I must be getting dyslexic in my old age. British O scale is 1:43.5, not 1:34.5

Hamish

 

Quote from: Royce Wilson on October 31, 2011, 05:38:28 PM
The problem is not just the 30" guage ,it is with the standard gauge used bt American manufactures comes out to be more of 5' instead of 4' 8 1/2".

Royce

As I see it is more a matter of scale, the european O scale of 1:45 comes out at pretty exact for standard gauge and quite close for 30 inch on 16,5mm (HO) track (and even closer for 750mm), the American scale of 1:48 comes out as too wide for both (16.5mm track scales to 31.2 inches in 1:48 scale). The British scale of 1:34.5 comes out as too narrow for both.

Hamish

Whether the effect is ruined by the third rail being close to dead centre depends on what you are trying to model. The following video shows operations on a dual gauge 750mm (about 29 1/2 inches) and standard gauge line in Germany. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6S4j-U1ESIThus for any-one trying to model 30 inch and standard dual gauge the effect is right!

Hamish

There is a kit for a vertical boiler class A Dunkirk available from one of the small scale On30 manufacturers. I suspect that, if Bachmann did want to make another type of geared locomotive, a Class A Climax or a different Shay would be more likely than a Dunkirk as these are better known. My own choice would be a Class A Climax, but I doubt that another geared loco is likely for quite a while with the Heisler coming out.

Hamish

Dear 3rd Rail, Bach Man or whoever

Is there any news on when the EZ Streets range might arrive?

Hamish

Ray

Nice video. However I don't really approve when people alter genuine locomotives to something they never were during their service lives. Didn't stop me enjoying the video though!

Hamish

All ON30, Bachmann 0-4-0 Porter, 0-4-2 Porter, Shay, Climax  (out of service, but just needs the relatively simple joint connection repair), and Railbus. I also have an Ixion Models Coffee Pot steam railcar.

Hamish

A tank locomotive bigger than the Porters but not a Forney. A 2-6-2t or an  0-6-2t would be fine.

Hamish

[/quote] that sounds very interesting besides shays what style/builder engines do they use in australia?
[/quote]

I huge question - a few brief generalisations follow.
In the steam era most locos were probably of British style, some imported., others built by various Australian makers. However some USA style locos also existed., both imported from various makers including Baldwin and Alco and also made locally.. There were also some German and other European locos, especially on narrow gauges ( a few 2  foot gauge Krauss locos came to Australia for example). By USA standards Australian locos were generally small. Articulated locos were Garratts, the only Mallets were 3 small German 2 foot gauge 0-4-4-0s. A relatively small number of American geared locos came to Australia, as well as Shays there were some Climaxes, but no Heislers.
Diesels are generally American export model locos, from all the main makers. Quite often they are manufactured  under licence by Australian makers. Exceptions exist, of course.

I hope this helps
Hamish

Hamish.,

A freelanced Australian 30 inch gauge  narrow gauge railway (in ON30). Some ideas have been taken from real life Australian lines, in particular the Mapleton (2 foot gauge) and Buderim (30 inch gauge) tramways in Queenlasnd and the Victorian 30 inch gauge lines. Both the Buderim and Mapleton tramways had Shays, and used them on mixed passenger and freight trains, and even excursion passenger trains. I do this! My line is however very much freelance and in no way a model of any of these lines.

Hamish

These are listed as new in the 2011 Liliput (Bachmann's German branch) catalogue, though they are in fact rereleases. Dresden, Nurnberg and Berlin versions are listed. The current  Berlin's number is L193502. I don't have details but I know they were originally released quite some time ago, and  possibly rereleased  previously as well.

Hamish

Bachmann's range does run on HO gauge track, it is On30. On3 uses a different track gauge.  While Bachmann does not make scale On30 track it is made by  Peco (UK) and Micro-engineering. Alternatively bury HO track in fine  ballast and weeds so that the ties are barely visible. This gives an appearance typical of many backwoods operations.

Hamish

Dear Bach-Man

Thanks - I checked a few stores that didn't have any,  but I have now done a broader search that does show that they are around.

Hamish

I doubt that there was a single prototype for either the 0-4-0 or 0-4-2 Porters, rather they are' probably "catalogue locomotives" i.e. based on the offerings in the manufacturers catalogue rather than on a specific example. These small Porters were supplied to a large number of operators, both in the US and other countries. They were made in several different gauges. For an American 30 inch gauge example see http://on30center.com/on30/library/articles/emrr/eureka.html For a Mexican 30 inch gauge 0-4-2 see http://www.mexlist.com/penoles/photo19.jpg

Hamish

Dear Bach-Man

The On30 V tipping cars seem to be in short supply at the moment, are more going to be made?

thanks

Hamish