Hi guys:
Are many of you considering downsizing to ON30 due to the cost of large scale trackage and the cost of new large scale locomotives?
The Bachmann new product offering seems to now be more focused on ON30 rather than 1:20.3 scale.
Bachmann now offers ON30 die cast locos with DCC and sound for a very reasonable sum. Just like the early days of large scale pricing.
Your thoughts?
Norman
While I am able and have the finance and the space, I shall continue with 1/29 in the garden. However, I have over the last four years or so, started to
collect On30 for when I have to move indoors or downsize the house.
I couldn’t resist the Broadway Limited $100.00 sell out on DCC/sound equipped C-16’s when they were clearing stock. I got two. I also have lots of HO rolling stock that I look forward to re scaling to On30.
Rod
I often look at the smaller scales Rod. There is certainly a great choice available.
However the reason I got into garden railroading was solely due to the fact that there has never been any spare space in my home. I collected OO/HO (French/German/British) for years and eventually sold it ten years ago. In theory there is just the two of us but family members are always wanting to visit. Loving my family I prefer it that way. 
I will never downsize and go with 0n30. For one I don’t have space inside and you don’t have the garden aspect. To me its about using live plants ect. I have everything I need so no matter how much g scale gets I’m set.
One of my upcoming projects is going to use a Bachmann On30 0-4-0 that I got on Ebay. I’m going to convert it to a Gn15 for the mine on my layout.
I already have an indoor layout…in “G”!
If I were to switch indoor scales it would likely be standard gauge or “O”. On30 is limited to narrow gauge, if I’m “downsizing” I see no reason to limit myself to one era/type when so much is available to fill the space. Though I could see a On30 running alongside a “standard” O or HO layout.
Using it as a minning operation outdoors is a fantastic idea.
I should mention the whole reason for me to get into “large scale” was because it was…well large. I will likely be ripping out my indoor layout this spring and turning the area into a bar/entertainment area with an elevated “shelf” layout.
With my big trains I can drive right over the small stuff. 
My Gn15 will be able to derail your big trains John!
I do both. I live in northern Ohio where it’s roughly a 50/50 warm to cold climate ratio. So I run “G” in the summer and On30 in the winter. I’m fortunate to have an unfinished 40’ basement and an understanding spouse. So from mid October to mid April I’m in the “man cave” and the rest of the year I’m outside - works out great for her!
The LS stuff is mainly for watching the trains run through the pretty garden - very relaxing. The On30 is dedicated to operation - lots of switching and “real life operation” that I find difficult and/or impractical to do in G scale.
It’s not for everyone, but it sure works for me.
Warts on the track, Doug!
Since my outdoor layout is Fn3, I’ve thought about 2 rail O (Atlas) in my basement.
But prolly won’t do anything. I’m too busy building cars, buildings, etc for the outside one.
My indoor space is one 9X12 room. My outdoor space is about 1/2 acre. Presently between layouts, BUT the next one will be outdoors for sure.
Saw some very tempting new S scale product at the hobby store this weekend. (Used to be an American Flyer guy.) Still going to stay with 1:22.5 and 1:24. Already have most of what I want in those scales, and will scratch or bash the rest. There was no 1:20.3 when I started in 1985, and the stuff I bought back then still runs well.
Not knocking the bigger large scale, just too deep into the smaller large scale to bother changing.
Have fun,
David Meashey
Probably in my next life, right now I’m busy with IIm, HOm and N. To paraphrase: “Will there be On trains up in Heaven, will there be Battery-DCC to run, will there be 48 hours ïn each day, oh wouldn’t that be so much fun.”
Years (and tears) ago, I was in to On3. Got out of the hobby for a bunch of years and when I came back, I couldn’t see the detail as clearly any more, so large scale is where I am and will stay. If you are interested, I have a bunch of On3/On2 stuff I would like to be rid of - contact me offline.
Bob C.
On30 users: Is the durability of Bachmann’s On30 locos a problem?
As to HO track uses, I noted on another posting I had an outdoor HO railroad up for five years – no particular problems with track, just kept the ties painted to prevent sun damage (truthfully, not prevent, just minimized) which is similar to our large scale outside. Of course, this is Southern California, and any durablity claims should not be the norm.
As to the HO scale outdoors, the purpose was for long run times and seeing 50 feet of straightaway track with train coming at ya. Good times!
Since it’ll be on it’s own track I’ll be able to hide from the big trains John but I can dump ore on them when they aren’t looking!!
I see it this way: I like all trains, so there are going to be all kinds of temptations out there. There are all kinds of buildings to love, things that would be fun to model, different scales, and so forth. It goes on and on, every time I surf the web, or admire some other fellows’ work, or flip through a magazine.
Shucks, I’m tempted every day!
Difficult as it often is, I set all these temptations aside so that I can stick to my main thing, my garden RR, no matter what. If one of those other temptations can be adapted and fitted in, all fine and good, but some other day, not now; right now I’m busy working on whatever my present priority is.
I know that in the long run I’ll get more satisfaction out of a needed improvement to my Garden RR than I will out of some gosh darn distraction. Moreover, the more I devote myself to it exclusively, the more I enjoy it, and the better it serves me!
I think life’s too short for the distractions; I’m unlikely ever to finish my one RR, let alone several, but at least I know what my priorities are and I try hard to stick to them … Model railroading being the fascinating and varied hobby it is, this isn’t always easy! Look at poor Doug. He’s got a really nice hat, but now he’s back to running little trains on HO track.
Sorry, I screwed up my request by changing the topic–
Are the Bachmann 0n30 locos worth the price?
I’m thinking of one being the outdoors loco – just thinking…
Wendell Hanks said:
Sorry, I screwed up my request by changing the topic–\ Are the Bachmann 0n30 locos worth the price? I’m thinking of one being the outdoors loco – just thinking…
I think they are. But I only have 2 locos, neither are modified in any way, and neither have had any problems. Both were bought in a set. But, they just run back and forth on a switching layout.
(http://rgsgardenrailroad.com/0n30_019.jpg)
I can’t remember where I bought the sets or how much I paid, but it had to be reasonable or I wouldn’t have bought them. ($125 seems to stick in my mind for each set, but that was at least 10 years ago)
