New to O scale

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D

dgubber

New Member
Hi all,

I've been dabbling in HO for years although never truly set up a full layout. I had a small one running years ago but had to take it down
when I moved.

I also ( at 55 years old! ) have a new addition to my family because last year I became a dad to a bouncing baby boy who is now ~20
months old, so I decided to go to a larger scale to make it a little easier on him.

I prefer going as prototypical as possible, so I am looking at O scale 2 rail.

A number of issues I've encountered during my discovery work...

#1 - Many sites that sell O scale predominately have 3rail loco's and rolling stock. The few that have some 2 rail items are not in the railways I
am seeking. ( I prefer Great Northern, Northern Pacific or Union Pacific )
#2 - I've seen mention of converting 3 rail to 2 rail and I'm a bit confused about that, here's why. 3 rail has a center pickup on the loco whereas
2 rail needs to have it at each set of wheels, that's easy enough to understand. The only difference in the rolling stock though, as far as I can tell,
is the 3 rail doesn't need to be insulated between wheels where the 2 rail does for obvious reasons. I would think converting rolling stock would be
as easy as replacing the trucks with 2 rail versions.
#3 - HO Scale is very "easy" to understand and to buy for... HO = 1:87 / 5/8" rail spacing, etc
O scale has ( from what I can gather ) at least 2 different sizes of track at least regarding the rail heights and most of the online buying resources don't
indicate if it's truly code 148, which is from what I've read the correct scaled height the track is suppose to be for true proto realism.
#4 - The list goes on....

Does anyone have a pointer to a FANTASTIC source where I can buy O scale loco's and rolling stock for a 2 rail setup ?
Does anyone have a pointer to a FANTASTIC source where I can buy O scale 2 rail setup track that is true code 148
Does anyone have a pointer to a FANTASTIC source to show how to convert rolling stock from 3 rail to 2 rail ? ( not worried about the loco's here )

I'm getting frustrated in my search.....

Dan
 
dgubber said:
I prefer going as prototypical as possible, so I am looking at O scale 2 rail.

#1 - Many sites that sell O scale predominately have 3rail loco's and rolling stock. The few that have some 2 rail items are not in the railways I
am seeking. ( I prefer Great Northern, Northern Pacific or Union Pacific )
Click to expand...
That is one of the big issues in the scales other than N or HO. They have plenty of equipment in all road names. O-scale has a much more limited selection.

#2 - I've seen mention of converting 3 rail to 2 rail and I'm a bit confused about that, here's why. 3 rail has a center pickup on the loco whereas
2 rail needs to have it at each set of wheels, that's easy enough to understand. The only difference in the rolling stock though, as far as I can tell,
is the 3 rail doesn't need to be insulated between wheels where the 2 rail does for obvious reasons. I would think converting rolling stock would be
as easy as replacing the trucks with 2 rail versions.
Click to expand...
There is also the consideration of the depth of the wheel flanges. Simple replacement is true if you can afford that many trucks. There might need to be some height adjustments to keep the bodies the correct height off the rails. I would think the conversion might even easier, by simply replacing the wheel sets.

O scale has ( from what I can gather ) at least 2 different sizes of track at least regarding the rail heights and most of the online buying resources don't indicate if it's truly code 148, which is from what I've read the correct scaled height the track is suppose to be for true proto realism.
Click to expand...
Well, You realize O-Gauge is 5 feet between the rails instead of 4' 8 1/2". So if you can tolerate that I cannot imagine that the height of the rail is going to be that big of an issue. I believe my O-scale track (AHM brand) is code 115 or so. It looks really good.

Sorry, no help on current sources for O equipment. I razed the O-scale layout in 2003 and have only purchased items at swap meets and 2nd hand shows for many many years.
 
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Tks for the reply IH.... I have another question as I "roll" along here.....

At least on one site, when looking for which loco's were in service on GN around the 1945 time frame, I see they had approx 6 RS-1's with road numbers
50, 51, 53, 54 & 55, but one site is selling GN RS-1's with road numbers 184 & 185... is this a common issue and am I just being crazy ?
 


Hmmm, don't know your source, but I have three different sources that say the GN had only 4 RS-1 locos. They were purchased in 1944 with the numbers 182-185. They apparently carried these numbers through their entire service life ending in 1960. I cannot find any locomotives on the GN roster in the 50 series.
 
You might want to try Empire Hobbies in Webster (NY) for O Scale gear:

http://www.empirenorthern.com/

They seem to stock, or be able to get, O Scale items and are a pretty decent bunch to work with. I have never bought anything from on line as they are only an 1 1/2 up the road from me, so I go to the physical store should I need anything from them, or if I need anything by yesterday :)
 
Sirfoldalot said:
Dan, you maybe take a look at this site:

http://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/forum/2-rail-scale-trains
Click to expand...

I second the motion! That is the place for you, but don't forget about this forum because you won't find more knowledgeable, and respectful modelers anywhere! I am a O gauge fan (3 rail) and even though there are not many on here I enjoy this forum much more then any other because the members have an unlimited knowledge of model railroading and trains in general, but most important to me they are just good people. As you have already seen.
 
Tks guys.

First I want to say... Sherrel, I LOVE the byline .. "I was born with nothing, I still have most of it left" !! Great one-liner......
Of course the implication is you have less then nothing... lol

Here's what I have been able to find so far through a lot of searching, all 2-rail with road name Great Northern

RS-1 w/DCC & Sound - #184
RS-1 w/DCC & Sound - #185
ALCo RS-3
40' Stock Car - #56444
40' Woodside Gondola
50' S/S Boxcar
52'6" Flat Car w/ Load
AAR 70 Ton 3-Bay Open Hopper
Extended Vision Caboose

One of the better sites seems to be http://www.atlastrainman.com/ although the list is from a couple of sites.

Still looking for a couple of 2-rail steam engines though. As I go deeper down the rabbit hole I might choose to convert a few myself from 3 rail
to 2 rail. I'll keep all posted.....

Dan
 
Dan, yeah .. I love that line; I have found over the years that lawyers and the government can actually reduce you to less-than-nothing!

Keep looking .. I have a few other 0-scale sites that I will look for and post for you. I love the scale, but nowdays, you have to scratch most everything unless you have very deep pockets.
I like to search Evilbay and dream what I could do with an aircraft hanger - lol.
I sold most of my loco's and cars a few years back. Had several brass steamers .. Was amased at the prices they brought.
I am wishey-washey between 0n30 and just going back to MARX and Lionel for the grandkids. Maybe a small along the wall switching layout for scale and a larger 3-rail for the kids.
 
Ok - I found out some more info no one has mentioned, so I don't know if that means it's not real public info, or just overlooked....

MTH has a patent on something they are calling Proto-Scale 32. IF an engine is equipped with it, all you need to do to convert from 3
rail to 2 rail is flip a switch and remove the center rail pickups. Which leads me to my next question as I am looking at the specs of a
few that have this installed.....

Is this correct ?

O27 radius = 12.5 inches
O34 radius = 15.75 inches
O42 radius = 20.25 inches
O54 radius = 26.375 inches
O72 radius = 35.25 inches

So if an engine has a spec indicating it operates on O-42 curves, that should translate to a radius of 20.25 inches ?? Is that correct ?

Dan


 


I not an O scale expert but I believe the number is the radius of the curve in inches. O27 would be 27 inch radius track.
 
RBMNfan said:
I not an O scale expert but I believe the number is the radius of the curve in inches. O27 would be 27 inch radius track.
Click to expand...

Not so fast there, Grasshopper! 27 inches (027) is the diameter of the circle measured cross the center rail. The radius would be 1/2 of that, or 13.5 inches.
 
Hey there, still looking on feedback on the last question. It appears that the "O" value ( ie, O34, O42, etc ) is the approximate diameter size, half of which would
be the radius. Does this compute guys ?

Dan
 
Hello Dan.

Here is a site for an e magazine that is strictly O scale 2 rail. There is a small classified section at the end of each e-zine with a few mfgs of O scale goodies.

http://oscaleresource.com/

I came across it while searching for decoder installations in O Locomotives.


Also in reference to your question regarding the curve dimensions in O Gauge, as mentioned above, the numbers following the "O" are the diameter. So in effect, O-42 curve would be 21 inch radius. It's tight but the rolling is made to work on these tight curves. With a little common sense in equipment choice and layout design, the toy like appearance can be minimized for a fairly protypocal appearance. I am in the process of building an O Gauge three rail layout with scale rolling stock. I am using an existing DCC setup so I can switch power between an N scale layout and the O gauge layout. Good luck in your planning!

Dominic
 
As an "O" scale incoherent, does MTH's trains in that scale co-habit with other brands? Especially with their control system.
 


Hey Toot, that is a good question and one that not many O gauge hobbyists know, so don't feel bad.

I am not an expert on MTH, but I will share what I do know and what I think I know.

Lionel's first control system was the TMCC (train master command control) Their second and latest is the Legacy System.
The Legacy System can operate TMCC equipment, but as you would expect you won't have all the functions of Legacy.
I don't know if MTH is compatible with TMCC or Legacy. It may be with TMCC, but I don't believe it is with the full functions of Legacy
Legacy equipment can operate in TMCC mode.

MTH has the DCS system (same as HO from what I understand) the locomotives, and I am not sure if they have command control rolling stock and or accessories use different versions of Proto Sound versions 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 The name Proto Sound is a bit confusing because it also refers to the version of command control, I think.
MTH's DCS can from what I understand operate Lionel TMCC equipped locomotives, rolling stock and accessories, but not full function Legacy.

To complicate things even more they both make a stand alone remote control system for RTR sets, Lionel calls theirs the LionChief ad it is compatible for conventional and command control, but you must you the locomotive specific hand held wireless remote that comes with sets and locomotives in the LionChief line. I don't know anything else about MTH's RTR remote sets.

That is the first part of the confusion. Second is scale.

There are 2 different scales in O gauge. To use Lionel's terminology you have Traditional scale and Standard O. We use the term O gauge rather then O scale as does Lionel and others because if you say O scale you leave out tradition scale equipment. Traditional scale is a bit smaller to run on O27 and now O31 curves. O27 makes a 27" circle and O31 is 31" circle, both measured from the center rail.
Lionel separates the two scales by calling O scale; Standard O Traditional O is what I believe all Post-war Lionel was. It is also what comes in most Lionel and MTH RTR sets.

MTH refers to traditional scale as their "Railking" line I am not sure what they call O scale or as Lionel calls it Standard O, but I know they do make O scale and also 2 rail O scale. MTH is confusing but I am biased towards Lionel. I only own 2 pieces of MTH rolling stock and one of those I bought by mistake.

All the 3 rail MTH and Lionel will run together, depending on minimum radius, but Standard O or O scale is bigger, true 1:48 scale.

That is the best I can do to answer your question, sorry.
 
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