Hi, I'm just a beginner to model railroading with minimal skills and was conflicted because I had already started out with HO tracks, but have become totally fascinated with the narrow gauge look... especially "critters". So I decided to blend HO trackage with small short wheelbased engines and rolling stock. And this is what I came up with so far. A Roundhouse EMD40 converted to a eloc... An all metal 57 year old twin truck bobber caboose... Logging caboose... And "kitbashed" heavy duty 6 wheeled log buggies... The kits have been lots of fun, and I don't even have a layout yet... just a big box of track. Greg
Fun is the key word! As long as YOU are having fun, nothing else matters! Welcome to model railroading! Boxcab E50
This looks like a lot of fun! It'd be fun to see an electric loco trying to run through a high-lead logging operation. I am thinking of making a Coudabin On30 pike eventually.
It sure would!!! This little guy does the logging... If it's not already obvious... I'm not going for any prototypical accuracy. Greg
Hey, but you're having fun, right? Besides, if you look at just about any narrow gauge or shortline operation they've almost all got sort of a rag-tag assortment of equipment. Some of the prototype roads don't always look "prototype."
There were even such things as narrow gauge industrial camelbacks, though I've never seen an electrified logger. I'll guess the electrification could be from the mill to a connection with a mainline, while steam goes out into the woods.
Look for info about The Red River Lumber Company in California. I have also read notes about a couple of other companies which briefly tried electrification, but switched to steam. Boxcab E50
Hey, you can come up with a back-story for any Coudabin. That loco, for example, could be electric because of a spate of fires in the early 1900s that prompted the state government to ban operation of coal-fired steam locomotives in your area (similar to the story of the Milwaukee Road in Montana).
That's all that matter in the end and it looks like it could make some very tight turns so you could have a very interesting layout in a small space with that setup... :tb-cool: :tb-cool: :tb-cool: :tb-cool:
Yes, that's exactly my intention. All of the engines and rolling stock are extremely short to be able to negotiate very tight curves. I'm planning on something like this really old fashioned micro layout...
I usually try to get as close to prototypes as I consider feasible, but there is that other side as well in me. And I really love this neat train! Congratulations.
