HO old timer trains?

[orsonroy]

Bachmann makes (non-Spectrum) 4-4-0s, a few freight cars, a bobber caboose, and two passenger car types (coach and combine). In their Spectrum line, their 0-6-0T, 4-6-0 and 2-8-0 are all (just) pre-1900 models, but they represent post-WWI rebuilds, and so will need to be backdated.

Rivarossi made about the same line as the non-Spectrum stuff, but they also made a 2-4-0. Now that they're bankrupt (again), you'll have to check swapmeets and hobby shops for their stuff.

Roundhouse makes about the most pre-1900 stuff. All of their engine kits are of pre-1900 prototypes, except their HOn3 engines (ironically enough) and the Pennsy H-8/9 2-8-0. They make several freight cars and passenger cars, and any of their wood cabooses are pre-1900. The only wood sided passenger cars they make that are NOT pre-1900 are the "overland" cars, which are Sierra RR cars built around 1904 (and VERY oddball cars, if you care at all about proto fidelity)

IHC makes a line of old-timer freight cars which are very nice, but generally overlooked by most modelers, because they don't get too much exposure. They're nicer than Bachmann/Rivarossi cars, and are of older prototypes than Roundhouse. They also make several engines that are useful for pre-1900 modeling, with a bit of backdating.

Athearn makes NOTHING pre-1900.

Other than the above, there's LOTS of resin that's useful for pre-1900 modeling, especially Westerfield and Funaro & Carmelengo (Sunshine makes nothing pre-1900). Many of the models represent post-WWI rebuilds, so you'll have to be careful about what you buy (Westerfield's website is probably the single best model RR manufacturer's website, and will tell you everything you want to know about each kit and it's appropriate years of service, and several in-process assembly photos). F&C's car line is more extensive than Westerfield's, but they don't have a website and their instructions suck. They build into very nice models, though, and they're less expensive than Westerfield.

The Old & Weary Car Shops makes one resin 30' gondola that's an 1880s prototype, and custom decorates several Roundhouse freight cars for old Eastern prototypes.

Tichy makes a wood ore car that's appropriate for pre-1900 modeling. They're beautiful plastic kits, and are priced reasonably ($12.95 for two). Order direct from Tichy for FANTASTIC service!

Art Griffith makes a line of decals for pre-1900 freight cars, based on period photos. His selection is the best for pre-WWI modeling, reaching hundreds of decal sets. Check the Great Decals website for a link and product guide.

Ither than that, there's always scratchbuilding. There was really no such thing as standardization before Harriman, the USRA and the AAR, so it's actually easier to scratchbuild cars for older periods. Although I'm an HO modeler, I'm currently scratchbuilding several 35' wood gondolas in N scale for a friend (IC MOW service). I've been working on the first two for about an hour, and I've currently got the floors, underframe, sides and ends done. All I need to do are the side braces, trussrods, and simple brake gear, and I'll be done with the first of 12 before dinner tonight!

[Anonymous]

Bachmann has a few old timer trains in their standard line. Model Power might have some too if they get the Mantua trains back into production. Rivarossi is gone (at least for now) and IHC does not appear to be making any more old timers. Roundhouse had the widest variety of painted and lettered models. Is anyone else making decorated old time HO scale trains?

What about the craftsman kits? LaBelle's kits are really nice. Westerfield might have a few kits that would fit a pre-1900 layout. Are there any other sources?

[fec153]

doesn't Bachmann still produce the Jupiter? 4-4-0 that linked east /west in Utah.

[IRONROOSTER]

Labelle http://www.labellemodels.com/ makes a line of older freight car and passenger car kits. These are not as simple as MDC being wood with castings for hardware. They will give you a good transition into scratch building with wood.
Enjoy
Paul

[cacole]

Rivarossi used to make a model of a 4-4-0 locomotive, which was sold in the US by IHC. The ones I have never did run very well because they still used oversized wheel flanges that cause the locomotives to stall on Atlas turnouts. Because of the small size of their boilers, the motors are in the tender. As mentioned by mykroft, MDC is the only other manufacturer that makes models of pre-1900 steam engines that I know of, too.

[Anonymous]

Only MDC/Roundhouse for your basic shake-the-box kits. There's a couple sources for locomotives.

For anything else, you're looking at Resin kits & scratchbuilding.

[Anonymous]

Who currently produces HO scale models of pre-1900 North American trains?