Large Scale Central

Mexican three-foot gauge in the steam era - help please

Modeling
#1

Like the title reads - a couple of us here are getting into 1/32nd steam-era Mexican three-foot gauge stuff, and want to hear from anybody who has anything to contribute in the way of knowledge, or images or history that is not necessarily to be found on the internet. Contrary to public opinion, not EVERYTHING is on the internet.

One of our group is starting to put together some dual gauge 45mm/1 and 1/8th inch gauge track, and rebuilding a bunch of MTH Bettendorf trucks to suit the cut-down marklin stock cars and other itmes he has found.

Any help would be much appreciated, and paid for if necessary.

TIA

tac

#2

Terry,

Mexican Narrow Gauge - Gerald M. Best, Howell-North Books, 1968.
Lib. Congress # 68-57487

Maps, rosters and many photos. Includes many industrial lines as well. Excellent resource.

Couple of possible sources:
Ron’s Books www.ronsbooks.com 914-967-7541
Caboose Hobbies www.caboosehobbies.com 303-777-6766

#3
Richard Smith said:
Terry,

Mexican Narrow Gauge - Gerald M. Best, Howell-North Books, 1968.
Lib. Congress # 68-57487

Maps, rosters and many photos. Includes many industrial lines as well. Excellent resource.

Couple of possible sources:
Ron’s Books www.ronsbooks.com 914-967-7541
Caboose Hobbies www.caboosehobbies.com 303-777-6766


Richard, Old Floon, what a star you are!!! Lunch on me at Griffs next time we are over!!!

Best

t & ig

PS - bring your fly swatter - know what I mean?

#4

Great book.

Expect to pay big $$$ for a good copy.

#5

Yeah,
I quit bidding at 65 bucks recently on a copy. The other dude got it for 65.50.

But I can scan the pics from a NG&SLG about one particular Mexican ng loco, if that will help.
It now operates somewhere in Montana. Virginia City, I think. Not sure.

#6

Try http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/4334654/used/Mexican%20narrow%20gauge

#7

its worth the extra $

#8

Terry A de C Foley said:
Like the title reads - a couple of us here are getting into 1/32nd steam-era Mexican three-foot gauge stuff, and want to hear from anybody who has anything to contribute in the way of knowledge, or images or history that is not necessarily to be found on the internet. Contrary to public opinion, not EVERYTHING is on the internet. One of our group is starting to put together some dual gauge 45mm/1 and 1/8th inch gauge track, and rebuilding a bunch of MTH Bettendorf trucks to suit the cut-down marklin stock cars and other itmes he has found. Any help would be much appreciated, and paid for if necessary. TIA tac www.ovgrs.org

Terry, what an excellent choice!! I have been hunting for Mexican NG for almost a year now. You are correct, there is precious little to be found on the Internet, at least when you search using English… Best’s book, although definitely a reference, is quite old and personally, I do not quite understand why there are so few other sources with better quality photos etc. In particular, I miss plans and colour in Best’s book. Last year I acquired a great caboose, based on the Coahuila y Zacatecas caboose, plans for the two cabooses from this line appeared in NG&SLG. I attach a few photos (the caboose is lettered for a private railway of the builder). What attracts me particularly in South American narrow gauge is the use of colour and odd equipment, much more interesting than the relative monotony of the US narrow gauge lines but not as absurd as for example Indian narrow gauge style of decorating some equipment, if you know what I mean… Anyway, why only Mexican? In any case, please check the photos, best wishes from TOkyo, Zubi

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2977693122_d405d9f783_b.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/2976835565_a03d993f59_b.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/2977692862_b200c11346_b.jpg)

#9
John Bouck said:
Yeah, I quit bidding at 65 bucks recently on a copy. The other dude got it for 65.50.

But I can scan the pics from a NG&SLG about one particular Mexican ng loco, if that will help.
It now operates somewhere in Montana. Virginia City, I think. Not sure.


John - many thanks for that offer - I’ll take you up on it!! If you intend to make a hard copy, I’ll pay the mail costs - please see your pm for my UK address! And to all the other respondees - thanks, guys! You are ever helpish to an old fart stuck over here…the GFO will reward you in good time.

Best to all

tac

#10

Zubi - good to hear from you! And thanks for the great images too. Pete [the builder] currently has a Maerklin caboose that will be sacrificed as a trial car for the feasability study.
Can you reference me the relevant NG&SLG details?

We are back over in Tokyo from around the middle of the last week in november to 6 december - any chance of a meet-up? I might have to go up north first though, not sure yet.

Best wishes

tac

#11
Terry A de C Foley said:
Can you reference me the relevant NG&SLG details?
Terry, Jan/Feb 1997
Terry A de C Foley said:
We are back over in Tokyo from around the middle of the last week in november to 6 december - any chance of a meet-up? I might have to go up north first though, not sure yet.
Good to hear you are coming to Tokyo again! Yes, this time I will be here, looking forward to meeting you! Best wishes, Zubi
#12

Terry,
2 questions:

  1. Why 1/32 and not 1:20.32?
  2. Are you related to any Foleys in Lexington Tenn or Louisville Miss?

I’m doing the Oahu Narrow guage, in 1:20.32 and that works best especially since they used a lot of the Narrow guage equipment that is now available through Bachmann and Accucraft to name a few, so naturally I’m curious about your reasons.
BTW, I paid 125 for my copy of Sugar Trains Pictorial which was a bargain, since I saw other copies going for 300 and more. I don’t regret spending 125 at all. It has been a valuable resource.

#13

Terry, 2 questions:

  1. Why 1/32 and not 1:20.32?

Because those interested in the Mexican NG are also, like me, members of the G1MRA - however, here in the Mid-Anglia group I am the only one who models in any other scale than 1/32nd.

  1. Are you related to any Foleys in Lexington Tenn or Louisville Miss?

Unless they came from County Cork before 1890 or so, nope.

I’m doing the Oahu Narrow guage, in 1:20.32 and that works best especially since they used a lot of the Narrow guage equipment that is now available through Bachmann and Accucraft to name a few, so naturally I’m curious about your reasons.

It is indeed fortuitous that there is so much that you can use to your advantage. Might I suggest that there might be some items from some of the many British manufacturers of colonial rolling stock that might be of use to you, if you care to let me know what it is that interests you. As far as the Mexican stuff is concerned, I am not the leader on this project, and my contribution to it is minimal. I just happen to have a small lathe and the skills to use it to make certain bits. I AM the only person here in yUK [that I know of] who posts on this forum, hence me asking here. I am not a subscriber to the NG&SLG as I find the method of getting hold of their on-line magazine tortuous in the extreme.

There are a large number of Gauge 1 layouts in this part of the UK - of large size, even by the standards of most American or Canadian layouts. The one I was running my garratt on last week has over 1500 feet of dual track and about 250 feet of sidings, and that’s pretty compact by comparison with some - ALL are, however 1/32nd live-steam Gauge 1 to the exclusion of all else.

Running my 16mm Garratt there was a one-off event to give them a light-hearted break from the endless rows of Berkshires, S-2s, Cab-forwards, Alleghenies, Hudsons, Big Boys and so on that proliferate the average G1 track here in yUK, mainly so that the members could observe, at first paw, the poverty-end of live-steam running. No doubt one or the other of my little Shays will raise a few cackles next time we run there. I get great fun out of it, just as much as they get out of their Alleghennies, anyhow.

Best wishes

tac

#14

Just got an e-mail from Ron’s books - see

Quote - I have a used copy of Mexican Narrow Gauge. It has been out of print for
many years. The book is in good condition with a dust jacket. The price is
$100.00 which includes shipping in the USA.
Ellie
----- Original Message -----
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2008 5:22 PM
Subject: Want List - new

Sounds good to me!

Also was just told that the group leader already has this book - so it’s open to anybody here who might like it.

tac

#15

As a matter of fact they did come to America around 1860 or so, Cork sounds familiar, but I’ll have to check with some of my older kin to make sure. As for rolling stock for OR&L, I’m trying to do all those from scratch as well as all the people on the OR&L, circa 1906 which at that time, the OR&L shops built all their own rolling stock including the coached which were done by x carter bros employee John Hughes. What I am looking for is a variety of sizes of smoke stacks of the same kind as the one pictured below. It would be great help if you could point me to a site that offers these stacks because I need 1 for my next 4-4-0, 2-8-0, 0-4-0 and finally my 4-6-0.

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/rkapuaala/lanakilafrontsm.jpg)

#16

TAC,
As soon as I get down to the PO, I’ll send you the whole magazine.
Seems I had an extra.
jb

#17

John - the mailman has just delivered the magazine!!! Many thanks indeed.

The subject loco is, of course, the subject of Bachmann’s remarkable Fn3 Connie - a model I have had since the day it became available in the US. The story of how I got it back to UK without paying deserves telling some time. I also, thanks to Fr Fred, have the 0n3 version as well, just for the love of it.

There must be some way that I can re-imburse you for the not-inconsiderable cost of shipping it to me - please let me know how I can do it.

Best wishes from a storm-cloud-ridden East Anglia…

tac

#18

My pleasure!
No re-reimbursement necessary.
I knew it prolly wasn’t egzactly what you were looking for, but the mag is a little inneresting.
jb

#19
John Bouck said:
My pleasure! No re-reimbursement necessary. I knew it prolly wasn't egzactly what you were looking for, but the mag is a little inneresting. jb
John - all the magazine has really done is to bring home to me the total inadequacy of my own modelling skills. Much of the imagery in that magaizne could have been depicting the real thing - nobody would have known any different.

Thank you again.

tac