A recent move has created an opportunity to build a new model railroad. After looking at some Bachmann On30 locomotives and cars at a local hobby shop, I think I would like to give them a try for this project. I have a few questions about On30 modeling, and I hope someone on this message board can help. My initial questions are related to layout planning:
What are the recommended minimum curve radii? Bachmann’s catalog suggests 18-22" depending on what steam locomotives I choose to buy, but I suspect that I would be happier with 24-30". Any opinions? I assume the limitation on workable radii is locomotives rather than the passenger or freight cars. Is this correct?
Do people actually just use HO track or do people choose to buy the On30 track offerings from PECO or Microengineering? What are the pros and cons of either approach? Do the Bachmann models need the more common code 100 rail, or can code 83 or code 70 rail be used successfully? What brand and type of On30 track do people recommend?
How long are the locomotives, passenger cars, and freight cars? I need to figure out the required track lengths for a turntable and for runaround tracks. The cars looked to be 9-12" when I looked at them at the hobby shop. The locomotives with tenders (looked at a 4-6-0 and 2-8-0) appeared to be about 15" long. If someone could provide some rough lengths it would be helpful and more convenient than the hour drive to the shop that carries On30 here in Houston.
One last question for today. What are the recommended center line spacings for parallel curved tracks? How about parallel straight tracks? I am guessing 3-4" would be fine, but advice would be most appreciated.
The Bachmann forum has an On30 forum. You could find most if not all of your answers there because most of the popular equipment is made by Bachmann. Most if not all engines & rolling stock will run on 18" R. Most narrow gauge had small R curves & an industry would look right w/ 18"R. You could use HO track w/ every other tie removed, or spend big bucks for “real” On30 track. The center distance would depend on the length of the rolling stock & your radius. Jerry
Although the locos and rolling stock will be able to negotiate 18" radius curves, it´ll look awfully tight, if not awkward. If your space allows for 24" to 30" - go for it!
Using HO gauge track will look, well, funny - tie spacing and tie length are incorrect.
Most of On30 locos are shorter than 15", so you should be fine with that, unless you go for Bachmann´s articulated loco.
I´d recommend a minimum spacing of 3" between track centers.
I would highly suggest going to the Yahoo Group On30 conspiracy they are the best source of info for this scale.
As for min radius: that varies, 18"R is the common standard but many locos including the 2-6-0 will go as tight as 15"R, the Porters even tighter even down to 6"R on some micro layouts.
I use Atlas Code 100 snap track, the ties are gi-normous for HO but look just about right for O, its also very easy to find and very affordable to boot! There are On30 specific tracks out there but they are more costly.
Your measurements are just about right, Sorry, mine are currently packed away awaiting space to build. Maybe others here can help with actual dimensions.
For parallel track I would suggest using O standards, 3" sounds way to close, these are big engines for HO track, 5" would be better given passenger car overhang and swign.
My Bachmann On30 freight cars are 6 1/2" long, passenger cars 9" over the bodies. Add another 1/2" for the couplers. 3" spacing on straight track should work fine, you probably need a little more on 18" curves.
I don’t own any On30 engines, but someone reported on an earlier thread that the Forney’s need more than 18".
The answers earlier are about right for rolling stock sizes. I have been in On30 for about 6 years or so and prefer the On30 track for tie size and spacing. Mine is Peco because that was all that was available when I started. The down side is that there are only three turnouts #5 or so right, left and"Y" offered by Peco.
The Forney with sound is a beauty. The 0-4-2 and 0-4-0 run well and rumour has it are going back into production. They can be a challenge to install DCC in but there was an article in MR a few years ago the explained it.
Use as large a radius as you can, like any scale it looks better. The On30 group mentioned in an earlier post is great but be for warned they seem to tend to make critters out of everything.
Have fun I dont regret the change after about 45 years in HO.
If I ever change scales, I’ll go with On30 (or, more accurately, On762.)
One thing that always shouts, “Narrow Gauge!” to me is the wide spaces between the skinny rails. I would build with 100mm between track centers, which would be a pretty close approach to the track centers of my prototypes (Kiso Forest Railway and Kurobe Gorge Railway.)
Typical HO flex under 1:48 models looks, to me, like track laid on a square-picket fence. In some places on the Kiso the ties were completely buried - in bark shavings - so I could get away with using HO code 83 there. OTOH, the Kurobe would need to have the Atlas code 100 doctored to achieve proper tie spread - it’s ballasted with crushed rock, built like the Norfolk and Western and has bridges that could probably support Big Boy. All else would be hand-laid, just like all my 1:80 scale specialwork.
Yes, present tense. The Kurobe is still operating. While it carries tourists, its main purpose is to support the hydroelectric installations in the Kurobe Gorge, which is why the heavy rail, generous clearances and strong bridges. Part of the line, not open to passengers, runs through a tunnel where the rock temperature is above 100 degrees Celsius.
While 30 inch gauge prototypes were uncommon in North America, the gauge (and its close complements, 760mm and 750mm) was widely used elsewhere in the world. I believe that CNJ found the prototype for that Bachmann articulated in Austria. So, if you want to try modeling some interesting prototypes, look into the light railways of Eastern Europe and Japan…
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - including two 762mm feeder lines)
Like the OP, {I am sure} I appreciate this info. I have often thought of getting On30 and running it on my HO track loop under the xmas tree {18r"}. I am fascinated by the looks of the engine offerings they offer, and sometimes the prices at wholesaletrains.com - even with DCC installed- when they are on sale- are just…so…tasty…makes my mouth water. I would choose the smaller locos as my loop is only 18r", and stick only with freight. {not much of a passenger guy}
If I were to build it as a layout though, I would use the On30 trackage,as I agree that the HO track looks like a picket fence under the rails.
I guess the real thing to remember, though is this: you are modeling O guage that happens to be on narrow tracks, NOT HO, and therefore everything BUT trackage is O guage sized.
