Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum but have been in model railroading all my life (literally). In electric trains I've done LGB/G-scale, HO, HOn3, N. In steam I have a 7-1/2" gauge, 2.5" scale live steam 0-4-2. I've even spent a good bit of time on full scale steam in both seats. I now have a son of my own and I'm starting to look ahead.
I have a pair of Bachmann On30 2-6-0s that I'm really pleased with (well overall... I'm more of a Baldwin guy, rather than a Rodgers, so that stepped smoke box has got to go....). My expectation is to remain in the lighter narrow gauge equipment and avoid the heavy C and K series D&RGW (doubt my railroad will ever need anything as large as even a Bachmann 2-8-0). What I envision for this railroad is a small general mover that would have supplied a few small mining towns in the mountains of Arizona. It should "meet" the standard gauge mainline somewhere to transfer goods and ore but I see it being a relatively light load (few trains a day max). I'm not going for "broke and hardly alive" but rather "limited and within budget." Equipment should be well maintained (I have never been a fan of the "neglected" look as this was a sure sign of a railroad on its last leg) if only because the equipment has to work reliability to bring in revenue (a broke down loco is not making money).
What I'm having a hard time deciding is the question of stick with On30 or re-gauge to On3. While certainly easiest to just run On30, I'm in that middle ground where I could go both ways. I'm going to hand lay track so using "off the shelf HO track" isn't a plus. It would really I guess be helpful if someone could post in their experience/pros/cons. To me it really seems like "go easy or go true 3foot".
Thanks all,
Chris
I have a pair of Bachmann On30 2-6-0s that I'm really pleased with (well overall... I'm more of a Baldwin guy, rather than a Rodgers, so that stepped smoke box has got to go....). My expectation is to remain in the lighter narrow gauge equipment and avoid the heavy C and K series D&RGW (doubt my railroad will ever need anything as large as even a Bachmann 2-8-0). What I envision for this railroad is a small general mover that would have supplied a few small mining towns in the mountains of Arizona. It should "meet" the standard gauge mainline somewhere to transfer goods and ore but I see it being a relatively light load (few trains a day max). I'm not going for "broke and hardly alive" but rather "limited and within budget." Equipment should be well maintained (I have never been a fan of the "neglected" look as this was a sure sign of a railroad on its last leg) if only because the equipment has to work reliability to bring in revenue (a broke down loco is not making money).
What I'm having a hard time deciding is the question of stick with On30 or re-gauge to On3. While certainly easiest to just run On30, I'm in that middle ground where I could go both ways. I'm going to hand lay track so using "off the shelf HO track" isn't a plus. It would really I guess be helpful if someone could post in their experience/pros/cons. To me it really seems like "go easy or go true 3foot".
Thanks all,
Chris