Narrow-gauge musings

[FJ and G]

Have you ever heard of Nn3 (or Nn2.5, HOn3, Sn3 etc?

Why is it that 3 rail track is the only scale that does not have narrow gauge running on it.

Don't confuse this with On3 or On2.5, the latter which uses HO track; rather i'm speaking about running NARROW gauge trains on 3 rail track.

G-scale trains; the type 1:32, would likely be candidates for 3 rail track (or for that matter, 2-rail O track.

One of the few narrow gauge trains you can run at this time is the Williams Center Cab locomotive. You conceivably could build some rolling stock (or scratchbuild some other type locomotives).

The advantage of narrow gauge 3-rail tracks; imo, is that you can build some massive G-scale structures and stuff; possibly even run it outdoors, if LGB or Bachman stepped up to the plate.

Turning ratios shouldn't be a problem. In fact LGB just released a German 2-10-2 steam locomotive that takes 24 radius curves (048).

Just some musings.

[Dr. John]

I suppose one could use Marklin HO track with the metal studs on the ties. It is for AC operation and, I suppose, technically 3 rail. Then you could have an On30 line. Of course, you would have to use Marklin mechanisms for motive power and kitbash or scratch build the superstructures, but you could still use Bachman On30 rolling stock.

Just a thought . . .

[Anonymous]

Yup...I have! Marklin did it some time ago using their HO track. It was called MAXI. As for small. There's a guy in my local chapter of ETE (EuropeanTrain Ethusiasts) that has even done Zm. It's getting just a tad small and the loco's won't pull much.
Here's URL of some tiny slim rail stuff. http://home.att.net/~Berliner-Ultrasonics/zscale_z.html#Zm

[FJ and G]

Repeat. Not HO track; rather, running G scale-like stuff on 3-rail track

[palallin]

There is a G scale train made (by Pola, I think) for O 2-rail.

There was an RGS Galloping Goose made a few years ago in 1:32 for 3 rail O.

O 3 rail mechanisms are common enough: time to kit bash!

[lionelsoni]

It looks like a 1.25-inch gauge corresponds to 40 inches at a scale of 1/32, which is very close to 1 meter, popular elsewhere but not in the US. However, that is close enough to 3 feet to be plausible (about the same error as our using 5 feet to represent 4'8.5").

[FJ and G]

thx, Bob, I didn't even want to hazard a guess reg. the scale measurements. I know that there's also a fudge factor in On2.5, supposedly a 3-ft track but really a 30 inch track.

The near-meter scale would be 39.4 inches? or, 3 feet, 3.4 inches; an even better fit to true 3-foot (most common narrow gauge in US) than 0n2.5.

I would predict that the company that came out with a narrow gauge set (vice just a galloping goose) would esp. profit.

Imagine, all that 3-rail track you have, running massive G-scale trains. Would be a real wow factor.

[IRONROOSTER]

You're probably going to have to take some 3 rail mechanisms and build/modify G super structures on them. If you can get enough interest, some manufacturer will come along and produce them. The biggest problem is that G is already narrow gauge so getting interest is going to be tough. On the other hand you can plop some G car bodies on Lionel trucks and be in business, since they are already narrow gauge.

Enjoy
Paul

[FJ and G]

Paul writes: "The biggest problem is that G is already narrow gauge so getting interest is going to be tough."
-------------------------------

Actually G is G scale track; not narrow gauge. The narrow gauge trains they use on G scale track (1:20) would better be termed Xn3, since the narrow gauge trains that operate on G are actually for a large scale than G and would need X-scale (or some other designator) structures to match.

G-sized narrow gauge trains (1:32) that could run on O scale would be termed Gn3, to conform with the other narrow-gauge scale designators.

[palallin]

Technically, Paul is correct: the definition of G is narrow-gauge trains running on #1 gauge track. 1:32 scale is #1 scale, NOT G.

To make it more confusing, there are three dominant G scales (not counting 1:32 and 1/29, both of which model standard gauge prototypes): 1:24, 1:22.5 (LGB's meter gauge), and 1:20.3 (Bachmann's 3' gauge).

And then there are folks who run 1/24 on HO track as Gn15.

[FJ and G]

palallin,

That's pretty mind boggling; also, they have a whole variety of noncompatible couplers or simi-compatible ones that look different from each other.

Bottom line, with very few exceptions like the galloping goose and center cab, there really are no narrowgauge trains that are made for 3-rail track.

And that is a crying shame.

[Anonymous]

Palalin's description of Large Scale (#1 gauge) scales is correct. I have a good collection of items in 1:20.3 (Accucraft, Bachmann, and Trail Creek Models), 1:22.5 (LGB), 1:24 (Hartland Locomotive Works and some Aristo-Craft), 1:29 (Aristo-Craft), and 1:32 (Marklin) items. Most all of these items and scales will operate well enough together, but they look "funny" in doing so in many cases. I keep my train consists to the same scale, even though all of them operate on the same (LGB or Aristo) track.

Somewhere around here I have a narrow gauge train set (a European "Field Railway" set) that operates on, and came equipped with, two-rail O gauge track. I stored this set away some years ago and can't recall which box it's in, but if I come across it I'll provide a more full descripition, including scale.

I doubt that you'll ever see narrow gauge models made to operate on three-rail O gauge track. Can't imagine there would be any market for it beyond a very few hobbyists. Most guys in standard gauge three-rail probably wouldn't like it because the narrow gauge models would be considerably larger than their standard gauge models--just the opposite of what it would be in "real life" if a narrow gauge line had an interchange point with a standard gauge line (which often was the case).

[Anonymous]

There's always been a fair amount of 16mm scale equipment over here - similar sized models to G but running on 32mm rather than 45mm track. Live steam in this scale is fairly common - try looking for Mamod or MSS (as they're now known) models - live steamers running on 32mm gauge track and with matching 4-wheel cars. It might also be worth asking this over in the Garden Rail forum - I know there are other manufacturers offering this scale though I can't remember any names. I've also come across models made by Faller that run on this track gauge while hunting LGB on ebay. Hope this is of interest!

[lionelsoni]

For those not familiar with the British way of doing things, our 1-1/4-inch O-gauge track is their 31.75 millimeters, or 32 millimeters for all practical purposes. Scales are expressed in England (and Wales!) in millimeters per foot, which makes their 16 millimeter scale equivalent to 1/19.05. (Our 1/87 HO, for another example, is their 3.5 millimeters.)

[DSchmitt]

I believe there have been a few layouts using O gauge 2-rail track as narrow gauge in a larger scale. There might be some on this site: http://carendt.com/index.html
I also think there have been some featured in the Shortline and Narrow Gauge Gazette

I don't know of any using 3-rail track.

[Anonymous]

"I've also come across models made by Faller that run on this track gauge while hunting LGB on ebay. "
------------------------

Thanks, Matt! That's the brand of the field railway set I have stored away in my all-too-crowded train storage room. Nice little set purchased years ago from a dealer in California, and a fine complement to "regular" Large Scale stuff if you want to add a mining or logging branch to your layout. Now if I could only locate that darn set--I know it's around here somewhere!