On30? vs. On3 (36")

I have been building a line of on30 logging into my 3 hirail layout also. Although not on3 I like the size difference between the 2 O scales/gauge.   Bachmann makes some great on30 equipment that looks and runs very smooth.

Good luck in your foray into on3.

Bachmann started their ON30 line as a way to use their already existing track and make trains that looked good with ceramic villages. They proved popular and they expanded the line into what they make today. They would not have built a ON3 line of trains so your assumption that the resources used to develop the ON30 line would have gone into ON3 is false. I have some ON30 from Bachmann and Broadway Limited and I like them. I don't care about the gauge being incorrect. They give me a chance to own some smaller equipment I like at a very resaonable cost. I have friends that have ON3 and they like the new low cost ON30 stuff as they can be regauged with a little work and are very cost effective compared to what they describe as the expensive and poor running brass models they had before. They understand that the mass produced ON30 equipment is not taking development dollars from true ON3.

The easy answer is that On30 sells...far more than On3.  On30 was popularized, not too many years ago, by Bachmann in an effort to develop a line that might appeal to the ceramic village crowd, especially during the holiday season, and that could easily make use of existing product lines (meaning HO track) if possible.

The products became attractive to hobbyists over and above the Dept. 56 village collector community, and the line offered by Bachmann quickly expanded into a whole range of items in On30, which simply made and still makes good business sense.

Narrow gauge modeling in any scale (except perhaps in Large Scale) is a small niche within a small niche, and On3 modeling is an even smaller niche.  Bachmann has done well with On30 so there's little reason for them to change course at this point.

If the manufacturers determined that there was a significant market for On3, you can be quite sure they would jump in with both feet.  But we all know that the market simply isn't large enough, at least a this point and particularly in these tight economic times.

I see that Brian made his post just about two minutes before I posted this response, and you'll see that we express rather similar views.

It's only recently that Blackstone Models began producing "relatively" inexpensive (compared to brass) ready to run, painted HOn3 locomotives and cars for the larger HO market.  They announced a Kato-type track system last year.

http://www.blackstonemodels.com/

Still, you can get Bachmann On30 for the same or less than the cost of some Blackstone products.

Rusty

maybe you guy can answer my question..what the heck is on3 and on30?i know the o.,s..ho..n..z gages unless id missed something?

Both are O Scale.  The difference is the track gauge.  On3 = 3 scale feet between the rails, On30 = 30" (2.50 scale feet)  between the rails.

Standard gauge track is 4'8.5" between the rails.

"O Gauge" track, due to an accident of history, is 5 scale feet between the rails.

Rusty

Coloradohirailer, as Rusty Traque has pointed out US O scale @1/48 is also incorrect if modeling standard gauge, so, does it really matter?

As a matter of interest, 30" or 2'6" is a very common prototypical narrow gauge in my country.

I think On30 as per Bachmann, gives us a relatively inexpensive scale compared to On3.

On30 has, by and large, become a "freelancer's scale" where layouts don't necessarily follow any specific prototype.  That being the case, 30" gauge as opposed to 36" gauge doesn't matter at all.  There are many advantages and lots more freedom when not being tied to any specific prototype, and in addition to that and the cost advantages, etc. previously mentioned, Bachmann's On30 equipment is generally designed to negotiate sharper radii curves than On3, so it's possible to build more layout in less space.

I agree with the O.P. - I've never really liked the idea of 30" gauge track, at least not to model North American narrow gauge - it's too wide for the Maine 2 footers and too skinny for everything else.

If I remember correctly, quite a few years ago Model Railroader had an article about re-detailing and re-gauging an Athearn HO scale switcher into an On2 locomotive. If I was going to get into O Scale narrow gauge I'd probably go that route. You'd have to hand lay all your track though...

Cheers,

glockr

I have a modest collection of On30 equipment, mostly logging. If it weren't for Bachmann I'd never have looked at O scale NG. The too-narrow gauge of On30 bothers me not at all.

Referencing the comment upthread about non-prototypical layouts-I've seen some mighty impressive work in On30 and some pure fantasy. Cool!

There are some pretty good modelers in ON30!  Russ

Russ, where can we see more of the image above?

Based on that photo you provided, Russ, "pretty good" is a vast understatement!  That image is spectacular!

Modeling by Troels Kirk in Sweden. Here is a link to Vol 6 of his work:

http://www.railroad-line.com/f...c.asp?TOPIC_ID=36954

I have learned over the years each one of us has our likes and dislikes.  And the fun lies in being free to do what you want to do on YOUR layout.  When we got this forum launched, thanks Allan and Rich, we had a lot of discussions trading ideas, pics, hints, and problems. I like ON30 as it looks well  on my tinplate Marx and uses less space.  I could go on, but instead, just read the first line again.

Al

Yes , it's Troels Kirk.  First off he is a great artist.  He sketchs all of his models before doing a build.  As he is doing the sketch he thinks about the story and what part this new piece well tell, and he is a great story teller.  Next he builds a foam core building and auditions it on his layout.  When satisfied with the shape he then starts the detailing which in it self is an art form and all done with very simple materials.  Lastly he photo documents every step and gives us great instructions on how to do it.  Quite the master, he is the John Allen of our time.  Check out The Coast Line on http://www.railroad-line.com and also his dated but terrific website:

http://www.modvid.com.au/html/body_troels_kirk1.html.  Yes I am a fan!  Russ

BTW the next issue of the ON30 2013 Annual will feature Mr. Kirk.

Perhaps I should clarify... I didn't mean "non-prototypical" with my use of the term "freelance", and I didn't mean it as in unrealistic or whimsical, or as a negative comment upon the quality of the modeling.    Rather, I used the term in the sense of modeling a fictitious railroad set in a fictitious location that isn't based on any particular actual existent railroad or location.  Most layouts are actually freelance to one degree or another, though narrow gauge layouts are more often than not based upon the D&RGW or RGS.

The Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette published a series of articles a while back by Mallory Hope Ferrell on prototype 30" gauge railroads, and there were a surprisingly large number of them that actually existed - one right here locally in the Santa Cruz Mountains - so to say that 30" gauge isn't accurate for North American railroading is not an accurate statement.  True, 3' gauge was more common, but plenty of 30" gauge prototypes did exist.

Troels Kirk has a Facebook page devoted to his Coast Line RR with gobs of recent and stunning photos!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/...page/127409483958090

He also sells a "how to" DVD on his use of paints and colors in model railroading (available on his FB page I believe).

Real life 30" gauge railroad with American Baldwin locomotives - all restored and operating vintage equipment on the original right of way. A world class operating museum ...

Ace, this is of course, "Puffing Billy" in Victoria, Australia. In the 19th C there was a very large network of this narrow gauge through the state, primarily to service the huge timber logging industry at the time.

Here's the website. http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/