… and decided that I would like to model NA, then what would I do?
Either one of two routes
a) 1:20.3 Colorado
b) 1:29 Canadian short line(s) - the ones here in the Okanagan Valley would be perfect candidates!
Lots of info on the Colorado stuff and the OK Valley lines would be right at the doorstep, but… alas, I keep on modeling the RhB in 1:22.5
Nobody said you had to be crazy to model Large Scale…but it sure helps…
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:Well, HJ, for the B.C. stuff, you could dig a large pond and install working train ferries. If the pond were large enough, you could even tow the barges with your rowboat, or swim with the towing cable held in your teeth . Of course, I'm not sure that the boat or you (eubalaena helveticensis) are truly "suitable for G scale."
..... and decided that I would like to model NA, then what would I do? Either one of two routes a) 1:20.3 Colorado b) 1:29 Canadian short line(s) - the ones here in the Okanagan Valley would be perfect candidates! Lots of info on the Colorado stuff and the OK Valley lines would be right at the doorstep, but........ alas, I keep on modeling the RhB in 1:22.5
I sometimes think it might be fun to model the Newfoundland Railway in 1:24.
On the other hand, I am fascinated by the eccentric tramways and light railways of Britain, some of which made the Far Tottering & Oystercreek Railway look positively realistic. They were, by and large, standard gauge, but who’s going to check me … HJ’s scale rule is safely on the far side of some rather large bumps in the ground
Warren Mumpower said:Craziness comes in all sizes of packages from Howdie Doodie to Peter Pan. Something for everyone!
Nobody said you had to be crazy to model Large Scale......but it sure helps....:D
HJ–if it were option (b), your gauge would be off by 10%. How could you live with yourself? }
(Just kidding!!!)
Seriously, though…
If I were just starting out, I’d like to do a freelance 7/8" scale line with the simplicity of operations of the Monson, but using the towns of Strong and Phillips, if only because they’re family names (though our branch of the Strong family bears no relation). One day, I still may do something like that in On30. (That B’mann Forney is real tempting!) Probably have to wait until Suzi’s out of college, though.
If I didn’t have the real estate to do 7/8", I’d probably do something like the Tuscarora Valley or Newport & Sherman’s Valley RRs–two very short Pennsylvania 3’ gauge lines that ran in next two valleys east of the EBT. These were much different railroads than the EBT, almost quintessential narrow gauge. Second-hand equipment, little to no modernization, and a simple “bootstrap” attitude that kept the trains running.
Later,
K
Kevin, I have a booklet about the Newport and Perrycounty RRs somewhere. I fished off a Newport 3’ cement trestle pier.as a boy in Loysville. Its interesting how the two railroads competed.
Chris Vernell said:
...............................Well, HJ, for the B.C. stuff, you could dig a large pond and install working train ferries. If the pond were large enough, you could even tow the barges with your rowboat, or swim with the towing cable held in your teeth . Of course, I’m not sure that the boat or you (eubalaena helveticensis) are truly “suitable for G scale.”
I sometimes think it might be fun to model the Newfoundland Railway in 1:24.
On the other hand, I am fascinated by the eccentric tramways and light railways of Britain, some of which made the Far Tottering & Oystercreek Railway look positively realistic. They were, by and large, standard gauge, but who’s going to check me … HJ’s scale rule is safely on the far side of some rather large bumps in the ground
There are no whales in the Okanagan waters, but we do have Ogopogo. Scaled to “G” it should be a substantial “rubber dino” (green, not purple!)
Now on that Newfie idea of yours, not a bad choice. Well lubricated with Screech that would be a big hit when the American Invasion comes to town. I can just hear:
“Hmmmmmm, tell me, what scale did you say this was? Really??”
" How ingenious!"
" And all those colourful “Outport” doll houses! Now that I call clever!"
ETC. ETC. ETC.
Now I don’t know if we would need to prime the Invaders a bit or not, but it could be some real fun!
Better than funky Brit streetcars (if no one minds me saying so!)! :lol:
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:Ogopogo is one of these beasties most frequently observed through the bottom of a bottle of screech or similar refreshments, eh? Rather like its third cousin twice removed, Nessie. I am not sure if screech would be a good lubricant for model trains, though it might well fire up one of TAC's steamwagons. Or were you suggesting we lubricate the Americans, who might classify it as a weapon of mass distraction. Alas, it is medically proscribed for me :( , and I believe the good Father and his Chapter prefer gentler spirits.
There are no whales in the Okanagan waters, but we do have Ogopogo. Scaled to "G" it should be a substantial "rubber dino" (green, not purple!) Now on that Newfie idea of yours, not a bad choice. Well lubricated with Screech that would be a big hit when the American Invasion comes to town. .... Now I don't know if we would need to prime the Invaders a bit or not, but it could be some real fun! Better than funky Brit streetcars (if no one minds me saying so!)! :lol:
As for your heretical remarks about Brit streetcars … Harrumph and forsooth! … I’d take offence if SW hadn’t already taken the entire household supply for use elsewhere (and the authorities will never find the bodies … I believe no Swiss persons, living or undead, were involved – this time).
Chris Vernell said:
................................Ogopogo is one of these beasties most frequently observed through the bottom of a bottle of screech or similar refreshments, eh? Rather like its third cousin twice removed, Nessie.
I am not sure if screech would be a good lubricant for model trains, though it might well fire up one of TAC’s steamwagons. Or were you suggesting we lubricate the Americans, who might classify it as a weapon of mass distraction.
Alas, it is medically proscribed for me, and I believe the good Father and his Chapter prefer gentler spirits.
As for your heretical remarks about Brit streetcars … Harrumph and forsooth! … I’d take offence if SW hadn’t already taken the entire household supply for use elsewhere (and the authorities will never find the bodies … I believe no Swiss persons, living or undead, were involved – this time).
On the lubrication: apply to where you figure it will do the most “good”. If you have a good supply, chances are that it will be “mass distraction” and the pronounciation and spelling of same could suffer.
OTOH probably no-one will care! 
Sorry about the streetcars, but they look decidedly funky to my eyes. But they go well with the quaint, little NG trains. (Please note I didn’t write “cute”, despite having heard that term applied while in Wales).
Dag nab it…! Some of us suffer from lack of imagination…we need pictures of those “cute” lil streetcars…
Chris Vernell said:Ahem. Checking you.
.....They were, by and large, standard gauge, but who's going to check me ...
I live here remember?
Light Railway, as defined by the Light Railways Acts of the 1890s et al ‘…the rail gauge shall not exceed 2 feet and six inches…this being measured at a point at right angles to the upper tangent of the track rail-head and to the longitudinal axis of the track at any point, save an allowable extension or increase in gauge in order to permit the vehicles working thereon to safely negotiate such curves as there may be…’
Certain tramways were of standard gauge, like the Wells and Upwell and the Glyn Valley Tramway, and there was a three-foot gauge on the Southwold Railway as well as the Guiness Brewery. Other industrial railways like the Irchester and Wellingborough ironworks, were actually METRE gauge!! [that’s the original of the LGB Corpet-Louvet ‘Cambrai’, BTW]. The single track industrial lakeside line at Llyn Padarn [Llanberis Lake Railway] was 4ft gauge, and had very expensive 7/8 full-size ‘scale’ model locomotives running on it, which is why it went bust pretty early on.
Some town trams, such as those of Blackpool, run on standard gauge, but most, these days, such as those in Sheffield and Manchester, are not, being Swiss or German-built.
By far the majority of lines in Wales, where the NG we all know and love still rules the rwst [sorry, Welsh pun there], are on 1ft 11.5in, 2ft, and 2ft and 1/2" track. The largest NG track in the whole of mainland UK still running is the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway at 2ft 6in. The Isle of Man still has its beautiful 3ft gauge stuff. There is not a lot of NG in England, only about 16 lines, but the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway is another 2ft gauge line. We also have a LOT of 15" stuff, including the longest in the world - the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch. this 15 mile line actually had armoured trains equipped with machine guns during WW2! Two others, the picturesque Ravenglass & Eskdale and the Bure Valley, are also 15" miniature railways, and another, even smaller, the Wells & Walsingham 10.25" gauge, with its Garratts, is the longest in the world of its scale. Back over in Wales, there are full-size copies of the Sandy River & Rangely Lakes moguls running on the 2ft gauge Brecon Mountain railway, and real Garretts, including one of the two first ever K1 class, on the two-foot gauge Welsh Highland Railway.
Sadly, we have only got 85 preserved NG lines left in the whole of UK, although we do rather better for full-size steam locos of standard gauge, having over 2600 in steam, with many more undergoing preservation and resurrection work. We even have a totally built-from-scratch Class 1 8P pacific locomotive almost completed - ‘Tornado’. It should steam this fall!!
If you want trams - look to the Isle of Man Manx Electric Railway and for cable cars, the Great Orm Railway in Llandudno North Wales.
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:The term cute was not a word that you would have heard from a native, I'd be willing to bet. It is a term here in Gogledd Cymru [North Wales] of extreme derision, if ever used at all. My wife, who is Welsh, has never used the word, which in Welsh - 'cwt' - means 'cottage'. In English, as spoken in North Wales, it is used to describe somebody who is a minor criminal, who thinks that he is 'cute' enough to outwit the local plod, or 'Heddlu' as they are called here.
- maybe, can't figure it out... Sorry about the streetcars, but they look decidedly funky to my eyes. But they go well with the quaint, little NG trains. (Please note I didn't write "cute", despite having heard that term applied while in Wales). :D :D
Note that the use of the word ‘quaint’ is also frowned upon in Wales. Again, it is not a word that I have ever heard in use in Wales, except to describe the English in a derisory manner.
a Diwedd
tac
Cymdeithas Rheilfordd Garddiaid Glyn Ottawa
Terry A de C Foley said:Hans-Joerg Mueller said:The term cute was not a word that you would have heard from a native, I'd be willing to bet. It is a term here in Gogledd Cymru [North Wales] of extreme derision, if ever used at all. My wife, who is Welsh, has never used the word, which in Welsh - 'cwt' - means 'cottage'. In English, as spoken in North Wales, it is used to describe somebody who is a minor criminal, who thinks that he is 'cute' enough to outwit the local plod, or 'Heddlu' as they are called here.
- maybe, can't figure it out... Sorry about the streetcars, but they look decidedly funky to my eyes. But they go well with the quaint, little NG trains. (Please note I didn't write "cute", despite having heard that term applied while in Wales). :D :DNote that the use of the word ‘quaint’ is also frowned upon in Wales. Again, it is not a word that I have ever heard in use in Wales, except to describe the English in a derisory manner.
a Diwedd
tac
Cymdeithas Rheilfordd Garddiaid Glyn Ottawa
The year was 1966, the world cup was in progress; the very last thing I would ask a “native” in the UK was “Where are YOU from?”.
I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid. :lol: (No, that is not a solicitation of second, third etc. etc. opinions!)
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:Terry A de C Foley said:Hans-Joerg Mueller said:The term cute was not a word that you would have heard from a native, I'd be willing to bet. It is a term here in Gogledd Cymru [North Wales] of extreme derision, if ever used at all. My wife, who is Welsh, has never used the word, which in Welsh - 'cwt' - means 'cottage'. In English, as spoken in North Wales, it is used to describe somebody who is a minor criminal, who thinks that he is 'cute' enough to outwit the local plod, or 'Heddlu' as they are called here.
- maybe, can't figure it out... Sorry about the streetcars, but they look decidedly funky to my eyes. But they go well with the quaint, little NG trains. (Please note I didn't write "cute", despite having heard that term applied while in Wales). :D :DNote that the use of the word ‘quaint’ is also frowned upon in Wales. Again, it is not a word that I have ever heard in use in Wales, except to describe the English in a derisory manner.
a Diwedd
tac
Cymdeithas Rheilfordd Garddiaid Glyn Ottawa
Terry,The year was 1966, the world cup was in progress; the very last thing I would ask a “native” in the UK was “Where are YOU from?”.
I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid. :lol:
Steve,
That was too sure to even bet on it! :lol: :lol:
Terry A de C Foley said:Dear old Google: "... in 1870 the Tramways Act was passed. The tramway concept of railways built along the dusty public highways of the time was in vogue for a while. ..."Chris Vernell said:Certain tramways were of standard gauge, ...
.....They were, by and large, standard gauge, but who's going to check me ...
Them’s the ones I was referring to: Wisbech & Upwell (for Thomas fans, think Toby) and Wantage, whose passenger carriages were largely former horsedrawn tram cars; plus the wondrous enterprises of Col. Stephens.
Glyn Valley was 2’ 4.5" – hmmm – install third rail?
'Lectric trams (streetcars) ain’t my thing, though I have fond memories of trams in Rome in the '50s.
I wiki’d the Light Railways Act 1896: “The act limited weights to a maximum of 12 tons on each axle and speeds to a maximum of 25 miles per hour (mph), and 8 mph on bends. It did not exclude standard-gauge track, but narrow-gauge tracks were used for many railways built under its provisions.”
Interesting to note that the Act was helpful in the establishment of preserved lines long after its original purpose was obsolete.
Kevin Strong said:
HJ--If I were just starting out, I’d like to do a freelance 7/8" scale line with the simplicity of operations of the Monson, but using the towns of Strong and Phillips, if only because they’re family names (though our branch of the Strong family bears no relation). One day, I still may do something like that in On30. (That B’mann Forney is real tempting!) Probably have to wait until Suzi’s out of college, though. K
I have some of the On30, aborted once I decided to go large scale. It is really good stuff, but i will be disposing of it on ebay once I move next month.
Vince
Hi Vince,
Are you going with 30mm track gauge? Which track are you planning on?
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Hi Vince,Are you going with 30mm track gauge? Which track are you planning on?
If I could start over, at the beginning again…
I wouldn't.
I’d probably give $1000 to some poor sucker with great plans and a lot of land. And hope to operate on whatever pike he built.
I’d then move into an abbey; start a Single Malt Scotch Whisky collection, and start enjoying life by tasting in moderation.
Some of my time would go to travelling around and watching frustrated people making all of the mistakes I made, and a whole lot more.
In the mean time, and getting back to reality…I’m enjoying my Single Malt Collection, here at the Starwood Abbey, and looking at a decrepid short line that seems to go deeper into debt every year with no hope for the future…!!!
One of these days I'll sell it off to some poor sucker who can make some more mistakes, that I haven't thought of yet.....!!!