12.250" long with a wheelbase of 10.500".

Importand for the turntable size is the wheelbase.


Railexpert

Hello,

you can find many Photos of John West with three-rail standard/narrow gauge:

http://narrowgaugememories.com/index.php/Rio-Grande-in-the-60s/alamosatochama/DRGWlajeastdarksky950 http://narrowgaugememories.com/index.php/Rio-Grande-in-the-60s/alamosatochama/DRGWalasnowaterplug9502 http://narrowgaugememories.com/index.php/Rio-Grande-in-the-60s/alamosatochama/DRGWalasandtower953 http://narrowgaugememories.com/index.php/Rio-Grande-in-the-60s/alamosatochama/DRGWalangandstdxm950 http://narrowgaugememories.com/index.php/Rio-Grande-in-the-60s/alamosatochama/DRGW0010ala http://narrowgaugememories.com/index.php/Rio-Grande-in-the-60s/alamosatochama/DRGWant481switchCRIPbox950 http://narrowgaugememories.com/index.php/Rio-Grande-in-the-60s/alamosatochama/DRGWmeeton3rail95


For the whole DRGW-story from Alamosa to Silverton and Farmington in the sixties see
http://narrowgaugememories.com

Railexpert 

Hello,

O and On30 are the same scale 1:48.

Only the gauge is different:
O is standard gauge 4ft 8 1/2in, in scale 1.250".
On30 is narrow gauge 2ft 6in, in scale 0.650".

You only are mixing gauges, not the scale.

There are enough ptototype examples for exist both gauges together, mostly in stations.
The D&RGW and the C&S had even three rail tracks (or mixed gauge tracks) for combined trafic in both gauges on the same track.

Railexpert  

Hello,

There is a list of minimum radius for On30 locos and cars from Professor Klyzlr.
See http://www.npcrr.net/On30/On30Loco_n_Car_Radius_pics.pdf

Railexpert   

Hi,

Stevelewis wrote:
- Considering that the current passenger cars are 223mm long over the balcony ends that scales up to approx 32'long at the 0n30 scale of 7mm=1' –

That is wrong.
The American O-scale is 1:48; 1' equates ¼" = 6,35 mm. The cars are in original 35' long.
(The British O-scale is 1:43,5; 1' equates 7 mm)

For more information about scale and gauge see
Bachmann Message Board - FAQ's - On30 - What is On30? and
National Model Railroad Association NMRA http://www.nmra.org/standards/sandrp/consist.html

Railexpert  

Hi,

there are made alredy many topics for the Forney minimum radii and rear coupler. Go to "search" on top of this page an search for " Forney radii",  "Forney rear coupler" or "Forney derail". You will find a lot of answers for a solution of this problem.

See also http://www.freerails.com/view_topic.php?id=985&forum_id=6

Railexpert

Hi Harold,

You can expect no fireworks on new articles and new manufacturers every year. You may be disappointed, but a new locomotive and a couple of new cars each year are enough for me.

There also no whining about too little new models will help. For the On30 niche, there are enough manufacturers and models. Alone Bachmann has made 17 types of powered railway vehicles since 1998: 2 porters, 3 geared locos, 2 articulated locos, a 2-4-4, a 4-4-0, a 2-6-0, a 4-6-0, a 2-8-0, a gas loco, a railbus, a railcar, a tram and new a diesel loco. If you count the inside and the outside frames too, there are even still more types.

It's enough for mining, logging and a little freelanced NG-mainline in Colorado. Narrow gauge in On30 is great locomotives ride on a small space. I'm glad that there is this niche.

I am happy to collect and built in On30.

Railexpert  

Hello,

I observe the On30 market since 2001 when I bought my first Porter. I have seen and bought many new items in On30 from Bachmann and other factories. It's true, the Ready To Run (RTR) market for locos and rolling stock is very small:  Bachmann, Accucraft, Broadway Limited, San Juan Car Co and brass models from PSC, MMI and others.

But there are many kits from Backwoods Miniatures, B.T.S, Banta, Mount Blue Model Co and many other factories. You can see it in the "Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette", in the "On30 Annual" and in the internet how wide the range of products and factories is. Since 1998, when the first Bachmann On30 train appeared, there are more and more providers.

Narrow Gauge was also from the real prototypes never a big market if you compare the miles and locos built in NG with the miles and locos built in Standard Gauge all in the USA. The most NG companies had only a small equipment; apart from some exceptions (in Colorado, in Maine and at some bigger logging companies etc.). There were mostly no large fleets. What wonder that it's the same in the model railway scene?

I mean On30 grows slowly but it's growing!!!!

Railexpert 

Hi Bapguy


how did you get the pictures in your posting? This has never been achieved me.


Railexpert

Exerpt from the last Bachmann newsletter:

New Box Car with Murphy Roof - Coming this fall

Item No. 26551 BOX CAR with MURPHY ROOF - OXIDE RED, DATA ONLY (includes second set of doors and 2 optional roofwalk extensions) MSRP $109.00 Shipping Fall

Railexpert

Dear Hamish,

I want no announcements like every year at the NMRA, which is well known.
I want new locos and items to buy in this anniversary year.

Railexpert   

Hello Mr. Bach-man,

1998 Bachmann launched his first On30 model, the for this time high detailed 2-6-0 Steamer.

This year has On30 Narrow Gauge from Bachmann his 15th Anniversary.

Now I studied the 2013 catalogue, but the new items for this 15th Anniversary are very poor:
-   the long announced and delivered Heisler
-   the long announced and delivered 2-4-4-2
-   the long announced and delivered 18' freight cars

For the rest of the year we can only hope some cars:
-   a new 18' box car with Murphy roof
-   a new??? Convertible Coach/Observation car
-   a new??? box car
-   a new??? Gondola


Please produce many more new fine models for us On30 modelers this year

Railexpert                

Hello,

just to clarify:
We all speak about the vertical part of a "T" Boiler  - not about a vertical boiler of a Welsh loco.

Railexpert      

Hello,

at the model it looks like a vertikal boiler in the cab. There is the motor in it.


Railexpert