USA Narrow Gauge

[Dave Cooper]

Just wondering if there are /have been any USA narrow gauge layouts within the '009 family' ?

At various exhibitions, I have seen USA redwood lumber type of workings and thought that this may be an interesting diversion to look at and research.

I also seem to remember Airfix doing a Porter-style kit some time ago ? Perhaps this could form the basis of a logging train serving between a saw-mill and the depths of a woodland...

As my existing diorama is very limiting, and anyway, drawing to a close, it would be good to look at something different during "Lockdown".

Regards,
Dave   

[Hobby]

Certainly plenty of On30 due to Bachmann's trade support but I can't think of all that many US based H0 scale NG layouts at all, and most of the ones I can vaguely remember walking past tended to be either based on the Minitrains/Egger "American" offerings or in HOn3 (10.5mm gauge). Don't remember any names, though, unless the scenery is good i tend to keep on walking!

[JulienW]

It has probably been done in the past, but given that the main source of model (from memory) in the UK used to be the Chivers 'Charlie's Creek' HOn30 stuff that has been out of production for some time (though may be coming back as Roger's sons are getting things going again) and most of the US made stuff seemed to be resin kits (which by the time one had paid the postage from the US and the duty were not all that cheep) or "Rare Japanese Brass" (with price to match) hasn't been done all that recently, and my impression was that the US outline Minitrains models were not that well received because they were not models of the Maine 2' gauge prototypes.

Similarly HOn3 (the 10,5mm gauge stuff) also tends to be a bit pricey looking at the Blackstone items (and again most of the other stuff seams to be in the 'collector brass model' price bracket).

As Hobby suggests most UK modellers who wanted to get into the USA NG scene probably found it easier to buy the rtr offerings for On30 from Bachmann - readily available, often discounted, etc.

I can't think of the "Airfix Porter-style kit", unless you mean the old Lancashire & Yorkshire 'Pug' 0-4-0ST beloved of kitbashers. Even if you don't I suspect that something 'porter-esque' could be made from the kit, suitably modified to fit  and N gauge chassis.

There are also a couple of suitable looking locos in the Second Hand sales online at the moment...

Another thought is that there were similar logging operations in Canada, where it's possible that being more closely aligned to the UK might have had some British-built locos, and there was quite a logging industry in Australia (hardwoods rather than pine trees).

If you wanted to pursue the US scene further it might be worth looking into the Slim Gauge Circle, who are a group of UK-based US narrow gauge modellers covering all scales.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Not 009, but within the general "family" there were Dave and Midge Grassing's layouts. I remember seeing Stump City and Foss Landing at Model Rail Scotland many years back now.
https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/daveandmidge/stump.htm

[MickT]

I can't recall any current 009/HOn30 UK based exhibition layouts at present, although I'm sure there must be some.  One that was a regular on the exhibition circuit was Dave and Midge Grassing's layouts - I remember Stump City very well and not so sure about the names of a couple of others, but a trawl through my own blog entries (http://micksrovingreporter.blogspot.com/) will find them if you look at early postings and concentrate on Expong and Valkenburg where they exhibited several times.

2 home based ones that I can think of are: the late Peter Bartlett's Cray Valley - http://www.crayvalleyrailroad.com/ and Mike Price's possibly unique Croagh Valley, which is 10.5mm gauge as per the "normal" HOn3 genre, but is modelled in 4mm scale and uses what might be termed "British Colonial" style of rolling stock including pugbashes and Ratiobash coaches etc! Mike lives in British Columbia and is an occasional poster on here. He described his modelling style on here about 10 years or so ago so a search for Croagh Valley in members layouts might reveal more!

EDIT: Just seen Graeme's posting above which went "live" just a minute or two before mine! Thanks for the info on Dave and Midge's layouts Graeme and the link to their website which does name the layouts that I couldn't remember the names of!

Peter Bartlett passed away in 2018, but his website has been kept open (I'm afraid I don't know who by) and is well worth a visit. Peter modelled in the USA NG style but amongst his extensive stock are examples of a large number of British 009 items.

Hope this helps

Mick

[Hugh Norwood]

At the risk of thread drift - I recall the Grassings' layouts with fondness; they put a lot of details into them. (weren't they 12mm gauge?)

[clayliner]

As Julien said, it may be worth checking the online 009 Sales shop for suitable items (e.g. 73/5/6, 204 etc.)

David.

[Dave Cooper]

Thanks for the very comprehensive and helpful replies so far :

The Airfix model I had in mind was a 4-4-0 ("Casey Jones"-style from childhood memories !).

Digging into my (limited) research box, I found a Slim Gauge Circle pamphlet, a Continental Modeller magazine and a "Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette" (US NG magazine). I think I must have picked these up at various shows or, been donated by knowledgeable others...From memory, one guy was selling a Shay - could have been HOn30. Quite expensive as I was just re-starting the hobby but, I should have bought it !

Will have a look at on-line sales. Thanks again for all the links and other research threads that I can now follow.
Dave   

[Graeme Dunbar]

Thanks for the very comprehensive and helpful replies so far :

The Airfix model I had in mind was a 4-4-0 ("Casey Jones"-style from childhood memories !).

Not Airfix, but I've found this:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ahm-rivarossi-scale-6-casey-jones-1848636336
https://www.trainmaster.ch/Z-691.htm

Just a thought, have you come across Fiddletown and Copperopolis?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiddletown-Copperopolis-Times-Uncommon-Carrier/dp/0911581049

There must be several layouts inspired by the book and the Minitrains locos.
http://www.minitrains.eu/mt-steam.html
https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/110932-fiddletown-copperopolis-rr-in-hon30/

[Dave Cooper]

Hmmm - even more fun....

So, Casey's was a 4-6-0. I'll have to re-watch some of the "Cannonball Express" films on Youtube. I think there's a selection there. Should be good for some authentic scenery as well.

Thanks Graeme

[David Hunt]

Hi Graeme, just noticed your posts regarding North American layouts and in my post of 20th Jan.2020 l posted a few pics of Morcamville. This layout is 2 x 3.5 feet and is a back to back based on the Ted Polet's Nixnie. I have tried uploading other pics but they never get posted. The layout has a Gold/Silver stamp mill mine on one side and the other has a small depot/freight shed on the other. Rolling stock is Minitrains Fiddletown mostly with traffic to the mine and passenger service to Morcamville. I have developed a card system for operating the layout (28) in all with servicing the mine, passenger service to Morcamville and mixed without duplicating the same moves. Each operating session starts with various cars set out and using a random list manager on the computer I reshuffle the cards based on the new order for the list so no operating session is the same order.  An Ops. session can run around 45 minutes which for a tiny layout is quite satisfactory. If I can ever figure out how to get more pics uploaded I can show you the rest.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Regarding US lumber working layouts, Gumstump and Snowshoe makes an interesting compact layout though more suited to geared locomotives than "Casey Jones" types.
https://www.carendt.com/small-layout-scrapbook/page-38a-june-2005-special-edition/

[MikeC]

The only American inspired locos that I remember coming from Airfix were "Jupiter" and "119" from the joining of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads. I bought myself three before they went out of production. Although 119 was meant to be a Porter, Airfix simply plugged a smokebox extension into the smokebox door of the same Baldwin casting and fitted a straight chimney. The models are smaller than the Rivarossi 4-4-0s, but I'd say they're still far too big for two foot gauge (even by American standards) even if you could get hold of them.

Here's a link to a short film of an unboxing of Jupiter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tc89FYLbf8

[B.Meldon]

I started to build a phillipines sugar layout in the late 1980's and 1990's.
The scale was a bit 'flexiable' as I intendede ti use both 00 and H0 locos.
I bulit something like 20 locos, many of a US outline including three large Shays as well as many cane cars complete with cane made from plummers hemp.
The layout got as far as the first three boards with track down, but that is as far as it got as other projects took over from about 2002.
I still have all the locos, and the boards are just stored in my railway room. Perhaps one day I will return to this layout?

[Dave Cooper]

Thanks for the link Mike - I do enjoy Sam's videos....that 0.5mm between HO and OO really does show up !

Brian, if you ever decide to sell one of the Shays could you let me know ?

Quick update : via the Slim Gauge Circle, I have managed to track down a couple of old contacts in the Bristol area. Both had N. American NG layouts (not sure about the scale), but they exhibited very well.

Cheers for now,
Dave