On30 ET&WNC R.R.

[Philip H]

If you're Timonium bound, there was a vendor (Scale Model Railroads) selling off estate On30 locomotives ranging from $50 for the Davenport to no more than $150 for steam with DCC and sound. I don't know if any could be modified for your needs...

Jeff

Given the number of gauge switchers running amok here these days you could have made a small fortune in finders fees pimpin these to TRW members.  Wish I had seen it before today - he didn't by any chance have any of the side rod gas mechanicals did he?

[davefoxx]

Given the number of gauge switchers running amok here these days you could have made a small fortune in finders fees pimpin these to TRW members.  Wish I had seen it before today - he didn't by any chance have any of the side rod gas mechanicals did he?

Haha!  "Gauge switchers."  Is that the 2017 version of "The Waffler?"   



DFF

[davefoxx]

I had a recent brainstorm that I would like to bounce off of my TRW friends.  As we know, On30 gauge is approximately 31-1/2 scale inches in O scale.  That's 4-1/2 scale inches too narrow for 36" narrow gauge track, but not a deal breaker for me to be able to use the very affordable and seemingly good quality Bachmann On30 ten wheelers decorated for the ET&WNC.  However, O scale standard track is approximately 60 scale inches or 3-1/2" too wide as compared to the standard gauge of 4'8-1/2" or 56-1/2".  That's also not a problem on its own, but if a modeler wants to model dual gauge track, using On30 and O scale track, it would more likely take on the look of Lionel track rather than dual gauge track.

So, here's the idea.  Since the On30 gauge is cheated 4-1/2 scale inches too narrow, why not do the same with the standard track gauge?  In other words, why not make the standard gauge approximately 4'4", pulling the gauge in by 8", which should fix the disproportionate look.  It's highly unlikely that I would even run any standard gauge equipment, and, even if I had a car or two for interchange, it shouldn't be too difficult to rebuild the trucks and regauge the wheelsets of a couple of freight cars.

Thoughts?

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I like it.

[Dave V]

It's just crazy enough to work!!!   

[p51]

Wow, that's a great idea especially as it's simply decorative anyway.
That never would have occurred to me. And even if you did see standard gauge stuff, you could always narrow the wheels on the axles just a tad to fit.
I must admit, the whole dual gauge thing with On30 you already mentioned is one of the primary reasons I never seriously looked into modeling the section from Port Rayon toward Cranberry on my own layout...

[davefoxx]

I must admit, the whole dual gauge thing with On30 you already mentioned is one of the primary reasons I never seriously looked into modeling the section from Port Rayon toward Cranberry on my own layout...

And that dual gauge track is exactly what does appeal to me.  And, you just have to admit that the dual gauge coal trestle in Johnson City is just cool.

I have handlaid N scale track and don't see O scale (Code 83) as that much more difficult, if at all, with the proper tools.  The only real trick will be any dual gauge turnouts.

DFF

[p51]

And that dual gauge track is exactly what does appeal to me.  And, you just have to admit that the dual gauge coal trestle in Johnson City is just cool.

Oh, it greatly appeals to me, I just knew it'd look like heck with On30 and straight O, it'd look too much like 3-rail Lionel!

[coosvalley]

I wonder how close to S scale track it would end up being????

I had a recent brainstorm that I would like to bounce off of my TRW friends.  As we know, On30 gauge is approximately 31-1/2 scale inches in O scale.  That's 4-1/2 scale inches too narrow for 36" narrow gauge track, but not a deal breaker for me to be able to use the very affordable and seemingly good quality Bachmann On30 ten wheelers decorated for the ET&WNC.  However, O scale standard track is approximately 60 scale inches or 3-1/2" too wide as compared to the standard gauge of 4'8-1/2" or 56-1/2".  That's also not a problem on its own, but if a modeler wants to model dual gauge track, using On30 and O scale track, it would more likely take on the look of Lionel track rather than dual gauge track.

So, here's the idea.  Since the On30 gauge is cheated 4-1/2 scale inches too narrow, why not do the same with the standard track gauge?  In other words, why not make the standard gauge approximately 4'4", pulling the gauge in by 8", which should fix the disproportionate look.  It's highly unlikely that I would even run any standard gauge equipment, and, even if I had a car or two for interchange, it shouldn't be too difficult to rebuild the trucks and regauge the wheelsets of a couple of freight cars.

Thoughts?

DFF

[Missaberoad]

I wonder how close to S scale track it would end up being????

HO track in O scale is 31.17 inches which works out to 41.56 in S, so the standard gauge track will be a little big still somewhere around 59-60 inches in 1:64 depending on the gauge Dave chooses...

[jpec]

Ever see this, Dave?

[jpec]

Given the number of gauge switchers running amok here these days you could have made a small fortune in finders fees pimpin these to TRW members.  Wish I had seen it before today - he didn't by any chance have any of the side rod gas mechanicals did he?

No...and to my surprise, folks weren't as ravenous about the steam as I thought they'd be. According to the local experts, the prices weren't too far off from a new one...

[davefoxx]

Ever see this, Dave?

/>

Yes, I have.  I hope to ride it someday.

DFF

[Lemosteam]

With all of the room inside these locos, have you considered going dead-rail?

[davefoxx]

With all of the room inside these locos, have you considered going dead-rail?

No, I don't see the advantage of dead-rail at this point.  It's bad enough that I'm always running low on battery power on my cell phone or tablet.  I prefer not to have to deal with recharging locomotive batteries, or worse, replacing expensive batteries.  Oh, and I just bought an NCE DCC system a few weeks ago.

DFF