On30 ET&WNC R.R.

[eric220]

It's very similar in general layout, but it is a bit different. Specifically, it's got a very South-Park-esque wye. They installed those things more often than the PRR installed crossovers.

[Scottl]

That layout is one of my favorite Furlow creations (I actually have the original issue still along with most of his articles). It could be modified for a different setting like Dave's and would be generous in On30. I know some people pooh pooh Furlow's work, but I consider him to be one of the masters of the scenery side of the hobby.  He just sees things naturally and captures normal details in landscapes that are convincing, even when he is creating a caricature scene. 

This thread has caused me to pull out my On30 stash and the Sierra West kits look very tempting right now!   That ESU decoder I have for an n scale loco would fit perfectly in my little Bachmann Porter 

[davefoxx]

This thread has caused me to pull out my On30 stash and the Sierra West kits look very tempting right now!   That ESU decoder I have for an n scale loco would fit perfectly in my little Bachmann Porter 

[jpec]

Don't know if you've seen this...

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/18950

Jeff

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I like the black scheme.

[SSW7771]

Don't know if you've seen this...

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/18950

Jeff

This was a good read.

[jpec]

This was a good read.

Yes, it was. The Doe River area is stunning; like the East's version of Colorado...

Jeff

[davefoxx]

Definitely a good read.  I have seen it before, but thanks for pointing it out, Jeff.

[davefoxx]

I was thinking about the rail gauge of On30 yesterday while snowed in.  Obviously it's too narrow, since the ET&WNC had a 36" gauge.  But, adding to the frustration is that any dual gauge track on the layout also gets the additional annoyance that O scale track is 5', not 4'-8¹/₂".  Now, that's a problem, because it will make the dual gauge track look more like three-rail Lionel, instead of dual gauge track.

I think I can get around that slightly, if I handlay my track, because:

(1) depending on the rim of the On30 wheelsets, maybe I can cheat the On30 gauge of the track an inch or two wider.  I read somewhere online that On30 actually scales out to almost 31.2", so, if true, another inch or two gets a lot closer to 36"; and

(2) I can build the standard gauge track to the correct scale gauge, but this will require fixing the wheelsets on all standard gauge rolling stock to be on the layout.  This is probably not a huge problem, because there's the Proto48 guys so, hopefully, scale trucks and wheelsets are available; or

(3) say., "Screw it!" and have no dual gauge track.  If I were to just model the Doe River Gorge for a scenic layout to roundy-round trains, this is okay.  If I want any operations, adding the standard gauge interchange and switching add a lot of interest to the layout.

DFF

[Philip H]

Go with option 3 and scratch your ops itch on the SBD.

[davefoxx]

Go with option 3 and scratch your ops itch on the SBD.

That's a possibility, but the problem is that I'm considering a double-track mainline for the next N scale layout (ex-ACL main somewhere between Richmond, VA and Fayetteville, NC), which means that it wouldn't have a lot of switching.  In other words, it's possible that the N scale layout might be the roundy-round track plan, especially considering that my enjoyment of the SBD is the inclusion of intermodal trains, the Tropicana Juice Train, and the Amtrak AutoTrain, i.e., mimimal switching.  So, unless I want to model a working classification yard (not really, because they're space hogs) or a separate branch line (this has possibilities like the A&R has done on the current Seaboard Central 2.0), I don't see a lot of potential for ops.

The advantage of handlaying track is the fun in building it myself.  Plus, it's O scale, so it wouldn't require hundreds of turnouts on the layout like an N scale layout might and it should be a whole lot easier to build a working O scale turnout than an N scale turnout!

DFF

[Dave V]

I didn't know that about O gauge...   

I say go route 3.  Even if O gauge were 4' 8.5" it'd still look funny with 30" gauge in the middle.

[davefoxx]

Even if O gauge were 4' 8.5" it'd still look funny with 30" gauge in the middle.

Agreed, which is why I'd have to be able to cheat that 30" gauge closer to 36".  I need play around with some actual track parts and experiment with this before doing any trackplanning.  Of note is that I do NOT want to mess with the gauge of my locomotives.  I am not getting into quartering.  If the track cannot be made to look presentable, then dual gauge will be a no-go.

DFF

[Dave V]

Agreed, which is why I'd have to be able to cheat that 30" gauge closer to 36".  I need play around with some actual track parts and experiment with this before doing any trackplanning.  Of note is that I do NOT want to mess with the gauge of my locomotives.  I am not getting into quartering.  If the track cannot be made to look presentable, then dual gauge will be a no-go.

DFF

TBH, the 30" gauge thing is part of what steered me away from On30 to HOn3.  The Blackstone stuff was the primary driver, but the 30" gauge looks different under a car than 36" gauge.  Now, for you, running a dainty 4-6-0 over 30" gauge track shouldn't be too much of an issue, but I'm running outside-framed 2-8-2s that already look awkward as hell on 36" gauge track (let alone 30" gauge!).

[davefoxx]

Ouch, yes, I can see how that the outside framed locomotives would make a difference.  I have several pieces of ME On30 flex, and the appearance doesn't bother me, yet.  But, the dual gauge track will make it blatantly obvious, unless I can mess around with the gauges with handlaid track.  I could only wish that Blackstone Models offered ET&WNC locomotives and rolling stock in HOn3.  There would be no question that I would jump ship to HO.  But, alas, my choices are G scale or On30.  Looking at the 4-6-0, it's not blatantly obvious that the wheels are undergauged, well, maybe on the tender, if I look hard enough.  But, I can live with it.  It's that or G scale or nothing.  I dabbled in G scale in the 1990s, and I still have a ten wheeler, tank car, and bobber caboose above my desk at work.  But, I don't foresee me ever going back into G scale.

DFF