On30 Depot
What is On30?
The 7mmNGA encourages narrow gauge railway modelling in all its many forms. One area that has become very popular in recent years is the primarily American On30 scale/gauge combination. The United States has not converted to metric and still uses Imperial measurements. Whereas British O scale is 7mm:1ft or 1:43.5, the American equivalent is 1/4 ins:1ft, which is the slightly smaller 1:48 scale.
The Association is keen to promote this interesting facet of O scale narrow gauge modelling. Within the On30 Depot we are pleased to show examples of On30 layouts and rolling stock. Check out the Gallery section where albums of photos showing some fine On30 layouts are available for browsing. It is our intention to add to this database of modelling inspiration in the hope that you will be encouraged to investigate further this fascinating and rewarding scale/gauge combination.
If you want to learn more, we have published an On30 Handbook, available from our Publications page for just £7.50+p&p (£6.75, no p&p to members).
It is also worth browsing our galleries of On30 layouts and prototypes.
Development of O Scale Narrow Gauge Modelling in the USA
O scale has always been popular, both sides of the Atlantic, in standard gauge and various narrow gauges. In the UK, the most popular narrow gauges were around two foot. In North America, three foot narrow gauge was the most popular in overall mileage terms, with large rail networks in Colorado in particular. However, the State of Maine on the East Coast is famous for its two foot gauge railroads. In the early years of American railroading there were many more, built to a surprising variety of gauges, both narrow and broad. As the years progressed many of these lines either failed and were abandoned, or were converted to standard gauge.
American model railroaders have traditionally laid their own track, which was useful when modelling 2ft and 3ft gauge prototypes as, until relatively recently, little commercial track was available. This meant that narrow gauge modelling was a rather niche market, relying greatly on imported and expensive brass locomotives and rolling stock, plus 'craftsman' kits.
On30 as a scale/gauge combination (sometimes referred to as On2½, particularly in the American magazine Model Railroader) has been around for decades and represents 2ft 6ins (30 ins) gauge. Whilst this gauge was not common in the US, it does enable the use of standard OO/HO 16.5mm track, in the same way as British 7mm narrow gauge modellers use this track to represent gauges of around 2ft. Both are a compromise, but the convenience of being able to use a wide variety of commercial track generally outweighs the slight inaccuracies in gauge.
Bachmann and Ready-to-Run
On30 was popularised by the American division of Bachmann Industries Inc. in the late 1990s with the provision of a wide range of ready-to-run locomotives and rolling stock. For more details about this range, please follow the link to this page.
A wide range of passenger coaches and freight cars are available from Bachmann, Slimrails (formerly Chivers Finelines) and several American manufacturers, both as ready to run models and as craftsman-style kits.
On30 Secondhand Sales
Please check out our new 2ndhand Sales section which has a wide raange of On30 items available.