HO Scale Narrow Gauge?

[chuff_n_puff]

Does anyone know if there is such a monster as a HO scale Narrow Gauge train on the market any where? I prefer the high end DCC model, but will do the conversion myself, if I can just locate one. I know there is a bunch of ON30s out there, but I have all the HO old timey passenger cars to build a custom Tweetsie train, so using an ON30 loco is out of the question. Thanks for any help anyone can give me, chuffnpuff.

[Jhanecker2]

I have not seen any HO narrow gauge locomotives , but they would probably be running on " N " gauge track if you find them. If you have the skill you might be able to swap out the trucks of an HO scale loco with N scale trucks but wheel diameter might be a problem .

[James Thomas]

Blackstone Models makes amazing HO narrow gauge locos and rolling stock.  I think Micro Trains makes rolling stock.
-JT

[BillD53A]

I foyu go to the Train & Trooper website, you will find they just imported an HOn3 model of an ET&WNC 10-wheeler.  Other companies make kits for ET&WNC passenger cars, and there are kits for station buildings, etc., as well.

Try joing the Tweetsie group at Yahoo.com.

[richG]

Here are some links you can look through. HO narrow gauge using N scale track is HOn30. HOn3 track is a little wider gauge than N scale.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hon3+locomotives&btnG=Search

Rich

[ebtnut]

HOn3 has been around for at least 50 years.  There have been lots of kits for rolling stock made, and lots of loco models.  The locos, though, have ben mostly brass imports, and are pretty pricey even today.  Roundhouse made a kit for a 2-8-0 in both inside and outside frame versions at a reasonable price, but they have been discontinued.  Look for them at train shows or on E-bay.  They also did a Shay in HOn3, though I think it a bit oversize for narrow gauge. 

HOn30 has been around for maybe 40 years, essentially arriving with the debut of N scale.  Back in the 1970's AHM released some HOn30 sets, one with an 0-4-0T steamer, and one with a small Plymouth diesel.  They had planned to expand the line with some Maine 2-foot models, but never did.  There are still HOn30 modelers out there, and with the availability of better mechanisms, building steam models is an avenue if you are of the craftsman type. 

[Hamish K]

In europe ready to run HOe (the european term for HOn30) is available from a number of makers including Liliput, which is Bachmann's German branch. Others include ROCO, BEMO and Tillig. There is also (not from Liliput) some ready to run HOm, which is HO scale on 12mm (TT) gauge track representing metre gauge. Prototypes are european, mainly Austrian, German and Swiss. Kits etc. are also available from a variety of makers.

There are some specialist shops that import european models to the USA, e.g. Models 11 which lists the Liliput HOe line and is the shop normally recommended by the Bach Man for overseas Bachmann products.

Hamish

[RAM]

Go to ebay and search hon3.  This will give you an idea of what is out there and the cost.  I do know why, but they also list buildings as hon3.  building are ho.

[chuff_n_puff]

Thanks guys for all the feedback on my question, but I am still kind of in the dark as I have been strictly HO for years. I do have a Hawthorne Collectble ON30 Civil War train, however, that I converted to DCC with sound and just have it in a display cabinet. But I am wondering about the HON3 scale. How is that scale compared to HO? Like I stated before, I already have all the HO Old Timey passenger cars I am going to use to build the Tweetsie and just need to locate a narrow gauge HO loco I can refabricate to be a protypical Tweetsie. Keep the info coming and thanks a lot!

[SteamGene]

HOn3 and HO are the same scale.  The difference is in the gauge - three feet inside to inside of the rail tops as opposed to four feet eight and a half inches.  Because the gauge is smaller, the motive power and rolling stock is smaller, but it's still HO scale. 
Gene

[jayl1]

Gene gave a simple explanation that hits the point.  In Colorado & Pennsylvania (and other places, probably) there were dual gauge tracks - standard gauge & narrow gauge together-  East Broad Top in PA & the Denver & Rio Grande Western (Antonito, CO among other places). On the EBT - at Mt. Union, PA -  standard gauge cars from the Pennsylvania RR would be lifted off their standard gauge trucks & have them replaced with narrow gauge trucks for delivery onto the EBT system.  To re-interchange them with the Pennsy the process would be reversed.  By doing a search of these railroads, many photos should show up.  On the D&RGW you may also find photos of narrow gauge engines sitting next to the standard gauge ones.  That would show Gene's point.  There is also a company that makes dual gauge HO/HOn3 track & switches - Micro-Engineering, I believe.

[richG]

You might consider this an extreme example of narrow gauge and standard gauge. A scene from earlier 1900s at a yard in Maine. The narrow gauge was used quite a lot for logging also. No interchange.

http://www.bridgtonhistory.org/Portals/0/photos/narrowgauge/RR%2010%20-%20Full.jpg

Rich

[jayl1]

Wasn't Bridgton & some of the Maine narrow gauge roads 2' gauge?  Nice photo though to show the difference!!

[SteamGene]

I think most of the Maine narrow gauge lines were two footers. 

[richG]

I have always like the comparison photo. For those not familiar with Main Narroww gauge.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ned=us&q=maine+narrow+gauge+railroads&btnmeta%3Dsearch%3Dsearch=Search+the+Web

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJhrwfqVack

Rich