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NarrowMindedStill Going and Going and Going....This is our fourth issue of O Scale Trainsand while we are obviously devoted to 1:48scale, it’s good to see a healthy interest in“The King of Scales” in other magazines,by manufacturers, at trains shows and conventionsand on the internet. I agree thatthere has never been a better “time” for OScale modeling than right now.I believe the majority of readers of OScale Trains model in standard gauge and Iknow there are many fine railroads in variousstages of planning, building, re-buildingand completion, so I want to suggest to you“Chief Executive Officers” that you consideryour line’s past while you are still workingon its present and future.Regardless of whether you are modelingtoday’s super power, second generationdiesels, early diesels, late steam or an earlierera, dont forget “Old Number Nine” thatserved your line well until it was retired.Preserve an older locomotive and the occasionalpiece of historical equipment on aback track or in a display area and youmight even drag it out for a special run onoccasion. A blast from the past will stillarouse interest and be right at home with themost modern equipment.Being “narrow minded,” I expect thatmost of us have a few pieces of narrowgauge equipment that we have accumulatedover the years and I suggest that, even if youdon’t operate a narrow gauge feeder line,you could put together a pretty interestingdisplay of old mining cars, log cars, a coachor two and a narrow gauge locomotive tocontrast with your more modern equipment.The collection could go down near the station,beside the roundhouse, near the headoffice, in the town park or beside the mainlineand it could be lettered to reflect anearly chapter of the history of your railroador an obscure industrial line. That funkynarrow gauge railcar might be fenced in,under its own shelter, displayed on a frontlawn, or even loaded on a flatcar. It could beold and rusted or recently restored. Dreamingup the history of your display piecesmay be a challenge and provide anotherdegree of legitimacy to your modeling.As a display, the equipment does notnecessarily have to operate, the tracks donot need to be wired and the collection canbe in an early stage of collecting oradvanced stage of presentation. All in all, itcan be a satisfying time of creating an interestingdisplay. For the adventurous, a sectionof your standard gauge track might bedual gauged with a narrow gauge switchand your display might venture out onto the“widegauge” on occasion.I invite you to create a narrow gauge displaybeside your standard gauge tracks andsend a photo to me or the magazine forfuture inclusion in this column or a specialarticle. You may find it to be a satisfyingdiversion to other mundane tasks.On another track, I invite readers toexpress their thoughts on the future directionof the “Narrow Minded” column. InOST, I hope to encourage traditional OScalers to experiment with narrow gaugeand widen your horizons while you narrowyour rails.For those confirmed narrow gaugersreading OST, I invite you to let me know ofyour interests and share some photos ofyour work with all of us. Send letters to theeditor or to me and it will help guide myfuture efforts.Dont forget the National Narrow GaugeConvention coming up on September 4-8 inRhode Island. (see below) There is sure tobe a strong contingent of O Scale narrowgaugers in attendance and members of theOn30 Conspiracy will meet privately to discussOn30 and O Scale in general. I believethat the forthcoming On30 Bachmann Shaywill have a major impact on modeling in OScale and arouse a lot more interest in narrowgauge and O Scale Trains. It may be ondisplay at the NNGC.To contact me, email to [bobber@sympatico.ca]or write letters to O Scale Trains.◆Lucky Strike Herald!CGW 40’ Plug Door Box CarOne-of-a-kind! Nicely weighted. 5 numbers(all in the series). Scale and 3-rail.. R-T-R.$36.00 + $9 for optional 3-rail diecast trucksand couplers. $5/$6/$9 shipping & handling.Call or email for our In Stock ListANDERSEN’S TRAIN STATION21 Central St Holliston MA 01746Phone 508-429-6494 FAX 508-429-7380Email Norm_Andersen@msn.comUNDER NEW OWNERSHIPZ N TT HOn3 HOOn30 S O 1/20.3 G/No.1Send $2.00 for 16" sampleHomaBedPO Box 970 • French Camp, CA 95231209-234-9486 Voice • 209-234-6487 FAXwww.homabed.comCentral’s Latest ReleasesGP38-2, GP40-2, SD40-2, SD40T-2 & SD45T-2GP40-2The finest in modern O Scale Brass. 2 or 3 rail operation. Machinedbrass frames and fuel tanks, Pittman motor with dual flywheels. Yourchoice of gear ratios, wheelsets, detail parts, etc. Custom built toyour specs. Kits $650 - $800. Custom built, painted and lettered$1100 to $1400.Central Locomotive Works17525 Alder St Ste 46 • Hesperia CA 92345ph 760-244-9222 • fax 760-244-9322e-mail clw2000@earthlink.netwww.centrallocomotiveworks.com14 • O Scale Trains