European narrow gauge, Where to start?

Treewizard648 May 25, 2012

  1. Treewizard648

    Treewizard648 TrainBoard Member

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    I recently got the European narrow gauge itch and I would like to give it the old college try. So far from what I've seen Liliput seems to be within my price range and their locomotives seem ok to me, but I have never owned anything Liliput related So I would like to know if anyone has any experience (good or bad) with their products and if their engines are DCC Ready and/or equipped. Or if there are any good starter sets available. I would also like to know if European narrow gauge (HOe) will be compatible with American Hon3 because i would like to run these on Blackstones new protraxx when the time comes.

    -Alex

    Also, if anyone has HOe stuff they are willing to part with I am open to negotiations (Within reason of course). Just PM me.
     
  2. k-59

    k-59 TrainBoard Member

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    I can't speak on the quality of Liliput, but I can on the question of gauge.
    HOe runs on 9mm track(same as n-scale) and is for a prototype gauge of 750mm.
    HOn3 runs on 10.5mm track and is for a prototype gauge of 3ft.
    There is also you HOn30 which is the American term for HOe.
     
  3. RGW1

    RGW1 TrainBoard Member

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    Depending on if you plan on modeling a prototype railline or a freelanced railroad hon30 works good because you can use N scale mechs(engines and trucks)But you will need to kitbash your motive
    power and cars unless you use minitrains stuff the just came out.I can not speck for European trains as I am modeling a more of US flavored freelanced narrow gauge railroad.(I like kitbashing)
    However this is only my limited opinion.
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    As already noted, two different gauges. HOe = HOn30 (archaic terminology HOn2&1/2), which is meant to simulate 30" between rails and many also use this to re-create Maine Two Footers.

    HOn3 to simulate 36" between rails.
     
  5. Treewizard648

    Treewizard648 TrainBoard Member

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    Ok cool so HOe = N gauge. Thats even better because I have a whole box full of old N scale Bachmann EZ track laying around so it looks like things got much more affordable.
     
  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Micro-Engineering used to make HOn30 track. WHich had HO sized ties. But that's long gone now as far as I know. Peco has some track with odd ties, which is nicknamed "Crazy Track". Otherwise, many people do use N scale track. Some remove a few ties to get a more "HO" type spacing.
     
  7. Treewizard648

    Treewizard648 TrainBoard Member

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    Bemo and Roco have a decent selection of HOe track from what I have seen but since I am "Ballin' on a budget" I will stick with my old EZ track for now and In the event I decide to develop a layout I will buy some prototypical track.
     
  8. TetsuUma

    TetsuUma TrainBoard Member

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    Do you have a particular prototype in mind? (Swiss, German, etc?)

    Andy
    Tetsu Uma
     
  9. Treewizard648

    Treewizard648 TrainBoard Member

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    Mainly German Epoc. II DR
     
  10. TetsuUma

    TetsuUma TrainBoard Member

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    Like the 750mm gauge lines in Saxony?
     
  11. Treewizard648

    Treewizard648 TrainBoard Member

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    That and whatever tickles my fancy. I might get some Austrian stuff too.
     
  12. swissboy

    swissboy TrainBoard Member

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    In Switzerland, there would not be much in terms of prototype for HOe. The major European NG trains run on 1 meter gauge. In HO scale that is 12 mm, it's called HOm (actually in Europe H0m). The m stands for metric. But models are pretty expensive.

    Liliput is now owned by Bachmann, it was originally an Austrian company.
     
  13. Treewizard648

    Treewizard648 TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah there are some really cool more modern HOm stuff available but well out of my price range. And I did go for Liliput after all. I bought a Deutsche Reichsbahn Uh BR 99 825 with an assortment of other Deutsche Reichsbahn freight cars. But now that I know this company is owned by Bachmann I'm guessing they moved all their tooling and manufacturing equipment to China so I will have to be extra careful when operating and servicing my Loco and equipment.
     

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