Looking to build a small shelf/cameo layout in 2-rail O scale to showcase my company's new range of colour 3D-printed US railroad figures. As the figures are in modern, contemporary clothing the layout would need a modern loco and a few freight cars. As I'm from Australia, I'm not very knowledgable about the current state of 1:48 scale model availability. (A Google search shows lots of diesels, but I don't know which ones might still be operations on mainlines or private lines.
Can anyone advise what locos might be available, and which online stores carry good O scale stock? (I sure do miss Caboose Hobbies in Denver...)
I'm happy also to model a private-operator short line; are vthey still around? I can design a paint scheme and get decals made for a "might have been" railroad if needs be. In that context, does that widen the net of suitable (and available) locos and freight cars?
Thanks, Lindsay (in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia).
Lindsey,
You may want to ask your query over on the Classic Toy Trains forum. They primarily model and are more knowledgable about O-scale there than we are here...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I know of absolutely no "modern" 2-rail O scale freight cars.
Sorry.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Atlas make O Scale freight cars and diesel engines that would work for the modern time period
https://shop.atlasrr.com/c-1014-o-master-rolling-stock.aspx
They do tell you which cars work on O scale 2 Rail
At the National Train Show last July, I saw their O scale auto rack cars and they looked great!
Good luck!
Neal
nealknowsAtlas make O Scale freight cars and diesel engines that would work for the modern time period.
Well... look at that. I had not seen anything modern in the Atlas O line... I had no idea.
Thanks Neal.
Atlas is a great company. Look at their archives to see everything they have offered since about 2002, you might find some of these on the secondary market or New Old Stock.
http://archive.atlasrr.com/
Some examples from their Master Series:
http://archive.atlasrr.com/ORS/arc-otcstc.htm
http://archive.atlasrr.com/ORS/arc-ohycube.htm
http://archive.atlasrr.com/ORS/arc-o5161hopper.html
http://archive.atlasrr.com/ORS/arc-o25500tank.htm
And from their less detailed Trainman Series:
http://archive.atlasrr.com/ORS/arc-otm506boxcar.htm
http://archive.atlasrr.com/ORS/arc-otmbulkheadflatcar.htm
http://archive.atlasrr.com/ORS/arc-otmps4750.htm
I wasn't aware that companies still made 3-rail stuff, or that many were still interested?
Companies like Lionel, the toy train market?
Edit: Atlas seems to offer both 2 rail and 3 rail versions of these cars, if you look at the descriptions closer. Apologies to the 3 rail folks.
- Douglas
Hi there. Modern 2 rail is rare on the used market. You can find used 70s Atlas F engines and switchers on Ebay at reasonable prices (for O scale).
There are also C-liners made by Rivarossi (70s) , but they are poor pullers. Performance of these oldies can be improved by buying two, and by inserting the powered truck from one into the other (each engine only has one powered truck).
Simon
AtllasO, besides the Master series and Trainman series, also has the Premier series, which they acquierd from MTH when they folded.
tstage Lindsey, You may want to ask your query over on the Classic Toy Trains forum. They primarily model and are more knowledgable about O-scale there than we are here... Tom
MR has articles about 2 rail O scale, does Classic Toy Trains have same? Isn't this forum the appropriate one for all "scale" modeling?
Both MTH and AtlasO have offered modern diesels and rolling stock with proper 2 rail scale wheeled trucks. They are harder to find vs the 3 rail scale versions. Older items from AHM/Rivarossi and Atlas are more affordable. But those are older prototypes. AHM imported a nice IHB heavy 0-8-0 ,Casey Jones 4-6-0 #382, FM C lines and a small Plymouth MTD diesel switcher. They also imported a small selection of freight cars made by Pola in Germany. Atlas O did a range of F9 diesels in several road names including Santa Fe Warbonnet, C&O and BN. I would say this is the correct forum for 2 rail O scale. The Classic Toy Trains forum is geared more to O, Std gauge and gauge one trains that run on tubular track and not so much the scale side on 2 rails. The other O gauge forum out there does have a 2 rail specific catagory. Good luck in your hunt. Mike
MidlandMike tstage Lindsey, You may want to ask your query over on the Classic Toy Trains forum. They primarily model and are more knowledgable about O-scale there than we are here... Tom MR has articles about 2 rail O scale, does Classic Toy Trains have same? Isn't this forum the appropriate one for all "scale" modeling?
While it's fine to ask about O-scale here, Mike, the truth of the matter is that mostly HO- & N-scalers reside on the MR forum, which matches the thrust of the magazine. Yes, we do have a few other scales represented here. However, since Lindsey was querying primarily about O-scale locomotives and the Classic Toy Trains forum is where most O-scalers tend to hang out, I thought he might get a better response to his query posting it there.
I disagree, very few 2 rail O scalers or those that even know much on the CTT forum, sadly. Unfortunatly, his best bet to connect with 2 railers is over across the street at the forum run by the other magazine for O scale trains that actually has a proper 2 rail catagory. I have dabbled with 2 rail for years, and found little to nobody on the CTT forum and just a few on this forum. But across the street, are many that are involved with the 2 rail side of the hobby.
Good to know, Vintagesteamer. That's why I used the "might"...