I’m looking to add track equipment to my layout . What is the best items out
there in ho scale,and go’s together pretty easy. thanks tim [8D][8D]
bachmann makes some cool maintenance of way vehicles
I have seen some that are not powered
hope that helps
Thank you , Budliner . I’ll check into them I think they sale them at walthers.
thanks for the reply. Tim
Bachmann offer a ballast tamper which runs pretty well, and also a little 4-wheeled thing with a crane on the back and a load of ballast covering the motor. The other manufacturer to look for would be Kibri, who have a range of MOW equipment in kit form. Most of it is European but one or two may have potential for a kitbash or even just a repaint.
Thank You ,Railroading_brit .I will check into thank you tim
Did anyone successfully DDC-ed Bachmann Ballast regulator? It looks to be decent peice of machinery but without DCC it is dead 
I made a MOW set up using an Athearn 70 ton crane, a 40’ flatcar and an old 40’ boxcar that came out ok once i painted it, decaled it, and weathered it…there’s always cranes on the rails usually sitting in a train yard when not in use and they are pretty easy to model…chuck
Theoretically you can DCC the Bachmann tamper, mine even came with a couple of small plastic things designed to insulate something or other for that purpose (think they were intended to cover the motor terminals after you fit a decoder). You’d need an N scale decoder and it would be a tight squeeze. Mine will probably get side buffers (bought the US version and wish I’d bought the British one) or I might swap the mechanical bits into an unpowered Bachmann UK version of the model given that would also have the full lettering, etc.
Railroading _brit , I think you sold me of the bachmann maintenance
equipment. cw clark that’s a good Idea too I have that in a Athearn PRR. THANKS TIM
Custom Finishing makes a very extensive line of non operating equipment kits. Most take a lot of work to build, but are worth it. Check out their listing on the Walthers website, as they don’t have one of their own.
Bob Boudreau
I like the IHC line of MOW cars (especially the kits). Cheap, easy to modify, and will fit in with my era with just a little work. I’m not interested in “best”. I like kits that are fun, cheap enough that I don’t mind altering them or replacing trucks and couplers, and look good and fit in when I’m done.
yours in kit bashing and 1900 era free-lancing
Fred W
I have several crains, some flat cars, gondolas and a snow plow as my my MOW train that usualy sits in the yard. For nice MOW train equtment Walthers mad some good sets in the early/mid 90s. not sure if they are still avalable. Also athearn used to make a good bit of MOW cars. Most were normal fright cars or passenger cars painted in a MOW paint shceem but they looked good for a lager operation. They also had their 200 ton crain which i know they still make.
As for small vehicals i would definitaly say coustom finish has some great stuff. they are kinda pricy but definitaly cool.
I’ve never used any of the IHC stuff so i really cant comment on it.
Well good luck on the MOW train.