Personally I would like to see the Birney single truck safety car made by Bachmann in HO intorduced to the Williams line. Also a steeple cab electric motor would be nice, this would enable freight cars to be shunted over a trolley line, a fascinating operation that existed in quite a few places. Finally an expansion of the EZ Street track system, especially including turnouts.

I would think that one or two additional trolley or similar cars, and some more EZ Street track items, is the most we could reasonably expect from Williams in the foreseeable future in this area.

Hamish

When you say  bumper trolley do you have the old sort that reversed by a switch on the trolley itself being operated by the car hitting the bumper at the end of the run?  These ran on regular track. I believe they came only with an on/off switch and not a speed controller.  In this case do as Berg suggested and. put some kind of resistor between the on/off switch and the track. Or use a speed controlled power supply, such as that supplied with basic train sets.

The newer reversing trolley sets operate differently. There is no reversing switch on the trolley itself, reversing is achieved by polarity being reversed by electronics contained in the .trolley barn that came with the set. These require special track and the gapped track pieces need to be in the right place. The first version of this type had no speed controller although the stop time could be altered. Again, add a resistor or a speed controller (12v DC in and out) between the trolley barn and the track. The current trolley sets have a speed controller built into the barn, if this won't slow the trolley you may have a faulty controller unit.

Hamish

The Bachmann rail bus and trailer is still listed on the Bachmann site and is shown as available from some retailers. I have one, it will pull a car or two as well as its trailer. One car would probably be all it would have pulled in real life.

As has been mentioned, Bachmann previously made a rail truck, this is out of production now.

Another manufacturer previously made a RGS passenger Goose, but this.is well out of production. 

Finally, there is a steam railcar of an Australian prototype made by an Australian/British company (Ixion models). It might pull a trailer, the prototype did, however it comes with non-American couplers. I believe they can be changed, I have not tried with mine.

The Bachmann rail bus is probably your best bet.

Hamish

Lovely locos, thanks Kevin for posting. I want that 2-4-0!

The 2-6-2t converted to a 2-6-0 looks as though it would be at home in Maine. These are typical Baldwin locos for 2 foot and thirty inch gauge lines (or their metric equivalents) and could be found in many parts of the world including  Australia (Puffing Billy) South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, even the UK (Lynn in Large Scale is a Baldwin 2-4-2t that ran in England). In the US Maine, as mentioned, and Hawaii (A 30 inch gauge 2-6-2t  similar to the ones here). The existing Bachmann 2-8-0, 4-4-0s and articulated locos are other examples of the same family.

Which leads me to make another plea for Bachmann to make a 2-6-2 along these lines, either a tank or tender version, or preferably both. A tender version would be similar to Maine locos (if not identical) and a tank version which would be similar to Puffing Billy (in Australia), the Hawaiian loco, these Brazillian ones and some others. Make the 2-4-0 as well and I would be really happy! (Too much to expect, I know)

Hamish

Quote from: Skarloey Railway on September 17, 2012, 07:41:39 AM
If it was a Baldwin catalogue product but there are no known prototypes* does that mean Baldwin came up with a design but got no takers for it?

Skarloey

As I understand it, the locomotive catalogues showed what the manufacturer could build rather than being a series of available production models such as you get from automobile makers.

Parts were fairly standardised, and many variations were possible on a basic design, e.g. boiler size and type, cylinder and driver sizes etc. Even wheel arrangement, e.g. the Large Scale 4-4-0 and 2-6-0 are essentially the same apart from the wheel arrangement. Essentially similar locomotives could be available for different gauges.  So there were probably many possibilities  that were shown in catalogues that were never ordered.

Hamish

Quote from: Kevin S. on September 16, 2012, 08:46:39 PM
I cannot find the photo or a location on line, but there is a 2-4-4-2 built to 30 inch gauge for a railroad in New Zealand.  It might well be the prototype.

If I can find it, I will provide reference for the photograph.

Kevin

The loco you are thinking of may be Taupo Totara #7. The following  site has information and links to photos on the loco. http://loggingmallets.railfan.net/list/taupo7/taupo7.htm

Note that the loco is 42 inch gauge, not 30 inch and is by ALCO, not Baldwin.  I am unaware of any 30 inch gauge Baldwin 2-4-4-2  Mallets in NZ, however I am not an expert on NZ railways.

Hamish

I too would like to see  WW1 trench locos made, as well as commemorating WW!, these locos were used in many parts of the world after the war, including the USA. A few run on preserved lines in Europe to-day. The 2-6-2t design, first made by ALCO for the UK Army was adopted, in a slightly modified form, by the US when the US entered the war. The US Army locos were made by several makers. This would seem an obvious choice, although any would be welcome. As I am in Australia the Hunslet would appeal is the was the most common WW1 trench loco to reach Australia, but I suspect Bachmann would keep to an American design.

As I have posted before I am a small loco man, however I think On30 needs to continue to appeal to a broad ranger of people to keep a critical mass for the scale. So, while I want more small equipment, I would not object to some new items for those people who use  On30 to model the larger US 3 foot gauge lines, although I am not among them.

Hamish

Quite a few narrow gauge lines in different parts of the world, built passenger cars on their standard freight car chassis. This included  short cars in the 18-20 foot range, one example is the 30 inch gauge Buderim Tramway (Queensland, Australia) which had 20 foot passenger and freight cars. I am sure that 18 foot examples could be found somewhere. So Bachmann, how about adding a passenger car to this delightful new 18 foot car range?

I would also like to see a small 4 wheel "bobber" caboose to complement this new small rolling stock line.

Hamish

The 18 foot freight car range pleases me, I have a need for smaller cars. Thank you Bachmann. However I am still waiting for an excursion car!

I have no real need for the 2-4-4-2, I was hoping for a smallish 2-6-2, either a Sandy River tender or a tank loco (or preferably both). I suspect either of these might have sold better than another articulated, but we shall see.

It is good to see Bachmann continuing to introduce new On30 items, even if all my wishes were not fulfilled.

Hamish

I started this thread about 16 months ago at a time when there had been few new On30 announcements from Bachmann and there were rumours about Bachmann dropping the line. Since then Bachmann have announced the Heisler, log skidder, some new liveries for freight cars such as the billboard reefers and now the 2-4-4-2 and the 18 foot freight cars.  It seems clear that Bachmann intend to continue to support On30 into the future, the introduction of a whole new line of freight cars would not be done if they were not confident of the future of On30.  Thank you Bachmann.

It does seem, at least for the moment, that Bachmann are concentrating on the smaller end of On30 products, catering for those modelling logging, mining and other smalliish narrow gauge lines (whether freelance or prototype) rather than the those modelling the larger equipment used by some 3 foot gauge lines. This suits me well, but will not please all. I suspect that more On30 modellers are at the smaller end as space and already having layouts with tight curves precludes larger equipment for many of us. (No, I d' not have room for 24 or 26 inch radius curves so don't tell me I should use them.) Also some us like narrow gauge locos and rolling stock to be small and funky, not looking as though they could be standard gauge. However the question is, can On30 thrive if only one end of the market is catered for? I doubt that On30 could survive if only larger 3 foot gauge prototypes were made, but can Bachmann afford to ignore them altogether?

I am suggesting that, to ensure On30s future, Bachmann should try to cater for the widest possible range of On30 modellers although personally I will stick to the smaller prototypes only.

Hamish

As I kid I rode on Puffing Billy quite often and, like the other kids, sat holding onto the safety bars with my legs dangling outside. I am still here!  I allowed my kids to do it when I took them for a ride on Puffing Billy. It is quite safe, you can't slide under the safety bars. The train travels slowly. If it was dangerous you can be sure it would have been stopped a long time age as millions of kids have ridden on Puffing Billy  that way.

It is of course my boyhood trips on "Puffing Billy" that led to me becoming a narrow gauge modeller.

Hamish

For some reason my computer decided to send my message while I was in the middle of composing it - as I was trying say, On30 has always consisted of a large variety of modellers, including, in no particular order,
      Those using it as a convenient way to model 3 foot (or 2 foot) gauge prototypes
      Freelance modellers using it to model narrow gauge of no particular gauge,
     Industrial modellers such as mining, logging, sugar cane etc.
      Kit-bashers who love modifying HO gauge equipment to On30
     Those modelling actual 30 inch gauge lines, often from overseas, but sometimes US lines

Many other variations exist. Bachmann has tried to provide models to suit most of the above, and I expect them to continue to do so, as no one segment  of the On30 market is probably big enough by itself to justify a whole large range.

Hamish
   

     




   those

Quote from: Ken Clark on July 20, 2012, 04:14:39 PM


      The FCA&B (Chile) operated OF 2-8-4T's while still 2"6" gauge
      The Rio Turbo  (Argentina) has rebuilt a couple of their IF 2-10-2s for tourist service
      The Patagonian National (aka Esquel in Argentina) operates IF & OF 2-8-2's

       2&1/2FT gauge Articulated Locomotives 2-6-0+0-6-2T
                                                                 2-6-6-2
                                                                 2-6-0+0-6-4T
                                                                 2-6-2+2-6-2T


       Lots of larger locomotive's to choose from.

                  Ken Clark

Sierra Leone had 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt locomotives on the 30 inch gauge to add to the list of large 30 inch gauge locomotives.

On30 has always consisted of a diverse range of meodellers, including, in no particular order

LGB invented the term "G". They used to describe their products as IIm (you used to see this on their boxes) which is the standard european designation for 1:22.5 scale running on 45mm gauge track representing metre gauge. However "G" was used for marketing purposes and to cover the fact that not all LGB items were to 1:22.5 scale or of metre gauge  prototypes. Thus "G" has always been used for any scale running on 45mm track. "G" gauge would be more accurate than "G" scale. It would help if all manufacturers  clearly stated the scale of each item, then we could make up our own minds as to what we wished to use.

To return to the question, if the item is 1:29 or 1:32 scale it is almost certainly of a standard gauge prototype.  If it is American outline of 1:22.5 or 1:20.3 is will usually be of 3 foot gauge prototype, although Bachmann's Forney and Lynn are of 2 foot gauge prototypes. (Lynn ran in England, but was a typical American Baldwin locomotive) European models can be metre, 750 or 760mm (both close to 30 inches) or 60mm (just under 2 foot) gauge prototypes. 1:24 has been used both for 3 foot and standard gauge models.

Hamish

Quote from: Desertdweller on June 28, 2012, 06:08:57 PM
LD,



Does anyone know if there is actually a prototype for the Con-Cor Diesel PCC car?  It sounds like it could be plausible, if rather unlikely.  I cannot recall ever seeing a photo or example of one.



Les

There really is a prototype for everything, one of the Baltimore PCC cars was sold to Costa Rica and converted to a narrow gauge diesel railbus. I don't know of any standard gauge ones, but you never know.

Hamish