Would I be correct that an O scale car could be an On30 if I replaced the wheels w/HO wheel sets?

Even though my On30 loco runs on my HO layout (no very far of course), I assume that my new layout should use O scale stuff like bridges to look more realistic. In other words, I could increase the distance of the railing on my HO trestle bridge and it would work on my On30 loco but am guessing that it's not really the right size.

You may assume that I am new to model railroading, have never seen a layout except in a magazine and on the internet and live in no place USA.
You would be correct....

Thank You for the help. If it wasn't for 'Ask the Bachmann' I would not be into model railroading.

I am a new HO rail guy but have just purchased an On30 Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation w/DCC. I run on a NCE Power Cab rated at 2 amps. My question is: can I test the On30 on my layout or will the big loco pull more than 2 amps and hurt my Power Cab?

BTW, this new Baldwin makes my HO loco's look like toys. I wonder now that the kids are gone, if my wife really needs the spare bedroom!!!

Quote from: jward on August 15, 2009, 01:38:12 AM
please post some photos, it sounds alot like some of the places i've been in real life......

I will do that when the Grandchildren come to visit (Thanksgiving maybe) as they know how to do that stuff.  Thanks to all for your input and advise.

Quote from: jward on August 11, 2009, 09:54:47 PM
if i may ask, what are you modelling with those 13" radius curves?

I'm not sure if I am answering your question but here goes:
At one end is the 'Old Coal Mine', at the other is the 'Coldwater Coal Co.'
Between them I have a Coaling Station, Sand Station,Storage Tank Kit,4 Trestle Bridges,a Concrete Bridge,Warren Bridge,3 Signal Towers,4 Water Tanks, and a removable mountain and tunnel w/a water tower on top. Also a Centennial Mills Inc. Kit and a bunch off small stuff. Built the stuff myself just to see if I could do it. I spend my time moving coal cars around and listening to my little 0-6-0t go chug,chug,chug. My wife gets a kick out  of it.

FYI-just bought (not delivered yet) a Bachmann Spectrum On30 DCC 2-8-0 Consolidation. No use for it yet, but someday....?

Quote from: jward on August 09, 2009, 10:33:10 PM
a 13 1/2" radius curve? in HO? i wouldn't recommend going below 18" in HO. anything below that belongs on an N scale layout. no wonder you were having problems with that 4-4-0......

Actually, I thought I was doing pretty good at 13 1/2". I got most of my ideas for my layout from an article in the April 2008 issue of Model Railroader. Tom Millers' (no relation) Meramec Valley RR runs with 12" minimum radius curves.
Tom has been at it for 25 years, me - only actually running since March 2009.
Although I would love to have the room to run 18" radius,but then I would be in On30.

Last November, before I had a loco or a layout, I asked the "Bach Man' about small layouts. Got some great advise and built my first layout ( 30" x 96") w/ 13 1/2" radius curves. I run a 0-6-0t w/dcc and sound and a 0-6-0 goat switcher both by Mantua. That worked so well that I figured that if 6 wheels were O.K., 8 wheels would be better. I ordered a 4-4-0 modern American/DCC by Spectrum. This only works if you take off the front 4 pilot wheels but the loco looks ridiculous going around curves. In all fairness, a gentleman named 'Sid'  wrote that loco's with pilot trucks would not work on a small layout like mine but I was too new and did not know what "pilot Trucks" were and didn't ask. (Didn't want to sound stupid). I have the 4-4-0 sitting on a shelf to remind me not to try that trick again. Hope this helps some of you new guys with your projects.

Just a thought, would a small 'Shay' take a 13 1/2 radius curve?

Thanks to all for your advise and help.

I live in a small town (Pelahatchie Mississippi), we have no flea markets, hobby shops or model train folks that I could find in my area. My NMRA rep suggested that I go to an annual sale in Georgia. As we say around here, that seemed like too much sugar for a dime.

Anyway, thanks again.

Is there a place (on the WEB) where one can trade or buy items from other model RR people. Not the big auction places (ie. ebay) but just a site for posting stuff for trade or a want list. For example, I have been looking for a tender for my 0-6-0 switcher. Nothing special, just a little tender. Can't find one. Also, want to trade a new Spectrum 'ho' 4-4-0 dcc loco for something.
Emailed my NMRA Division chair and my region Member Aid Chair for some direction ... no help. I have been a model RR guy for about 5 months now but I thought some of you old timers could provide some direction.

Quote from: WoundedBear on November 30, 2008, 12:56:01 PM
Look back at the April 2008 issue of Model Railroader magazine. It features a neat little layout using an 0-6-0 and 12" radius curves. The entire layout measures 28" X 94".

Thank you for the info. I just got the April copy and it was exactly what I was looking for. This gives me new hope. Now if I could just find an 0-6-0 dcc/sound I would be in high cotton.

Again, thank-you, I appriciate the help.

Bob

Quote from: pdlethbridge on December 02, 2008, 04:31:25 PM
12" radius or less would be great for a trolley line. Curves like this, even for trolleys, were taken very slowly. How fast do you want to go?

As slow as I have to. Speed would not be an issue with me. Although, after some of the advise I have noted, I have dropped my plan to have a radius curve less than 15'' thru a tunnel.

After 2 days of reading thru 9 pages of posts on radius curves ( we work at 48kb out here ) I still need some direction.  I have read that although an     0-4-0,0-6-0, 4-4-0 or a 2-6-0 will work on a 15" radius it is possable to run them on much smaller curves.  I have not been able to verify this with anybody who has tried this. Specifically, will any of the above loco's run on a 12" radius curve, assuming the loco is DCC w/sound equiped.