For The Bach-Man: Scale Track

[wsboyette]

From what I gather, the only track available for Bachmann On3 trains seems to be standard HO. This simply does not look right, as the HO crossties are much tinier than scale On3 ones would be. When does Bachmann plan to begin production of scale On3 track for their trains ?

[Hamish K]

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

[mabloodhound]

As Hamish said, On3 and On30 are two different track gauges.   Bachmann only offers On30 engines, not On3.   And with so many other sources of On30 track available, there will be no financial advantage for Bachmann to offer their own On30 track.
Do what Hamish said, use HO and cover it with ballast, it will look fine.

[ebtnut]

On30 is a "compromise" gauge, developed by modelers who didn't want to put in the big investment in brass locomotives that were the norm for On3.  By using HO scale locomotive parts and mechanisms they were able to bash out O scale narrow gauge models at an affordable cost.  The fact that HO gauge track actually scales to about 31.2 inches in O scale was considered "close enough".  Yes, track components that are more appropriate to the scale are available, or you could explore the world of hand-laying your own track.  Bachmann has charted a course of producing models that are generally correct in size for their prototype, but the equipment itself was small to begin with and doesn't "overload" the size of the track.  However, a lot of modelers are now using standard On3 prototype models and mounting them on On30 trucks, so take your choice.

[S. Calloway]

Another option you may have, is that some are are using the 0n30 models, and changing the gauge to 0n3 by replacing the wheels and or trucks. Some mfgs even make kits to spread the axles on the 4-6-0 and other locomotives that Bachmann offers.  Many great choices here, and the cost is kept low!  The " Narrow gauge and Short Line Gazette" is a great place to start with information, and they seem to be favorable to the Bachmann models. Hope that helps!  S Calloway

[kcsivils1]

Grandt Line makes kits and Coronado Scale Models will do conversion with the kits as well as locomotives there are no conversion kits for.  The brothers who own Coronado model in 1/4 scale and are great craftsmen.

Also, the wheelsets on the vulcan trucks are supposed supposed to be regaugable and the passenger trucks can be widened and wheelsets replaced with NWSL sets designed for the job.

You'll have to raise the couplers.

Or you could leave the trucks as is and raise the couplers and have "poor man's On3." Looks the same with On3 couplers at On3 coupler height. You'll usually be the only one who knows the difference.

[DWU]

You can bury the ties all you want it still dosent look right,ties are too short and too close together.Friend of mine uses Ho track for On30,he removes every other tie,it does look better! Peco track to me isnt good either,unless your building a huge layout or just cant afford it go with Micro Engineering track,its perfect and they make switches to match!