O-Gauge Forum

[Len]

Now that Bachmann's purchase of Williams Electric Trains is official, when can we expect to see an O-Gauge forum?

Len

[ebtnut]

I know I probably shouldn't be quite the noodge, but here goes.  I would like to see an O SCALE forum, one that also wraps in the On30 forum.  I've always been just a bit bugged that this board lists it as On30 Scale.  It is not a scale--it is O scale modeling at 30 inch track gauge.  I know that folks can be a bit lazy in their language usage--calling thing HO scale or N scale, when it is really HO or N GAUGE.  It wasn't quite so bad back in the Neolithic era when we essentially had O, S, and HO.  But these days, when folks are using a lot of different track gauges in one scale (or several different scales on the same track--see Large/G gauge), things can get muddled.  OK, rant over.

[Woody Elmore]

Aren't Williams trains tinplate? That is, not to scale to match Lionel Trains. I assume Bachmann will start a Williams board.

[Woody Elmore]

I just looked at the Williams on line catalog and it sure looks like a Lionel clone to me! Makes me wish I had a basement big enough. I always wanted a LIonel CNJ switcher and I see Williams has one. They also have a Katy red and white diesel. If memory serves Lionel had one also.

I would call the  Williams board O gauge - that way you can do O scale and Williams three rail.

I'm glad to see Bachmann expanding!

[airferber]

Mr. Bach-Man, Please take my suggestions into consideration.

Suggestions:

Once you have the williams O-Gauge trains listed on the site, there should be a current type requirement ("AC" or "DC" ) for conventional operation included in the specs of each locomotive in every scale, since all Bachmann trains in HO, N, ON30, and G run on direct current (DC) or DCC only.  Most O gauge 3-rail trains today run on alternating current (AC) or Lionel's TMCC and MTH DCS, which are not exactly the same as DCC.  All of your power packs with speed controllers are for DC operation.  If the Williams 3-rail O gauge trains require AC Power, It would be recommended to include Power Packs with a variable AC output in the O-gauge section of the catolog, since DC power packs may damage the sound units on 3-rail O gauge locomotives that have speakers.

Thanks

-Aaron Ferber