A Sidebar Project

I have some side interests. And sometimes they take my attention away. I had been planning to finish the bridges for the T Layout, but somewhere I misplaced a set of 3D printed detail parts. So, just order replacements right? Well, I decided that I didn't want to do that until I had a few other files ready for printing, and these files involved cars for an HOn2Z Gilpin Gold Tram layout I have been toying with as a short term project. The key to the layout, and whether or not I pursue it though is the ability to make the cars/engines the way I want to, namely, not in HOn30, but in what I have taken to calling HOn2Z.

Yep, rather than use N-gauge track which is really about 30" in HO, I decided that I really liked using Z-gauge track. A quick calculation showed that the 6.5 mm gauge is a little less than true HOn2 (which would be 7 mm gauge). I was even a little surprised to find out that there is an HOn2 set of NMRA standrads for 7 mm gauge, so this is not going to be HOn2. In fact, technically, it is 22.3" gauge, so really, it might be HOn22, or as I coined it HOn2Z.

By using Z, I can use existing track if I want, particularly turnouts like the new Atlas Z scale turnouts. Plus, I already have done a lot in Nn3 which also uses a 6.5 mm gauge, so it makes sense. Add in wheels and trucks from Microtrains, and a bunch of mechanisms - well, I like HOn2Z. So, now for the cars.

Well, I got a bunch drawn up for printing to pass the Shapeways requirements. The Gilpin has 3 ore car types as shown below.

Gilpin Half Cord Ore Car (Type 1)

Gilpin One Cord Ore Car (Type 2)

Gilpin One Cord Ore Car (Type 3)

I designed them around Andrews Style Z-scale trucks from Microtrains. The wheels are close, but a little small for most of the Gilpin cars, although the truck style is wrong. I decided to live with the wheels so that the cars operate well, and have a consistent coupling height (Gilpin cars actually had different coupler heights over the years). With a little work, MT couplers could also be installed, but I went with a Link-Pin Style coupler that I designed and had previously tested. I figure if you are going this far, might as well do that well too. Seeing these three car types together really shows the differences.

Left to Right: Gilpin Half Cord Ore Car (Type 1), Gilpin One Cord Ore Car (Type 2), Gilpin One Cord Ore Car (Type 3)

I've also drawn up a set of flat cars. I have drawings for the flat car, and the flat car with stake pockets, but the flat car with stakes is presumed. After all, if you had stake pockets, why not stakes too.

Of course, the stake pockets were likely used to make the gondolas, just as I did in the model.

And, they were also used on the excursion cars.

And, while the Gilpin didn't have any, it is fairly easy to imagine a box car as a combination of a flat car with stakes, and a similar (albeit slightly longer) box car found on some of the Maine 2-foot roads.

In addition, another set of modifications led to the longest car on the Gilpin, at 23 feet, the water car. A few elements of this are plausibly imagined, as the data and pictures simply don't provide answers, but I think it will look reasonable.

Test prints of each are on their way, and I have a few more cars to finish, before tackling the engines. But with some cars coming, track was next. I did find some data about the ties used, and from that, designed a track jig. And using a home grade 3D printer, proceeded to make some tie jigs. 

Each section has a pinned connection to align them. And once they are assembled, I am planning to mount them on a painted poplar board from the local lumber yard. 

I am currently painting the tie gigs to help locate the PC clad tie locations, but once that is done, I will have a tool to lay ties for a couple of feet of track to display my cars, and to include a prototype handlaid stub turnout (just like the real ones used on the Gilpin). So, I may not need the Atlas turnouts, or I may simply use stub turnouts in certain places, and model the line as slightly more modern and upgraded than the actual. If I do build a little layout, it will almost certainly be a protofreelance line, rather than a Gilpin model. After all, I am already going there with the box car. But more on that in a later post.