Because of interest in other scales and gauges and other hobbies, the HO trains have seen less activity over the years, so there were far fewer photos of that segment of my train hobby. Then, during the re-construction of this page, a computer crash lost many photos stored in an older computer. Therefore this is currently a rather small section of the website. More will be added as work progresses in HO.
The latest HO layout is under construction and is a small 40x60" oval with a passing siding on the inside at one end. "Mainline" curves are 18" radius and the siding curve is 16" radius.
Such a small layout is suitable for early type equipment and their typical shorter rolling stock and cars to make the layout seem large, but can handle some carefully selected more modern, larger locomotives and cars. The plan is to add a loop of HOn30 to the inside as well.
Such a small layout is suitable for early type equipment and their typical shorter rolling stock and cars to make the layout seem large, but can handle some carefully selected more modern, larger locomotives and cars. The plan is to add a loop of HOn30 to the inside as well.
In this photo two Rivarossi locomotives are on the small layout. In front is a Baltimore & Ohio "Dockside" 0-4-0T switcher and behind it a 2-8-8-2 articulated lettered for B&O as well. The big engine has a scratch built four wheel trailing truck to
somewhat represent the road's EM-1 type.
Despite the sharper curves on the latest small layout, tests have shown that the old IHC/Rivarossi 2-8-8-2 will go around the 18" radius "mainline" curves reliably and the inner 16" radius curves at a slow pace. My collection of HO equipment has been gathered over more than fifty years and is mostly non-electronic straight DC powered. Many even have open frame motors! There are 19 steam locomotives, 6 diesels, and 2 trolley cars in the HO standard gauge fleet at this point.
somewhat represent the road's EM-1 type.
Despite the sharper curves on the latest small layout, tests have shown that the old IHC/Rivarossi 2-8-8-2 will go around the 18" radius "mainline" curves reliably and the inner 16" radius curves at a slow pace. My collection of HO equipment has been gathered over more than fifty years and is mostly non-electronic straight DC powered. Many even have open frame motors! There are 19 steam locomotives, 6 diesels, and 2 trolley cars in the HO standard gauge fleet at this point.
The oldest steam engines in the fleet are both Mantua engines built from kits. This Rogers 4-6-0 is similar to the Sierra #3 that I built in the sixties. The oldest engine is an 0-4-0 Camelback built by my uncle in the fifties. The Camel no longer runs and needs a motor and cosmetic work.
Here's what I call the "Fuhrer Train." This project started when I stumbled across a military model in HO on eBay (at left.) This is a well done miniature of the Mercedes six wheel Command Car (different from their classier and better known six wheel Parade Car.) This one had figures depicting a driver, "The Fuhrer," and various Generals added to it. An interesting model in itself, I decided it needed a train of its own too.
In reality, when traveling by rail Hitler traveled in one of two armored trains, but (above) is a much simpler version which includes a flat car for the vehicle. The locomotive is low budget German 2-6-0T tank loco made by Play Art that had a bad motor. To power this train, an AHM four wheel diesel had it's body shell replaced with a scratch built boxcar. Decals from old model airplane kits supplied the markings. Since the boxcar pushes both the flatcar and the unpowered loco, there are no couplers used as they tend to create reliability problems. Home made center "buffers" were added instead.
In reality, when traveling by rail Hitler traveled in one of two armored trains, but (above) is a much simpler version which includes a flat car for the vehicle. The locomotive is low budget German 2-6-0T tank loco made by Play Art that had a bad motor. To power this train, an AHM four wheel diesel had it's body shell replaced with a scratch built boxcar. Decals from old model airplane kits supplied the markings. Since the boxcar pushes both the flatcar and the unpowered loco, there are no couplers used as they tend to create reliability problems. Home made center "buffers" were added instead.