What is the minimum radius for HO 2 1/2? I know HO is 18"(15" is bare Bones) but what about its narrow gauge cousin?
HO is capable of even tighter curves, with the right equipment. I have seen curves down to 11" and I suspect some have gone tighter than that. HO traction in particular could probably go much tighter (and the curves would be prototypical).
When HOn 2 1/2 was new, AHM had a line of “Mini-Trains” – small two axle locomotives and two axle cars, more or less like construction railroads, witn crude hook and loop couplers – and it came with typical N scale trainset track. So the curves were around 9" radius. I suspect the equipment was capable of going around even tighter curves, I suspect down to 5" or so, provided you are running that Mini Trains type equipment, which is now being made available again.
I no longer recall what radius the Egger Bahn trains came with. Probably pretty similar.
Dave Nelson
Thank you for the info. I thought it was something in that area. I’ve modeled that gauge before but it’s been awhile and I couldn’t remember what it was. I found someone to repair my very expensive HO 2-1/2 loco so I’m adding this gauge to my new layout that’s under-construction. I still have the mining and logging cars with the crude hook and loop couplers. Now my layout will have all three HO gauges. Nice!.. Thanks again.
Here is a link to the outfit that has made the old Mini Trains line available again. Same couplers but as I understand it, better mechanisms. I have seen them at Trainfest in Milwaukee and they look identical to the old AHM Mini Trains line.
http://www.bigcityhobbies.com/
the prices are a bit of a shocker. I bought my Mini-Trains trainset (cars, engine, and an oval of track) for, if memory serves, $5.95 way back when.
The European line, which can be “Americanized” is also available. I don’t know Euro conversions so I cannot opine on the prices (or availability). http://www.minitrains.eu/d/minitrainsdp.html
And way back when there was no real good track for HO n 2 1/2. Now Peco offers a line.
I am one of the few by the way who agrees with Model Railroader magazine that HOn 2 1/2 is a better name than HOn30. In point of fact HO on N gauge track is NOT 30 inches. Somewhere out there is an exact scale modeler modeling a 30 inch rail line, probably a construction railroad, and he (or she) is the one who should be entitled to use HOn30 without there being an entire universe of “close but no cigar” approximations using the same name as if their gauge measures out to 30 inches, which it does not. “2 1/2” to my way of thinking has just the right amount of approximation to it (just as when we say a mile and a half we do not normally mean exactly 7920 feet) to more accurately describe what we are doing when we run HO sc
The smaller the curve radius, the more sensitive the train is to “S” turns, so make sure you get those straight sections in any place the curve reverses.
The original Minitrains sets came with 9" radius track, or the fraction over that that was also the minimum for N Gauge train sets at the time. While they ran on that radius, they looked a little toy-like much as HO locomotives can look out-of-place on 18" radius. This was especially true for the old Minitrains which ran so fast.
I think that setting your minimum radius for HOn30 might best be related to the type of service that you see for the line. If you intend it as a completely industrial line with the small 4-wheel side dump cars in quarry service (or similar), then a radius of 9" or so would work and allow you to fit that trackage around the industrial site. If you intend your narrow-gauge line to serve more as a common carrier, with gondolas or box cars similar in design to those used on the Maine 2-footers (28’ or 30’ flat cars and box cars standard), then widening those curves would result in better operation and appearance.
Bill
I have one of the new Liliput B-B Gemeinder HOn30/(HOe) locos. It comes with a swinging drawbar and with it can supposedly traverse a 9" radius curve coupled to its train.
Would look funny, but if you need tight curves and the equipment will handle them, why not? Just use good design practices and leave straight zones for coupling. I have no experience with the swinging drawbar, but it should work well on tight curves.
I converted mine to HOn3, although still able to switch back to HOn30 or HOm.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/215880.aspx
I use it on much broader curves, so removed the drawbar and installed Kadee 714 couplers for compatibility with my other equipment after conversion.
HOn 2-1/2 minimum turning? depends on WHAT you are turning, here is my 9" x 10" micro in that gauge, thats an N Bachmann rebuilt to HO with Kadee couplers and it works fine.
It really depends on the rolling stock you chose, small stock small engines = small radius curves. I am currently working on a Gn15 micro using only an 5.5" radius circle.
My Line will probably be a mining line with a very small yard and a wye for point to point. Was not planning on modeling HO 2-1/2 on this layout but a gentleman I recently met is repairing a diesel loco for me (in Urbana Il) and I still have the rolling stock of log and mining cars, so why not. Thank you for all the info.
Thats a great looking little layout. My gran-daughter would love to watch that go round. Good way to model something small with a lot to look at. Great job!
I actually have a few of those mini trains. They an look great if some time is spent weathering them. Roco makes some as well.