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HoN3 / HoN30 Dual gauge track Locos and rolling stock
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Super User 206 posts John Graser Super User 206 posts
John Graser

A couple of questions:

  1. Is Blackstone the only company that makes HON3 gauge (DCC) equipment.  
  2. Is micro engineering the only manufature on Dual gauge HO/HON3
  3. How easy is it to convert Bachmann HON30 to HON3.
  4. Does any one make dual gauge H0/HON30 track / switches

Modeling Southern Pacific and Santa Fe in HO, O, and 7.5" Gauge
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Prof_Klyzlr Moderator 7,969 posts
Prof_Klyzlr

Quick answers

Dear John, 1- Yes, HOn3 is a lonely, cold, and hard roe-to-hoe if one limits themselves strictly to US-outline plastic RTR and Factory-DCC-equipped. Blackstone is IIRC the only game in town, and Colorado is the only tune to sing... (because US NG _only_ means "Colorado 3-foot", doesn't it? *) If you get lucky you _may_ find an New Old Stock MDC/Roundhouse RTR HOn3 loco, but they will not be DCC-equipped and may well need some significant fettling to get running sweetly... 2- Unsure if it's still available, but Shinohara was (is?) another source of HO/HOn3 dual-gauge track and turnouts. ME is likely more-readily-available circa 2018 3- do you have a particular B'mann HOn30 donor model in mind? Early B'mann and LL/Proto2k N scale diesel mechs can be widened out to 10.5mm reasonably easily (HOn3 Class A climax with a widened LL SW1200 mech under a sectioned MDC "Battle Mountain" glider-kit body, anyone?... Or how's about a widened SD7/9 mech with the centre axles removed, under an MDC HO Combine, to form a cute-as-a-button Mixed-duty railcar?) 4- HO/HOn30 dual-gauge is rare in commercial form, and most modellers feel it looks too-much like "HO scale 3-rail". You _may_ find something available out of Europe, listed as "HO/HOe dual gauge"? Hope this helps, Happy Modelling, Aim to Improve, Prof Klyzlr * please note tongue planted firmly in cheek
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John Graser Super User 206 posts
John Graser

Prof_Klyzlr, Thanks for the

Prof_Klyzlr,

Thanks for the info.

Right now just see what my options are.

John 

Modeling Southern Pacific and Santa Fe in HO, O, and 7.5" Gauge
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ctxmf74 Super User 16,006 posts
ctxmf74

"Is Blackstone the

Quote:

"Is Blackstone the only company that makes HON3 gauge "

  If you go to ebay and search for HOn3 you'll get 3939 results (as of this morning.) to check out. Some are Blackstone but many are others.  HOn3 has been around for a long time and is very well represented on the used market. HOn3 freight car kits can be had for a low price and are a good way to get into the scale. I can't think of any reason to consider  HOn30 though.....DaveB

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Rasselmag Frequent poster 541 posts
Rasselmag

Does any one make dual gauge H0/HON30 track / switches

To answer question 4:

https://www.tillig.com/eng/Produkte/produktinfo-85126.html

https://www.tillig.com/eng/Elite_Gleissysteme_Weichen_Kreuzungen.html

The complete sortiment: https://www.tillig.com/eng/Elite_Gleissysteme.html

 

Lutz
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dapenguin Super User 876 posts
dapenguin

Can't Decide???

You could always hand lay triple gauge track ;0

TC Carr
Malheur, Kopperton & Tejas * Sn3½ in 1923
(the I don't know yet) * Sn2 "Gilpin in Idaho"
​Anaconda, Oregon & Pacific * S Scale Heavy Electric
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Rich_S Prolific poster 1,011 posts
Rich_S

Narrow Gauge

I agree, when most people think of Narrow gauge they tend to think of Colorado. The East Broad Top, East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, all the Maine two footers and the West coast narrow gauge railroads tend to get over looked by the manufactures in HO scale.

Another option if you have slightly more space is On30. Bachmann makes a fairly large range of On30 locomotives and rolling stock, this equipment runs on HO scale track. A nice feature of the Bachmann On30 equipment, it tends to be non-Colorado prototypes. To see what can be done in On30 have a look at Lee's ET&WNC On30 layout in this layout blog

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/etwnc-stoney-creek-branch-12197690

 

Cheers,

Rich S.
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John Graser Super User 206 posts
John Graser

Thanks every one for the

Thanks every one for the suggestion.

P.s. the dual gauge would be on a branch line on my layout. Everything else is (HO) standard gauge

John 

Modeling Southern Pacific and Santa Fe in HO, O, and 7.5" Gauge
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