I recently inherited a Hawthorne Village HO train set made by Bachmann Industries. My question is if this set is compatible with any other brand of HO model trains, i.e. tracks, controllers, car connections, etc.?
I am new to this hobby and am considering starting to build a model train setup as my 2 year old grandson is a big train fan.
Thanks for any feedback and this would help me with my decision to continue with any other systems..
With a few exceptions, all HO equipment sold in the United States, since WWII which was a long time ago, is compatable. The track gauge is the same, it runs on two rail 12 volt DC, the scale is the same. There are exceptions.
Couplers, up until about 2000, ready-to-run rolling stock came equipped with a single piece plastic coupler. After 2000 manufacturers changed over to a nicer looking knuckle coupler. And enthusiats had been using the Kadee knuckle couplers since the late 1950's. However changing couplers is easy to do, and hobby shops stock knuckle couplers to fit every piece of rolling stock ever made.
Track with molded plastic ballast. Ordinary HO track is just two rails and a strip of plastic ties. All of this intermates. Several makers offer track with a molded plastic ballast strip attached. The track from various makers will not intermate. You have to come up with an adapter if you need to intermate two different brands.
Maerklin. A German HO system that runs on three rail AC instead of two rail DC. Maerklin locomotives won't run on two rail DC track, and likewise ordinary HO locomotives won't run on three rail AC Maerklin track. Maerklin is sold in the US but it is a minority product.
Digital Command Control (DCC), the various makes of DCC are compatable with each other, but plain DC locomotives will not run on DCC power. Some DCC locomotives claim to run on plain DC track but this is disputed by some. For a starter layout you don't need DCC. If you get deeper into the hobby, you can convert to DCC later.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
There is another discussion about Hawthorne Village trains on these forums, here:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/178112.aspx
If I read that correctly, while Hawthorne Village trains run on Bachmann's proprietary sectional train in HO Gauge , the trains themselves may be repainted versions of Bachmann's O scale trains which are narrow gauge 30" -- so these may NOT be HO scale trains. O scale is 1:48 ratio while HO is 1:87 ratio.
So assuming my information is correct (and it appears many train sets have been brought out under the Hawthorne Village label so this may call for more research by you) you would need to decide whether to stay with Bachmann's On30 (that is, O scale, narrow gauge, 30 [scale] inches gauge), or use the track but buy true HO scale trains to run on it.
Both are perfectly fine choices that can offer a lot of fun, although with On30 Bachmann is pretty much your main supplier. But while both can run on the same track they really are not compatible. I hope I am making myself clear. If not ask questions and we'll do our best to be clear.
Dave Nelson
I'd suggest taking them to a train shop, if you have one nearby, or you could look up a model train club or go to a train show.
If you can post a picture, someone here might recognize them.
If these are HO gauge (track size) trains, they will run on standard HO track. You don't have to use proprietary track, if that doesn't fit your plans or if you want to expand beyond what you already have.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Dave,Seems like Hawthorne Village is the name brand and the trains are HO or G and sold in various schemes like Christmas,Budweiser, NFL etc-if my research is correct.
A photo would speak volumes but,the OP did say HO.
Larry
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Ah. The added info is very useful. If your Hawthorne Village Pittsburgh Steelers train looks anything like this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pittsburgh-Steelers-Hawthorne-Village-Bachmann-HO-Trains-NIB-Lot-9-train-cars-/291864389868
Then it is genuine HO scale in addition to being HO gauge. Moreover the couplers shown on that ebay listing are "Kadee compatible" meaning that most of the current day trains you buy have couplers that will mate with these. That is good. From the late 1950s to about 2000 there was a particular coupler, often called the horn-hook coupler., that trainsets came with. Many such horn hook coupler cars are still available for sale so be watchful if you buy more cars and locomotives.
Unfortunately for you, the Tyco Cincinnati Bengals collector freight car that was offered decades ago has that horn hook coupler.
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/cincinnati-bengals-model-train-car-ho-498317869
It is possible to convert couplers with some work.
So in summary it appears your track is Bachmann's proprietary "E-Z" track which is HO gauge. Only with some effort can it be made to mate with other brands of HO track, although the gauge itself is the same, but fortunately the Bachmann line has lots of track options so you can certainly build a nice starter layout using that E-Z track and add on pieces.
Based on the "power pack" in the ebay photo it appears that the train is conventional DC power, not the more modern and advanced "Digital Command Control" (DCC). While things are changing fast at this time I suspect most beginners are still using DC. But DCC has many advantages for both beginners and advanced modelers. Again just make sure that any add on locomotives you purchase are compatiable with your power pack.
Amended post: I see JaBear beat me to the information but at least we aren't causing any confusion. I hope!
dknelson I see JaBear beat me to the information but at least we aren't causing any confusion. I hope!
Oldtimer65,I would not concern myself with DCC just yet since your engine will operate quite well on DC.
At a later date and after you decide to stay in the hobby and buy new locomotives then I would suggest buying DCC equipped or DCC ready locomotives.