HO and HOn3
Stuff on HO and HOn3
Equipment in HO Scale (HO/HOn3)
The Southern Pacific doesn't seem to be well represented in hobby shops. Even browsing through the Walthers catalog produces sparce results for Southern Pacific engines and rolling stock. It takes a little digging, but Espee equipment can be found. For example, I just found a company (Red Caboose) producing 40' AAR boxcars lettered for the SP. These look really nice so I ordered a few. I can't wait to get them and I'll post a review when I do.
Locomotives
The situation for Souther Pacific locomotives in HO scale is pretty dismal. Bowser makes "old time" style 4-6-0 and 2-8-0 kits that are supposedly based on SP prototypes. Bachman has a Spectrum Series 2-8-0 that could possibly be converted to look like an SP locomotive (they have a really nice Vanderbuilt tender as well). Precision Scale is importing several versions of SP M-4 and M-6 moguls; they are really nice but at over $900.00 for a factory painted unit they aren't for everyone. Sunset Models is supposedly going to import M-6 and M-9 Moguls sometime next year. Being brass, they'll probably be in the upper price range but not as high as the Precision Scale imports. Other than that, SP steam power in HO and HOn3 is a used brass market.
Rolling Stock
Freight cars don't have quite the distinctive personalties of locomotives, so a convincing fleet of rolling stock can probably be built from available kits. Cabooses are another matter - each road seems to have their own unique style. One of th emost common cabooses on the SP in the period I'm modeling is the C-30-1. Fortunately, Walthers has good, inexpensive kits of this caboose with several different lettering options. I just ordered 3 and am looking forward to getting them. Unfortunately, they are apparently out of production - once they're gone there will be no more. If you want one I'd suggest getting it soon. They also have a wood craftsman type kit of this caboose. It's quite a bit more expensive and doesn't include trucks.
Structures
Walthers sells an HO scale kit of the Laws depot. Most other structures on my line will be scratch built or kitbashed.
Updated November 26, 2007
