HOn30 / HOe Tramways/Streetcars

[C.K. Eddlemon]

I'm a standard HO'er but have started adding HOn30 to my layout (it may take 10-15 years to aquire the goal I'm about to state) and, it seems to me that the narrow 30" gauge trackage is MORE suitable for the quasi-URBAN scenery of my Euro/American waterfront scene.  (The streets, as planned, are quite narrow, with a lot of it under elevated standard-gauge trackage) -- this is a fairly busy North Atlantic port).

I am wanting to add both streetcars/trams AND industrial switchers, the latter which are readily available but the streetcars I'm not so sure about.

ANYTHING anyone knows about HOn30" streetcars (availability, scratchbuilding tips, kitbashing, conversion/adaptation) would be a welcome topic of discussion.  I hate to do a lot of scratchbuilding, and it seems to me that standard-gauge trackage is unnatural for narrow city streets -- especially with rural-to-urban narrow gauge (30") trackage already in existence on my layout.

[Bojangle]

I'm looking at my Bachmann catalog, they have a "village street car set" in ON30 running on HO track.  I have been looking at the scale since I have poor eyesight, I bought my wife a "Roaring Ridge" , she loves it. 
I haven't seen any street cars other than in sets, but I bet they are available. If I see any searching the net, I'll let  you know.
Bo

[Bojangle]

Checking the Bachmann catalog again, I see they do have closed street cars in3 styles,  Christmas,  United Traction, and Hersheys.
Hope this helps
Bo

[C.K. Eddlemon]

Thanks, but I'm looking for HOn30", not On30"   They both are models of 30" gauge, but different scales. 

If they can make such ATTRACTIVE trolleys in 0n30", why can't such be available in HOn30" ?

In fact, there's a LOT of good looking stuff in On30", thanks especially to Bachmann and Department 56 and the like.  But I can't convert because O gauge standard equipment (not to mention O scale towns and mainline) is just too big for the type of layout I've invested in.

Thanks, Bojangles -- and thanks to Bachmann for putting 30" gauge 'on the maps' and making such attractive 30" gauge models, even if they are not my scale. At least I know what they oughtta look like.

[dwp1726]

Type in a google search HOn30
There is a fair amount out there
One place to start is
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HOn30/
http://www.hon30.org/
Barry at  http://www.railrec.com/
makes some nice HOn30 kits
and I hope it's OK to post
http://www.bnfhoby.com/
Ask for Al.

Dave

[C.K. Eddlemon]

Thanks for the info.

Weirdly enough, Yahoo accepts then has no recognition of my password. I think I'll avoid any more frustration. But thanks for the other two.

[CKHOLIDAY]

Try searching ASPEN Model (ASPEN MODELLE) they are a german company with a distributor in Colorado-------they make the most beautiful HO scale
Streetcars........mostly closed with open platforms. You can purchase them
operating or static. I first discovered them at a Munich Subway station shop.
They have various early styles including 4 & 6 arch windows, 3-arch as well
as square windows. Mostly plastic with brass etched detail parts. I bought several unpowered open platform cars to make horse-drawn streetcars for my layout. the selections vary time to time. Hope this helps you out!!!!

-Mike

[C.K. Eddlemon]

Thanks, Mike!  You found EXACTLY what I was looking for.  Who'd've ever imagine something like HOn30" streetcars would be produced by someone? This's got to be the most helpful website ever.

Strangely enough, streetcars (even HOe streetcars) seem to be the ONLY HO scale product they sell.  I guess my port city of Bellwrest, Norumbraega will have something akin to San Francisco's Cable Cars. They go well with the antiquated but well preserved trains.

Anyone else who knows of HOn30", HOn2-1/2, or HOe Streetcars, street railways, etc. I'm still looking for leads.

Dave: I got my Yahoo! account and password working -- thanks for the leads.  Now, if I played the lottery and won, I'd be able to AFFORD narrow gauge. Might as well try large scale for the costs involved...

[paulsafety]

You might check out:
http://www.dauphin-railwaymodel.jp/
They have HOn30 railcars (that could be turned into streetcars with the addition of a trolleypole) and a nifty switcher.
In pure HO, they have some interesting work motors and steeple cabs. 

Once, I kitbashed an IHC "birney" trolley into a HOn30 railbus, but it could have just as easily been turned into a narrow gauge, double truck trolley.

Paul F.

[Woody Elmore]

There is a good article by Charlie Goetz about RTR narrow gauge modelling in the current issue of the Gazette.

[Spule 4]

Halling o Austria do some trams and some H0e.....