Modeling 2' gauge railroads

From TrainSpottingWorld, for Rail fans everywhere

Modeling 2' gauge railroads is part of the hobby of rail transport modeling. Specifically it relates to the modeling of narrow gauge prototypes of approximately 2 (610 ) gauge.

Prototype Examples

Two foot gauge railways originated in Great Britain. The Ffestiniog Railway in Wales was the earliest public railway on this gauge, and was the first railway to use steam locomotives on this gauge. Other notable British examples include the Ashover Light Railway, the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, the Penrhyn Quarry Railway, the Vale of Rheidol Railway and the Welsh Highland Railway.

In the United States, two foot gauge was most common in the state of Maine. Lines using this gauge included the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad, Monson Railroad, Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway, Kennebec Central Railroad and Bridgton and Saco River Railroad (possibly better known under its latter-day name, the Bridgton & Harrison.) The last of these railroads was abandoned in 1943[1].

A few lines of this gauge operated elsewhere in the United States. The best known of these was the Gilpin tramway in Colorado [2].

Many examples of railroads with this gauge, or a near metric equivalent, existed elsewhere in the world, the longest of which was probably the Otavi Mining and Railway Company in the former German colony of South West Africa[3]. Two-foot gauge was also widely used in South Africa, Australia, Java and India. This gauge was particularly popular in mining and other industrial applications.

Modeling

The most popular American prototypes are Maine Two-Footers. While all these lines have a following, it is probable that the most commonly modeled are the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes and the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington. This is likely due to the quantity of surviving rolling stock and the operating museums associated with these roads, as well as to their length and longevity. The much larger number of British and Commonwealth prototypes means than modelers of these tend to draw inspiration from a wider range of prototypes.

Scale and gauge combinations used in modeling two-foot gauge railroads include:

  • HOn2 - Using HO scale (1:87 ratio} with 7mm gauge track. Mathematically correct, but rarely used because of the greater ease and commercial support of HOn30.
  • HOn30/HOe - Using HO scale (1:87 ratio) with 9mm gauge 9mm gauge track. One of the most popular of the scale/gauge combinations for two-foot modeling.
  • OO9 - Using 4mm scale (1:76 ratio) with 9mm gauge 9mm gauge track. One of the most popular of the scale/gauge combinations in the British Isles for two-foot modelling.
  • Sn2 - Using S scale (1:64 ratio) with 10.5mm HOn3 gauge track. Growing in popularity with the introduction of new commercial products.[4]
  • On2, - Using O scale (1:48 ratio) with .5in gauge track. One of the most popular of the scale/gauge combinations for two-foot modeling..
  • O-14 - Using British O scale (7mm scale) with 14mm gauge track.
  • 7/8n2 scale - using 1:13.7 ratio with 45mm gauge track. This scale uses the same gauge as the popular G scale.

Commercial support for all these combinations is limited, and therefore modelers are often required to construct most of their models from scratch.

HOn2 and HOn30

Sn2

At least one modeler was active in Sn2 as early as 1962, when what is believed to be the first major article relative to the scale appeared in an S scale publication. [5] For many years, little was available to aid modelers in this scale. Frascati Models offered some repurposed Sn3 items as Sn2 in the late Sixties, and Sandy River Car Shops offered several wooden kits in the late Seventies and early Eighties. Trucks were available only from Tomalco.

Sn2 modeling began to accelerate in the Nineties with the appearance of kits and trucks by Portland Locomotive Works, Kennebunkport Models, and Kingfield Car Shops. A decision was made at this time to base the track gauge on HOn3 to allow the use of commercial wheelsets and track materials. The availability of ready-to-run brass locomotives from Train & Trooper [6] ushered in a new millennium of Sn2 modeling, followed by new structure kits from Ragg's...To Riches [7] and trucks from Smoky Mountain [8]

It appears likely that the tipping point for Sn2 was the 2007 National Narrow Gauge Convention, which saw an exhibition not only of the outstanding layout of Art Fahie [9] but also a large and well-executed modular setup by The Sn2 Crew [10].

On2

On2, modeling was first brought to the attention of the model railroading community through the outstanding modeling work of Bob Brown, then editor of the publication Finelines, which frequently featured two-foot material. An article about Brown's Wiscasset module in Model Railroader inspired many two-foot fans to look seriously at modeling possibilities. [11]

On30

Using HO gauge track as its basis, the gauge ends up being 30 inches instead of the prototypically correct 24 inches. The scale received a huge push following the release of the Bachmann On30 forney in 2006, which were based on SR&RL 2-foot prototypes.

16mm

Geographic Distribution

Most modelers of two-foot gauge prototypes are in the United States, but very capable modelers of US-prototype two-foot railroads are also active in Japan, the United Kingdom, and other countries.

Historical Resources for Modelers

  • ‘’America’s First Two-Foot Gauge Railroad: The Billerica & Bedford of Massachusetts.’‘ Portland, ME: Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum. 2000.
  • ‘’A Picture History of Kingfield, Maine.’‘ No place. Kingfield Photo Book History Association. 1980.
  • Best, Gerald M. ‘’Mexican Narrow Gauge.’‘ Berkeley, CA: Howell-North Books, 1971.
  • Conde, Jesse C. and Best, Gerald M. ‘’Sugar Trains Narrow Gauge Rails of Hawaii.’‘ No Place. Big Trees Press and Pacific Bookbinding, 1973.
  • Cornwall, L. Peter and Farrell, Jack. W. ‘’Ride the Sandy River.’‘ Edmonds, WA: Pacific Fast Mail. 1973.
  • Crittenden, H. Temple. ‘’The Maine Scenic Route.’‘ Parsons, WV: McClain Printing Co. 1966.
  • Crittenden, H. Temple. ‘’The Maine Scenic Route: Supplement.’‘ Parsons, WV: McClain Printing Co. 1966.
  • Crittenden, H. Temple. ‘’The Two Footers.;; Boston, MA: The Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. 1942.
  • DeVos, Jerry. ‘’The Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad and Predecessors: Vol. I: Equipment Manufacturers and the Equipment.’‘ Towaco, NJ: Stonybrook Press. 2007.
  • Ericson, Duane. ‘’Silver City Narrow Gauge.’‘ Washingtonville, OH: M2FQ Publications, 2007.
  • Ferrell, Mallory Hope. ‘’The Gilpin Gold Tram.’‘ Boulder, CO: Pruett Publishing Company, 1970.
  • Johnson, Ron. ‘’The Best of Maine Railroads.’‘ Portland, ME: Portland Litho, 1985.
  • Jones, Robert C. ‘’Two Feet Between the Rails.’‘ 2 vols. Silverton, CO: Sundance Books. 1979 and 1980.
  • Jones, Robert C. ‘’Two Feet to the Lakes: The Bridgton & Saco River Railroad.’‘ Edmonds, WA: Pacific Fast Mail. 1993.
  • Jones, Robert C. ‘’Two Feet to the Quarries: The Monson Railroad.’‘ Burlington, VT: Evergreen Press. 1998.
  • Jones, Robert C. ‘’Two Feet to Togus: The Kennebec Central Railroad.’‘ Burlington, VT: Evergreen Press. 1999.
  • Jones, Robert C. and Register, David L. ‘’Two Feet to Tidewater: The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway.’‘ Boulder, CO: Pruett Publishing Co. 1987.
  • Jones, Robert C. and Register, David L. ‘’Two Feet to Tidewater: The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway.’‘ Revised edition. Burlington, VT: Evergreen Press. 2002.
  • MacDonald, Robert. ‘’In Quest of Maine Narrow Gauge 1938-1950. ‘’No place. No publisher. No date.
  • McLin, William Hellen. ‘’The Twenty-Four-Inch Gauge Railroad at Bridgton, Maine.’‘ Bridgton, ME: The Bridgton News, 1941.
  • Mead, Edgar T., Jr. ‘’Busted and Still Running.’‘ Brattleboro, VT: The Stephen Greene Press, 1968.
  • Mead, Edgar T., Jr. ‘’The Bridgton Narrow Gauge Volume II (Bridgton & Harrison Railway Co.)’‘ Canton, OH: Railhead Publication. 1987.
  • Mead, Edgar T., Jr. The Bridgton Narrow Gauge (Bridgton & Saco River Railroad.)’‘ Canton, OH: Railhead Publication. 1985.
  • Moody, Linwood W. ‘’The Maine Two-Footers.’‘ Howell-North. Berkeley, CA 1959.
  • Shaw, Frederic. ‘’Little Railways of the World.’‘ Berkeley, CA: Howell-North, 1958.
  • Small, Charles S. ‘’Two-Foot Rails to the Front.’‘ No Place. Railroad Monographs, 1982.
  • Steward, Elliot. ‘’Sunset on the Sandy River.’‘ Salem, OH: Maine 2-Foot Modeler. 1993.
  • Thurlow, Clinton F. ‘’Over the Rails by Steam.’‘ Weeks Mills, ME: The author. 1965.
  • Thurlow, Clinton F. ‘’The Weeks Mills “Y” of the Two-Footer.’‘ Weeks Mills, ME: The author. c. 1964.
  • Thurlow, Clinton F. ‘’The WW&F Two-Footer.’‘ Weeks Mills, ME: The author. 1964.
  • Ward, Ernest F. ‘’My First Sixty Years in Harrison, Maine.’‘ Denmark, ME: cardinal Printing Co. 1966.
  • Whitney, Roger A. ‘’The Monson Railroad. ‘’Westbrook, ME: Robertson Books. 1989.
  • Wiggin, Ruby Crosby. ‘’Albion on the Narrow Gauge.’‘ No place. No publisher. 1964.
  • Wiggin, Ruby Crosby. ‘’Big Dreams and Little Wheels.’‘ Crosby, ME. No publisher. 1971
  • York, Vincent. ‘’The Sandy River & Its Valley.’‘ Farmington, ME: The Knowlton & McLeary Company. 1976

Modeling Resources

  • Barney, Peter S.. ‘’Along the Sandy River: A Pictorial Journey. Vol. I: Farmington to Strong.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’Along the Sandy River: A Pictorial Journey. Vol. II: Strong to Bigelow.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’Along the Sandy River: A Pictorial Journey. Vol. III: Phillips.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’Along the Sandy River: A Pictorial Journey. Vol. IV: On to Rangeley.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’The Bridgton and Saco River: A Technical and Pictorial Review.’‘ .No place. A&M Publishing. 1987.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Freight Cars.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’Freight Equipment of the Other Two-Footers.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’Freight Equipment of the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’Handars, Railcars, and Railbuses of the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes R.R.’‘ No place. No publisher. 1990.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’Industries and Freight Train Operations of the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad. Vol. VI.’‘ No place. A&M Publishing. 1993.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’Industries and Operations of the Maine Two-Foot Gauge Railroads. Vol. VIII: Operations of the B&SR, Kennebec Central, WW&F, and Monson.’‘ No place. No publisher. 1997.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’The Kennebec Central and Monson Railroads.’‘ No place. A&M Publishing. 1986.
  • Barney, Peter S.. ‘’Maine 2' Forneys. Vol. I: The Early Locomotives.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S.. ‘’Maine 2' Forneys. Vol. II: The Design Comes of Age.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S.. ‘’Maine 2' Gauge Passenger Cars. Vol. II: The Other Roads.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S.. ‘’Maine 2' Gauge 2-6-2 Prairie Locomotives.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S.. ‘’Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad Cabooses’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S.. ‘’Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad Passenger Cars.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’Structures of the Maine Two-Footers. Vol. I: The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes and the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railways..’‘ No place: A&M Publishing. 1988.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’Structures of the Maine Two-Footers. Vol. II: The Bridgton and Saco River, the Kennebec Central and the Monson Railroad.’‘. No place: A&M Publishing. 1988.
  • Barney, Peter S. ‘’The Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway: A Technical and Pictorial Review.’‘ No place. A&M Publishing. 1986
  • Barney, Peter S.. ‘’Work Equipment of the Maine Two-Footers.’‘ O’Fallon, MO: BHI Publications.
  • DeVos, Jerry, McChesney, Chris and Kohler, Gary. ‘’Narrow Gauge in the Sheepscot Valley. Vol. II: Whitefield to Weeks Mills.’‘ Washingtonville, OH: M2FQ Publications. 2002.
  • Jensen, William H. Jr. ‘’Two-Foot Cyclopedia. Vol. 1: Kingfield, Maine.’‘ Coon Valley, WI: Flagstop. 1977.
  • Jensen, William H. Jr. ‘’Two-Foot Cyclopedia. Vol. 2: SR&RL # 23'’. Coon Valley, WI: Flagstop. 1977.
  • Jensen, William H., Kohler, Gary, and Sleszynski.’‘ Two-Foot Cyclopedia – Kingfield, Maine.’‘ Washingtonville, OH: M2FQ Publications. 1999.
  • Kohler, Gary. ‘’Two Foot Cycolpedia [sic] Plan Book.’‘ Washingtonville, OH: M2FQ Publications. 2005.
  • Kohler, Gary. Maine ‘’Two Foot Pictorial: SR&RL Freight Cars.’‘ Canton, OH: Railhead Publications. 1986
  • Kohler, Gary. ‘’S. R. & R. L. Passenger Cars.’‘ Salem, OH: Maine 2-Foot Modeler. 1995.
  • Kohler, Gary. ‘’S. R. & R. L. Passenger Cars.’‘ Revised edition. Washingtonville, OH: M2FQ Publications. 2007.
  • Kohler, Gary and McChesney, Chris. ‘’Narrow Gauge in the Sheepscot Valley. Vol. III: Palermo to Albion and the Winslow Branch.’‘ Washingtonville, OH: M2FQ Publications. 2003.
  • Kohler, Gary and McChesney, Chris. ‘’Narrow Gauge in the Sheepscot Valley. Vol. IV: Equipment of the WW&F.’‘ Washingtonville, OH: M2FQ Publications. 2004.
  • McChesney, Chris, DeVos, Jerry, and Kohler, Gary. ‘’Narrow Gauge in the Sheepscot Valley. Vol. I: Wiscasset to Head Tide.’‘ Washingtonville, OH: M2FQ Publications. 2001.
  • McChesney, Chris and Kohler, Gary. ‘’Narrow Gauge in the Sheepscot Valley. Vol. V: Locomotives of the WW&F Railway. ‘’Washingtonville, OH: M2FQ Publications. 2006.

Periodical Publications

The primary publication for two-foot modelers is Maine 2-Foot Quarterly. Relevant material also appears from time to time in Railroad Model Craftsman and Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette.

See also

References

  1. ↑ George W. Hilton, American Narrow Gauge Railroads. Stanford, CA: Stanford Univ. Press. 1990. pp. 407-414.
  2. ↑ George W. Hilton, American Narrow Gauge Railroads. Stanford, CA: Stanford Univ. Press. 1990. p. 359. Mallory Hoper Ferrell. The Gilpin Gold Tram. Boulder, CO: Pruett Publishing Co. 1970.
  3. ↑ Frederic Shaw. Little Railways of the World. Berkeley, CA: Howell-North, 1958, pp. 33-50.
  4. ↑ Art Fahie. "The Making of Wharf Street." Railroad Model Craftsman, September 2007, pp. 90-94.
  5. ↑ Lee Rainey, "Narrow Gauge Four-in-One Flat Car", S Gauge Herald, Spring 1962, pp. 10-11.
  6. ↑ www.trainandtrooper.com
  7. ↑ raggstoriches.biz
  8. ↑ Smoky Mountain Model Works
  9. ↑ Art Fahie. "The Making of Wharf Street." Railroad Model Craftsman, September 2007, pp. 90-94.
  10. ↑ YouTube - Sn2 Crew at the '07 Nat'l Narrow Gauge Convention - Forney
  11. ↑ Robert W. Brown. "Finer than Fine Scale." Model Railroader. August 1969. pp. 48-53.

External links

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