I have been faffing around with Gauge 3 for a little while now in lockdown. My Steam Tram is a little stalled as is all of my work as I go through a ”cant be bothered“ phase but this will pass.
So on the bench are 2 wagons, one to be built up (under way) and a Bachmann Coal Wagon to convert. Both have their problems that will get resolved somehow. The kit is one of three obtained from 16mills, he does of course 16mm kits but also Gauge 1 and a small variety in Gauge 3. Lazer cut from MdF and very nice they are too. Tac has recently posted a build of a Brake Van in NG. Also on the bench of bags with Cambrian bits, especially rivets for the Steam Tram.
My current issue with the Bachmann is how to revise the axle guards for Gauge 3, I suspect cut them off and remount them a bit further out so that Gauge 3 wheelsets will fit between them, buffers also need to move out some but as they are removable that will be easy, I think the height should be ok. Both will have 1 set of wheels compensated, this adds further issues of work but it will be resolved. I sorted it in 00 and 0 so this size should be no problem except that of making the floppy bits so that they do not stick out(visible) too much.
I have modified my workbench test track to have a Gauge 3 line.
In the meantime yesterday I laid 6 yards of dual gauge track using my existing Peco Code 250 and just pinning the 63.5mm BtoB additional rail at the correct place on existing sleepers. A real pway mans nightmare as the trains would likely not stay upright but completely acceptable as a test track for the G3 stuff once built. Note that the track is only pinned in place every 6th sleeper, we will not be running my friends Gauge 3 Live Steam 9f on this short length of line!
So that is where I am, dangerous water and I have been in this deep water before when I agonised about the current line being Gauge 3 when I moved back in 2012. But my wishes are not for the Garden just perhaps a very small light railway, perhaps the loft will be used and the G45 line up there in thro’s of construction will become moribund even before it is completed track wise. The ides of March are nearly upon us and anything is possible.
So on the bench are 2 wagons, one to be built up (under way) and a Bachmann Coal Wagon to convert. Both have their problems that will get resolved somehow. The kit is one of three obtained from 16mills, he does of course 16mm kits but also Gauge 1 and a small variety in Gauge 3. Lazer cut from MdF and very nice they are too. Tac has recently posted a build of a Brake Van in NG. Also on the bench of bags with Cambrian bits, especially rivets for the Steam Tram.
My current issue with the Bachmann is how to revise the axle guards for Gauge 3, I suspect cut them off and remount them a bit further out so that Gauge 3 wheelsets will fit between them, buffers also need to move out some but as they are removable that will be easy, I think the height should be ok. Both will have 1 set of wheels compensated, this adds further issues of work but it will be resolved. I sorted it in 00 and 0 so this size should be no problem except that of making the floppy bits so that they do not stick out(visible) too much.
I have modified my workbench test track to have a Gauge 3 line.
In the meantime yesterday I laid 6 yards of dual gauge track using my existing Peco Code 250 and just pinning the 63.5mm BtoB additional rail at the correct place on existing sleepers. A real pway mans nightmare as the trains would likely not stay upright but completely acceptable as a test track for the G3 stuff once built. Note that the track is only pinned in place every 6th sleeper, we will not be running my friends Gauge 3 Live Steam 9f on this short length of line!
So that is where I am, dangerous water and I have been in this deep water before when I agonised about the current line being Gauge 3 when I moved back in 2012. But my wishes are not for the Garden just perhaps a very small light railway, perhaps the loft will be used and the G45 line up there in thro’s of construction will become moribund even before it is completed track wise. The ides of March are nearly upon us and anything is possible.
. I remember that back in the day Mel converted a number of Bachmann Thomas wagons for his gauge 3 line. There's a write up of how he did it below, but unfortunately the pictures have been lost to time.
uf: 
