Ulrich,
Thanks for the insights. Good to know that Skarloey is a good runner.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Skarloey runs like a charm and is a real hit among British narrow gauge model railroaders. The loco follows the Talyllyn # 1 loco and already has spawned a cottage industry making detail parts and decals to bring it closer to the prototype.
Bachmann has announced Rheneas, which is based on the Talyllyn Rlwy. loco "Dolgoch", a a run of slate cars to follow.
However, this range is not HOn30, but OO9, which is 1/76 scale, running on 9mm track.
For reasons only Bachmann will know, Skarloey is not marketed in the UK and has to be imported from th US, but sells faster than sliced bread there!
I don´t think that Bachmann will develop a range of US narrow gauge prototypes, but I expect Andreas Schönberg from Minitrains to extend his range more into the Maine 2 footer section. Minitrains´s predecessor Eggerbahn had a S.R.& R.L. RR 2-6-2 planned, but went belly-up before it was ready for the market. Minitrains may take that one on board as well, as they are slowly building up the entire range of former Eggerbahn products.
Bachmann will stay with Thomas & Friends, but that´s only my humble opinion and not a fact.
Realy pricey compared to Minitrains, their boxcar si $20, passenger cars $27.
http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?scales_name=HOn2+1%2F2&roadnames_name=&categories_id=&inc_subcat=1&manufacturers_id=&keyword2=&sku=&osCsid=4be68a5beae45156df4d71c9e20d2d91&maxrow=300&x=24&y=11
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
I'd like to hear about the running qualities of the loco from anyone who owns one. If on par with the revived Mini-Trains line, with the usual Bachmann discounts that could be an attractive mechanism. Poor Skarloey's face would be done for, though
Bachmann produces HOn30 under the Liliput brand for Europe and it's imported here by several firms. I've used Reynauld's with satisfaction. I used a modern Austrian prototype diesel as the basis for this loco, which I regauged to HOn3.
Total cost, including a Lenz Silver 21 pin decoder and a gauge conversion kit I hacked to HOn3 from HOm (12 mm), came to about $220.
Well anything has a chance. But I doubt that this goes any further. You can't really use any of it for U.S. narrow gauge. On30 is U.S. prototype and goes well with Dept 56 (and others) buildings and so appeals to a large non model railroad market.
Also, the engine and 3 freight cars are a little pricey.
Paul
I was floored by the price of the freight cars. $63.00 each! I'm into HOn30, but not that into it.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Well, now that Bachmann has come out with an Hon30 (probably more like 009) Thomas Narrow Gauge range encompassing Skarloey, a couple boxcars, & a gondola, and has announced some more rolling stock & Rheneas, do you think there is a chance of development of an entire HOn30 range, like their one in On30?