Thanks to all of you for the information.  I have forwarded it to my friend.

David Meashey

GovB;

The "code" of the rail describes the height of the rail in thousandths of an inch.  Code 70 is 70 thou. high.  Code 83 is 83 thou. high. - And so forth.  Most rail is now measured in thousandths, so number one gauge track for garden railways may be found in 215 thou., 250 thou., and 332 thou.  The code simply describes the height of the rail. 

GAUGE is the INSIDE distance between the rails.  Normally gauge is expressed for Standard Gauge track - 4 foot 8 1/2 inches in prototype measurement.  Confusion can start when the gauge is varied (wider or narrower) from standard gauge.  Modellers have developed a form of shorthand to express some of the common narrow gauges.  (Not many of us have pursued broad gauge, although prior to 1890 numerous examples of broad gauge were in existance.) 

The short hand goes like this:  SCALE is usually expressed by a letter or letters - O, S, HO, N, and Z.  (To avoid confusion, I will refrain from discussing the kalidascope of scales that run on Number One gauge track, and are collectively called "large scale.")  All O scale should have the same scale proportions, which in the United States is expressed as 1:48.  Just be aware some other countries have established a slightly different ratio for what they consider O scale.   But for the purpose of this discussion, I will use the US ratio of 1:48.  Now when the gauge is smaller than standard gauge, modellers need to express this difference as well, thus the lower-case "n" stands for NARROW gauge.  Even feet of gauge are expressed by a single digit, thus On3 equals O scale running on a three-foot gauge, or 36 inches.  On2 equals O scale running on a two-foot gauge, or 24 inches.

Narrow gauge that is not gauged in even feet is expressed by two digits, thus On30 equals O scale running on 30 inch gauge.  On15 would express O scale running on 15 inch gauge track (some mine trams and contractor railways did use such a narrow gauge).

I hope this helps,
David Meashey

Hello All;

A friend of mine sent me an email asking whether I had seen any information concerning an On30 model for a vertical-boilered steam locomotive.  He said there had been some discussion about it at a Yahoo On30 group site.  I noted that I had not seen anything here, but I would try to look around and try to find out about this locomotive.

I still have not seen anything here, so I thought I would ask whether anyone else at this site knows about it.

My friend is fond of using Bachmann On30 stock to kitbash Gn15 equipment, so I am sure he has an idea for a future project for the vertical-boilered locomotive.

Thanks to all in advance for any help.  I can only lurk from work, as corporate IT has a no post policy, so don't be upset if it takes me a day or longer to respond to any of your questions.

Sincerely,
David Meashey

Thanks, Dave!

I had the locomotive on its back, and all the plastic looks brand new.  I guess it's worth a go.  Like you wrote, if it fails, it will still look pretty on a siding or as a heavy flat car load.

Yours,
David Meashey

Hi All;

Today I dug out my REA FA1 (Yeah, it's pre-Aristo Craft) to make a wheel center-to-center measurement for a friend. In the process I also uncovered my Bachmann Lyn 2-4-2t. I put Kadees on the FA1 while I had it out, and also looked at the Lyn to see how hard it would be to add Kadees to it. It looks like a pretty straight forward job.

Now here's the rub. The Lyn only has a couple of hours running time on it, and it ran well during those hours. BUT, I have read a lot at various sites that claims this locomotive is a real loser. The locomotive will probably never see more than light duty, but I still hate the thought of putting Kadees on a potential mantlepiece queen.

Your thoughts and experience please. Are the Kadees worth a go?

Thanks for your input,
David Meashey

Just wanted to chime in concerning NYC 2-8-4s.  I have the following book in my collection: The Steam Locomotive in America by Alfred W. Bruce, copyright 1952, Bonanza Books.  I purchased this book in the mid-1960s, while I was in college.  $3.00 on the bargain book table at a bookstore in downtown Lancaster, PA, if I remember correctly.

Between pages 276 and 277 are 168 photos of various steam locomotives.  Photo 166 shows the last Alco steam locomotive, built in 1948.  It is New York Central System number 9401.  It is a 2-8-4 type, and the tender bears New York Central System along its side.  Near the top of the coal bunker are smaller letters "P&LE" and perhaps "RR."  They are very hard to read due to the size of the photo, and a magnifying glass is of little help.  This difference in the lettering may answer why there is some confusion as to the ownership of these locomotives. 

The locomotive is very modern looking with an all-weather cab, and domes and a stack that bearly rise above the top of the boiler.  The stats include: BP - 230psi, cylinders 26"X32", tractive effort 67,100 lb, and an engine weight of 426,000 lb.  It must have been spectacular to see in operation.  Sadly, I wonder if it had a service life of even 10 years.

Hope this helps,
David Meashey

While the original Plasticville structures are very basic, they make good "kitbashing fodder" for other projects.  I'd love to see some of them offered in 1:24 scale.  It is also nice to have structures that will disassemble and store practically flat. 

Those of us who grew up with the Lionel, Marx, and American Flyer trains were glad to have buildings that could survive being dismantled on New Year's and still look good when reassembled for the next Christmas.  Similar structures would store better when brought inside from the garden railway for the cold months.

I shamelessly converted my 49 year old O/S Plasticville coaling tower into a 1:24 rock bin for my (now diamantled) garden railway.


Front


Rear

Any hope for some 1:24 Plasticville structures Bach Mann?  Those Masonite structures your company tried a few years ago just did not pack the "pizzaz" of Plasticville.  Just a thought.

Hoping to anticipate,
David Meashey

1. Have you ever rode on a steam train? Yes

2. Where was your last steam train ride?  Spencer, NC at the North Carolina Transportation Museum

3. What year was your last steam train ride? 2004

4. Do you often "chase" steam trains for enjoyment or photo ops.? Not many opportunities in Roanoke, Va at present.

5. Bonus Q  What is your all time favorite steam train? this should be fun.  My all time favorites are the 45 ton and 65 ton Porter Saddletank locomotives that I ran as a volunteer engineer for the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad, a tourist line in eastern Pennsylvania.  I had pet names for them; the 45 ton 0-4-0st was called Pauline; the 65 ton 0-6-0st was called Petulia.  They were quite strong for their size, but definitely not express passenger locomotives.  They were a lot of work - and fun - to run.

Yours,
David Meashey

I just finished this primitive wooden MOW water tank car in large scale before the East Coast Large Scale Train Show in York, PA.  The carbody was built by the late Bill Sours as part of a tank car "kit" he presented to various friends in our local garden railroad club.  Those receiving a car had to finish building the tank around a wooden form, stain or paint the wood, and add trucks, couplers and other details.  I still need to paint and weather the metal parts of the car.



Top view:  The hatch opens.



End view: The "business" end of the car with the hose and delivery valve.



Side view: Showing the access ladder to the hatch.

Thanks for looking,
David Meashey

Dave;

Please see my post under "bachmann g scale coal tower."  It may provide some ideas.

Yours,
David Meashey

Dear Adam;

I used the Bachmann O/S scale coaling tower on my, now dismantled, garden railway as a rock bin.  I plugged the door to the hoist shaft with siding material.  I added breather and exhaust pipes for the "virtual" hoist engine.  I removed every other step from the O scale ladder to the front platform, and fabricated new raised railings.  I also removed the platform and stairs to the hoist shaft door.  Finally, I mounted the whole structure on some 2x4 lumber sections to raise it up and give it a low center of gravity.

You could certainly do the same with a double rock bin.  the photographs below should give you some ideas.  By the way, my coaling tower dates back to when I was about 12 years old, which makes it 49 years old by now!  





Have fun,
David Meashey