Who in all of your opinions makes nice quality rolling stock. I’m looking for more prototype like than toy like. And who makes good fuctioning couplers that I can uncouple by remote. price on rolling stock $ 50.00 to say $80.00 range (US)
Learning lots form forum members. THANKS Carpenter Matt
Hey Matt
THE best narrow gauge cars are by Accucraft, but they are also WAY expensive… all Colorado based on real prototype cars. they are to die for if you can afford them.
Bachmann also makes very good narrow gauge 20’ and 40’ frieght cars, cabooses and passenger cars, all at very good prices, they are mostly Colorado prototype based cars although they claim some East Broad Top cars. you can also look on ebay for older boxcars, tank cars, stock cars, and kits.
LGB also makes some narrow gauge item but they are at LGB prices too. Very good quality-very high price. The frieght cars are Colorado based, as are the larger wooden passenger cars. They also have shorty cars that are not specific to any prototype, but they have the best selection of cabooses IMO.
Hartland still has some good cars, there Sierra type short passenger car is really nice, its at 1:24 scale, but next to a 1:22.5 engine Iooks fine, but the long passenger car looks like its 1:29 scale next to it. their freight cars look pretty good but are slim on details.
As for couplers and auto uncoupling? I think your going to be looking at LGB which has an remote uncoupling system, though I dont know if it works with there knuckle couplers, I would imagine it would. As for Kadee i havent used there large scale couplers so i dont know if they have an uncoupling system. Bachmann doesnt, I know that.
LGB knuckle couplers are easy to mount to any other brand like Bachman as they are based on the “standard” LGB hook-n-loop mount.
Dont worry too much about “mixing” different scale freight cars. 1:20.3 next to 1:22.5 and so on, most real RR’s had such an ecclectic mix of cars seeing an odd mix of cars was common, dont believe me ? look through some books, you’ll see.
Good luck with it, Vic
VSmith, Thanks for your imput. I’m modeling the Waynesburg & Washington railroad. Have you heard of it? Southwestern Penn. Their 260 Mogul looks way close to LGB’s. I’m not sure rolling stock wise I need yet… Haven’t found info on the web but I have a few book titles I’m going to check out.
Thanks again Carpenter Matt
VSmith, I had to go back and check but what I’ve found regarding the W&W RR was found at Narrow tracks on the web, heard of it? Check it out if you get a chance. thats where I got some book titles and a guys name who runs a news letter about it.
let me know what you think Thanks Carpenter Matt
Hey Matt
Havent heard of the W&W, but there so many narrow gauge lines back in the 19th century I’m not surprised.
A great resource book for narrow guage is George W Hilton’s tome “American Narrow Gauge Railroads”, an outstanding resource of narrow gauge from coast to coast. I’ll look for it in this book.
I’ll have to check out Narrow Tracks webpage, Good luck with the layout, I cant afford LGB, I’m stuck with bachmann, but its cool, I like the smaller two axle stuff.
Vic,
Nothing wrong with Bachmann. The fact that they come with metal wheels makes them very appealing to me. Add some details, remove others, maybe a repaint and you have a unique piece of rolling stock that was quite inexpensive. Take an Aristo, or an LGB, add metal wheels, change the couplers and well…you get the picture! $$$ Having a family for me means only so much goes to the train stuff. If I can make it myself for less I’ll do that first. Love Bachmann’s Narrow Guage stuff. I only have a Shay so far and a few wagons. Waiting for the prices to start to drop on the Heisler and I’ll go after it next. That is one neat looking loco. Later eh…Brian.
Brian, Hey we all have to start somewhere, I cant afford a Shay, too rich for my blood, I scratchbuilt my Dunkirk type Shay from a bachmann flat car, 2 aristo power trucks, an AMC “the General” 4-4-0 plastic kit and a heck of a lot of superglue. [(-D]
No family constriants here, I’m just poor! I cant even think of a Hiesler, again way to $$ for me, I want to pick up a 2-6-0 indy this year and I really want the new Saddletank Porter, thats a nice engine, and since my two latest kitbashing efforts have been less than successfull on my layout ( my 2-4-0 plantation looks great but still has early B-mann motor and power pick up so it runs real bad and stalls constantly, and my 2-4-0 Aristo switcher hasnt run right since I replaced one of the siderods, it keeps jamming, not fun) so I’m telling myself I still need a big engine.
Oh Well, maybe I can get around this summer to my “BIG PROJECT” (there should be thunder. lightning and drum rolls here) taking two of my Marshalls LGB Porters and mashing them into a 0-4-4-0 articulated engine
I was talking to my dad and he said back when he was into trains hard Lgb was it for garden RR and it was expensive. I found an LGB 260 Mogal for $347.00 Unlettered, OUCH but being my first “G” purchase (I have alot of “S”) I figured I would bite the bullet the first go around since it closely resembles pictures of the W&W RR’s #4. A couple extra weekend’s of side jobs pounding nails and all be there. If I have the engine first. Weekends will get easier to work for track and power supply.
Carpenter Matt - My 68 camaro restoration is suffering miserably with this train thing.
All you need is one engine to start, if you want to bite the bullet and can afford the LGB, go for it. There really good engines, just too pricey for me.
Dont feel too bad about your car, i have a Honda 600 microcar i was supposed to start restoring last summer, Oh Well, maybe this year.[:D]