Has On30 moved into a New Direction?

[hminky]

The introduction of 1/4 inch scale equipment running on HO track by Bachmann changed "On30". It is no longer the old On30 of caricature railroading. Maybe it should be called 1/4-16.5mm like the English O-16.5mm. It is now possible for any one to build a 1/4" narrow gauge layout. The equipment is available everywhere and ready to run. Track can be Atlas code 100, which except for the short ties matches early narrow gauge track. It will fit in the space of HO and you can see the equipment.
Just a thought[:D][:D]
Harold
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com

[Anonymous]

Micro Engineering has On30 track, with wider ties spaced further apart than HO track. Peco from the UK has On30 track too, but they call it 16.5mm track. The ties are more uniform than the ME stuff, and they also make turnouts. I have some of their track and turnouts for a possible operating diorama/module I'd like to make. I was able to order it direct from England for prices about half of what it would have cost from Walthers.

Don't forget that Broadway Limited also has an On30 2-8-0 C-16 with Quantum Sound - I have one and it sounds great!

There are quite a few smaller manufacturers out there making stuff for On30, and there is quite a large On30 list on YahooGroups (1700+ members of the On30Conspiracy) so things are looking better all the time! [:D]

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

Say what you will about Bachmann, their introduction of affordable On30 stuff to the market has/will make a tremendous impact on the hobby. Although I doubt that I will ever do the On30 thing (unless it can be used outdoors - anyone try this?), I can appreciate their contribution nonetheless. It's also great that other manufacturers are entering this scale/gauge. I'm looking forward to see/read about what modelers have done with this. Should be way cool.

[hminky]

The Atlas code 100 track more closely matches pre-WW1 narrow gauge track except for the short ties. Most narrow gauge track was 6x6's x 6 ft long on 18 inch centers. The Atlas code 100 track scales out to 6 inches wide x 4-1/2 feet long. Ballasted and weathered it makes fine O narrow gauge track. There is an example of this from on my website.
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/on30/beginner/
Hope that helps some
Harold

[NevinW]

My wife just called me to tell me that a mysterious package arrived. Little does she know that it is an On30 Bachmann Shay that I bought on Ebay. I plan on dolling it up and adding a sound system while running it on my current HO layout. As we planning on moving in a year, I'll probably complete the jump to O scale and On30 when we buy a new house. - Nevin

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by hminky

The Atlas code 100 track more closely matches pre-WW1 narrow gauge track except for the short ties. Most narrow gauge track was 6x6's x 6 ft long on 18 inch centers. The Atlas code 100 track scales out to 6 inches wide x 4-1/2 feet long. Ballasted and weathered it makes fine O narrow gauge track. There is an example of this from on my website.
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/on30/beginner/
Hope that helps some
Harold

Thank you for the answer about the track and the web pages you listed are interesting to say the least. I may build a switching shell layout for my office with one of the BLI engines. The ties could be laid separately after removing most of the HO scale ties, leaving only one tie every few inches to hold the gauge while the new ties are attached. Would code 83 or code 70 be more correct for this size of too small??

Thank you

[EL PARRo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dkelly

Say what you will about Bachmann, their introduction of affordable On30 stuff to the market has/will make a tremendous impact on the hobby.

I'd like to see them do the same thing with HOn3.

[Anonymous]

I think that On30 is great ! I don't model it, but I hope to someday.

[Anonymous]

The bachmann equipment looks great. If i had the space it would be great.

[twhite]

I don't know about a new direction, but after watching (and hearing) the new BLI 2-8-0 over at my LHS, I'd say that On30 has moved into a whole new DIMENSION! Wow, talk about impressed--! You people modeling in that scale are getting some PRIMO stuff! Keep it up.
Tom