Just wondering- Has anyone experimented with narrowing an HO diesel, to HOn3? I'm thinking of readily available production run stuff, two truck, B+B or C+C. Wondering of any that can simply be regauged, rather than enduring a massive rebuild. Boxcab E50
Check out some of the work that Bob Hayden has done on his Carrabasset & Dead River RR. I know he's shortened and narrowed a few Athearn Hustler shells on his HOn30 layout. Pat
The 44-tonners and 70-tonners offered by Bachmann Spectrum would be good starting points, as well as that 25-tonner by Grandt Line or MDC's little EMC Model 40 critter.
Pat- I am indeed familiar with the Hayden/Frary works in HOn30. Have followed as a fan for many years. I'm looking at going larger. Sn2. Which uses HOn3 track. So was trying to picture what HO diesels could possibly be adapted. Being a long time N scaler, I'm not intimately familiar with many HO units. So don't know how much space might be available to re-gauge, without hitting gear boxes or? So, am wondering about those units Bob suggested. Does anyone own these, so can take a look for me? And see if there is room available to push wheels inward? Boxcab E50
The White Pass and Yukon actually has some diesel locomotives which were built in the 1960's or 1970's when the line still hauled freight on a regular basis. These are still used to pull the long passenger trains of tourists that run when the cruise ships are in Skagway. Perhaps you could find a model of these already in narrow gauge.
Don- Now that you mention it...... I know they've done some WP&Y in HOn3 brass. But am thinking that perhaps somebody did a plastic version? Does this ring a bell for anyone? If so, suggestions on what to search for? Or where to try? Perhaps on eBay? Boxcab E50
Ken, Some time ago, I saw a styrene shovel nose GE in HO in RMC or MR. IIRC the gentleman who made it took an Athearn PA-1 chassis and narrowed the axles by removing some of the ends of the plastic sleeve with the gear and reinserting the wheels. He then scratch built the GE shovel nose diesel and it looked real close to the shovel nose diesel WP&Y ran on their trains. Also, seems to me I saw an RSD-12 that had the same treatment done and the cab, nose and long hood modified to resemble the later Alco hood units on the WP&Y. Cheers, Greg
Greg- You're still around! Guess they let you check in at home now and then? Anyhow, I keep thinking that someone did a plastic version of the WP&Y ALCo DL535E. Can't get that out of my mind. There is a 44 tonner on the market, that they say easily narrows to HOn3. But It's out of stock anywhere you look. Or nobody has ever heard of it. Boxcab E50
Well Ken the only plastic WP&Y DL535E was offered by LGB in G gauge that I remember anyway. A vacation has allowed me some time to model. I've got a caboose, ore car and GP-9 in various stages of disassembly. Trying to get at least the first two done. Greg
Boxcab, See what you think of this link. http://www.railway-recollections.com/ Kind of a neat way to start modeling in HOn30 Greg
Yes. I have corresponded with him. Nice guy! Very enthusiastic. There may even be some On30 coming along one of these days. Right now, he has a full plate just with HOn30. And what he's doing seems to be selling very well. Boxcab E50
