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There are certain advantages to modeling a Maine-style two foot gauge prototype in On30. Bachmann makes one heck of a Forney – it runs and looks great – it's cheaper than brass. In addition, manufactures like Mt. Blue Models, Train Troll and Deerfield River Laser offer a wide variety of freight and passenger equipment.
The downside is the track gauge is approximately 6 scale inches too wide. I think one of the neatest attributes of two foot gauge equipment (any narrow gauge equipment, really), is the way the carbodies “hang out” over the trucks. That effect tends to disappear when building narrow, correctly scaled, Maine prototype equipment and using standard Bachmann On30 trucks.
I first learned of this trick on the Yahoo On2 board and it’s since been published in Railroad Model Craftsman. It’s possible to use Grandt Line On2 trucks and swap out the wheels to run on On30 track. I decided to give it a try.
The ingredients: Grandt Line # 3075-01 SR&RL On2 trucks w/o wheels (sold direct only), Reboxx # WS-30950 HO scale 36” wheels (they scale out to 20” wheels in O scale), Mt. Blue Models # 803B Brake beams and shoes for On2 trucks re-gauged to On30.
Luckily, at the Narrow Gauge Convention, I discovered that Train Troll sells the trucks and wheels packaged together.
Here's a comparison shot. Bachmann's low profile truck in on the right, two converted On2 trucks are on the left (with and without brake beams).
Here's a view from the side (Bachmann on left, On2 on right).
Here's a shot of the underside of my scratchbuilt Monson flat car showing both trucks (I'm sure you can tell which is which).
Now that's more like it! And the whole thing was so easy. The Reboxx wheels fit perfectly in the Grandt Line On2 trucks - no filing required whatsoever. And these babies roll soooooo nicely.
So if you want to get a little more narrow gauge-ness out of your equipment, give these trucks a try.
The downside is the track gauge is approximately 6 scale inches too wide. I think one of the neatest attributes of two foot gauge equipment (any narrow gauge equipment, really), is the way the carbodies “hang out” over the trucks. That effect tends to disappear when building narrow, correctly scaled, Maine prototype equipment and using standard Bachmann On30 trucks.
I first learned of this trick on the Yahoo On2 board and it’s since been published in Railroad Model Craftsman. It’s possible to use Grandt Line On2 trucks and swap out the wheels to run on On30 track. I decided to give it a try.
The ingredients: Grandt Line # 3075-01 SR&RL On2 trucks w/o wheels (sold direct only), Reboxx # WS-30950 HO scale 36” wheels (they scale out to 20” wheels in O scale), Mt. Blue Models # 803B Brake beams and shoes for On2 trucks re-gauged to On30.
Luckily, at the Narrow Gauge Convention, I discovered that Train Troll sells the trucks and wheels packaged together.
Here's a comparison shot. Bachmann's low profile truck in on the right, two converted On2 trucks are on the left (with and without brake beams).
Here's a view from the side (Bachmann on left, On2 on right).
Here's a shot of the underside of my scratchbuilt Monson flat car showing both trucks (I'm sure you can tell which is which).
Now that's more like it! And the whole thing was so easy. The Reboxx wheels fit perfectly in the Grandt Line On2 trucks - no filing required whatsoever. And these babies roll soooooo nicely.
So if you want to get a little more narrow gauge-ness out of your equipment, give these trucks a try.
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