is there anyone running On30 trains out there ?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Please Chime in !

Are you running them year round ?

or just at Holiday time (CHRISTMAS) or (Chanukah) ?

Are you using regular Ho track or Micro Engineering On30 Track & turnouts ?

Again Thanks in Advance !

2

Yes, I run then all year 'round. But I am at a Historical Society where we get frequent visitors to the train exhibits. We use the track that came with the original setup. That is HO track.

3

Hi,

When I built my latest HO layout 3 years ago, I came pretty darn close to doing an On3 layout. For us older folks, you have the bigger size to play with, but can do some very nice realistic arrangements for a given size room.

I really gave it a lot of consideration, but stuck with my mainline HO ATSF / IC format.

Sometimes I wonder if I made the best decision…

4

Given that HO has the widest assortment of accessories, detail parts, rolling stock, motive power, etc. I would say that you made the right decision. I toyed with the idea of building an N scale layout so I could run long trains, but I have that dreaded affliction; oldus eye-itis, I stuck with HO.

5

I set up On30 for Christmas, but one of the members of our local round robin is VERY big into full time modeling in On30.

He has a great layout that fills a large basement. I do believe he uses the PECO track, And his layout is DCC with sound.

Sheldon

6

Most of my trains are HO. I couldn’t resist the On30 2 8 0 outside frame and a few cheap 2-6-0’s on ebay . Run them under the tree at Christmass but run once and awhile thru the year also.

Bob

7

There are many, many people running On30. Do a Internet search for on30 layouts, locomotive, track, etc. There are many, You Tube videos by users of On30. Many use HO track.

Bachmann Trains has a On30 forum.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/board,5.0.html

Rich

8

Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette, published six times a year, includes a lot of On30 material.

9

I model modern day HO but if I build another layout it will probably be either a modern day 2-rail O scale industrial switching layout or a Colorado narrow gauge On30 layout. I use Micro Engineering track on my HO scale layout and I would use it on the O scale layouts too. One of the best youtube channels on the internet is by Bill Iwan. His Red Rock Green River layout is absolutely beautiful! It was also featured in the April 2011 issue of Model Railroader. If I built one I would want to build it just like Bill’s!

10

My buddy has a permanent On30 with the Peco On30 track. Really looks good.

11

My buddy and myself are building a 8’ wide by 19’ sectional On30 layout.We are using used code 100 flex track with the ties modified to more resmemble narrow gauge tack.This layout will remain assembled to the lasdy who owns the basement wants to give up model railroading (she is 82 and has her own HO layout.

Once it is in running condition it will get at least two hours of running at least 48 weeks of the year.

12

I just like to mention one of the best 0n30 RR’s I know; The Coast Line RR by my good friend Troels Kirk!

13

There are at least a few On30 modular groups out there. I am part of the Pacific Northwest one. It seems to me that there is at least one in California and one in Texas as well.

I use ME flex and turnouts. Some of our guys hand-lay track.

14

Thanks to all that replied.

Thanks for all the info.

When I get a plan together, I will post it here .

Thanks Again

15
16

A pic of our under construction 0n30 layout that’s my partner in crime in the pic. We are taking a two week break for some family fun then it will be back at it on Saturday evenings.If your curious the layout is 8’ wide and 19’ long.

The green loco is a HO scale KATO that I converted to On30 about 10 years ago.