HOn3 locomotives

[jddav1]

I am a new user of this site. Am palying with trying HOn3, and am searching ideas on how to make my locomotives (whole layout too). Have had previous experience with standard gauge HO, so at least a little familiar with layouts and train ops. Any ideas or suggestions for a narrow gauge SW-1 or SW-7 cow and calf? You can post answers on this site or to [e-mail]. Thanks everyone.

[Jetrock]

So far as I know, there was never a narrow gauge SW-1 or SW-7...unless we're talking about this Polish narrow-gauge tram car, also called an SW1:


Narrow gauge pretty much died out about the same time that diesel switchers like the SW-1 were being introduced. Some gas-mechanical diesel or gasoline "critters" existed, but an SW1 would have dwarfed the typical narrow-gauge engine in size and power.

Some folks have used N-scale SW locomotives as the basis for HOn30 narrow-gauge geared steam locomotives or small two-truck diesel "critters", and I think the Carrabasset & Dead River RR has/had a kitbashed GE 44-tonner that was converted for 30" gauge operation, but I think the frame was also narrowed. I built a "critter" of sorts based on a 44-tonner body but did not narrow the frame, and even the diminuitive 44-tonner (with one hood lopped off) looks a bit too big on an HOn30 frame:


If you're interested in HOn3, you're basically talking steam, and most likely a time setting of 1940 or earlier. A couple of narrow-gauge lines lasted longer, but at least in the US, modern diesels weren't made in narrow gauge versions.

A narrow-gauge diesel looks more like this:


That being said, though, narrow gauge model railroading is traditionally the home of the most "damn the prototype" freelancing attitudes in all of the hobby (along with the "I ground the ballast from actual Colorado D&RGW ballast!" authenticity freak!) so if you really want to build an HOn3 SW7, go for it--AND SHOW US PICTURES!

[Anonymous]

Here is another switcher that was used on narrow gauge trackage it is probably the newest narrow gauge loco that was used.

[mlehman]

Narrow gauge diesels were relatively rare in North America. The White Pass and Yukon had some. Try these two pages for info: http://www.whitepassfan.net/whitepass/home/html/index.php and http://www.pacifier.com/~bpryor/

The Newfoundland Railway also had quite a number of diesels, although it was a 42" gauge line. And the D&RGW used a couple of Army diesels intended for overseas service in testing, but these were one-off designs that didn't last long.

Models of HOn3 diesels have been mostly available in brass. PSC offered brass kits for WP&Y Alco DL-535s, as well as built up models, but these are rare and hard to find. However, one can get various HOn3 diesel chassis from an Australian company called K & M Engineers if you want to try bashing your own. They are intended to fit a variety of diesel shells, but the ones available are all Australian prototypes. Still, it's a start. I have one of these.

However, a new manufacturer, Peter Grace, is beginning to offer a number of items in HOn3. Right now, some 2-8-0 C-16s are due, but there is talk of him offering one of the WP&Y diesels. Contact John Vivian at Model Railroad General Store for info. Several other manufacturers are also going to be offering RTR HOn3 motive power and rolling stock in the near future, so it is a great time to be getting into HOn3 if you've been reluctant due to the amount of kit building needed to do so.

Finally, there was an article, I think in Model Railroader, but maybe in RMC, in the late 70s on how to convert an Athearn SW to narrowgauge. I think it utilized an older version of this model -- Athearn later revised their design, so the conversion won't be as easy on those models. Try searching the MR magazine index for "narrowgauge diesel" to find which issue it was in.

To learn more about HOn3 narrowgauge, there is an excellent HOn3 Yahoo group, as well as email list groups on the WP&Y and Newfoundland Railway.

[Anonymous]

Narrow gauge diesels were far from rare in the US. There were many in steel mills, mines, quarries and the like. There is still a narrow gauge clay mining operation using diesels in the Carolinas that crosses a highway.

[Jetrock]

Narrow gauge diesels were around, but were mostly smaller types like the "critter" in the photo above--the East Broad Top photo is of what looks like a 44-tonner GE diesel-electric, which is very small by standard-gauge standards (an SW1 has about twice the horsepower) but pretty beefy by narrow-gauge standards.