Narrow Gauge Bug bites hard!!

[NevinW]

Oh no! After 12 years in HO and a 95% completed B&O/ WM layout, my Narrow Gauge Gazette arrived yesterday and within 60 minutes I was bidding on a Bachmann On30 shay. I haven't even figured out what scale or gauge I am going to but I figured I could run the shay on my current layout. My interest in my current layout is virtually zero right now. I promised to show it at a NMRA regional meeting next year so I can't tear it down yet. May be the next 12 months I'll recover from my narrow gauge fever but I doubt it. Now I have to decide whether I build a lumber or mining layout or Colorado narrow gauge or something from California. On30 looks pretty neat. - Nevin

[hminky]

Nevin,
Go for it[:D][:D][:D], On30 is fun. California is good. I am doing a Central California layout in On30 based on the Pacific Coast Railway.

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com

Hope that helps
Harold

[NevinW]

Harold:

I've seen your website. Very nice. It is one of the sites that influenced me to look into On30. I've modeled HOn3 and Sn3 (SP narrow gauge) in the past and even had a article in the Narrow Gauge Gazette about my Laws Ca. layout in the 1980's. So I have considerable experience in narrow gauge and minority scales. On30 looks like it could really be fun. - Nevin

[hminky]

Nevin,
Thank you for the feedback on the website, I was hoping it would bite people with the On30 narrow gauge bug. Having modeled in all the narrow gauge scales myself Nn3 to Fn3 I have found On30 the most fun.
Harold

[orsonroy]

Yeah, On30 is pretty attractive, isn't it? I've been fighting off the urge to dabble in it ever since Bachmann came out with their first sets. Thankfully, I prefer superpower steam over teakettles, so I'm safe for now. Once Bachmann starts selling EBT Mikes, however....

[vsmith]

Already got the NG virus but it bit worse for me, full blown W.H.O. level pandemic, it got me doing LARGE SCALE, not that piddly small On30 stuff[;)] Oh I gues its still pretty cool stuff though...[:p]



Liv'n LARGE!

[Anonymous]

All my friends are narrow gaugers...Watch out, there is no known cure.......

I bought a Brass Westside K-27 (HOn3), but recently sold it to focus on other fat gauge projects. They all said that after I visited Colorado and Chama NM. that the bug would bite hard.....I visited those places last year, I guess I'm immune. The narrow gauge bunch are serious modelers, there are very few rtr items (particularly in HOn3) and they are always scratchbuilding something or other.

Personally, I go for that beat up, cliffside clinging look in standard gauge.....

For those considering HOn3 the problems have traditionally been the lack of rtr cars and the fact that motive power is limited to expensive brass. Bachmann released a shay in On30 and a few cars as well. This is why On30 has taken off: availability of reasonably priced rolling stock.

The situation for HOn3 will be changing soon. Blackstone Models is coming out with an HOn3 plastic K-27 next year and PSC is also due in with an inexpensive K as well. Both these models will be factory equipped with sound and DCC and list price is well below the unpainted, undecodered brass models currently available......There are also some companies working on a few rtr cars in HOn3....

The "gazzette" is THE holy grail for the narrow gauge bunch and the annual narrow gauge convention is always outstanding in terms of modeling skills and clinics.... I worked in the contest room in the 2004 convention....I have never seen a concentration of so many excellent models in a single room like that...

[ereimer]

every time i see a bachmann On30 shay at the LHS i feel my hand creeping towards my wallet . so far i've been able to resist , mainly because my wife told me i'd have to sell off my HO stuff before i buy any other scale [:(]

the 'narrow guage and short line gazette' is a great mag , the layouts they feature are all gorgeous and the articles are interesting . also they get a few advertisers that don't show up in MR

[Javern]

ok you all agree that NG is great but what EXACTLY is the big attraction for you all?

[jeffshultz]

I think it's the cuteness factor...

[IRONROOSTER]

I'll admit it, the attraction for me is the cuteness factor. It sucked me into Sn2 (using HOn3 gauge), but S standard gauge will continue to be the main part of the layout.
Enjoy
Paul

[cheese3]

vsmith Nice Loco! Love the skull on the front!

[Anonymous]

A couple of things to watch out for with the On30 Bachmann Shay. I've talked straight to Bachmann about this, because I experienced both problems very recently. First off, the rear truck on mine was somewhat stiff. So much so that it slightly impeded low speed operation. It was jerky at slow speeds. I removed it to inspect it (you have to remove it anyway for decoder installation) and found problem number two. The factory left off one of the pickup wires that makes contact from the truck to the under side of the loco. Called Bachmann and they said the contact wire was left off alot of them, but they were not aware of the stiff truck problem. I have a new truck on the way, courtsey of Bachmann. Lastly, I think On30 will be the most you have ever had in model railroading.

QUOTE: Originally posted by NevinW

Oh no! After 12 years in HO and a 95% completed B&O/ WM layout, my Narrow Gauge Gazette arrived yesterday and within 60 minutes I was bidding on a Bachmann On30 shay. I haven't even figured out what scale or gauge I am going to but I figured I could run the shay on my current layout. My interest in my current layout is virtually zero right now. I promised to show it at a NMRA regional meeting next year so I can't tear it down yet. May be the next 12 months I'll recover from my narrow gauge fever but I doubt it. Now I have to decide whether I build a lumber or mining layout or Colorado narrow gauge or something from California. On30 looks pretty neat. - Nevin

[Anonymous]

bump

[pedromorgan]

i quite fancy a dabble into great western broad gauge but the klits are hard to get

Peter

[on30francisco]

I got bit by the narrow gauge bug twenty years ago thanks to a column that was featured in the NMRA Bulletin called Narrow Nuggets. I tried HOn3, Sn3, Sn42, and On3. The problem with HOn3 was that it didn't run well and locos were pricey. Sn3 and On3 narrow gauges seemed like the ideal size but all that was (and is) available was very expensive brass locos. When Bachmann came out with On30, I switched over to it. On30 offers the best of both worlds: The detailing and heft of O scale and the convenience and economy of HO. Since the track is HO standard gauge, you can still run all those great HO locos. I have a dual scale around-the-wall layout. Two lengths are On30 while the other length is HO standard. It may not be a prototypical design but its sure enjoyable to have the best of both worlds!