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"HONGZ" stands for HO scale, N scale, G scale, and Z scale.

Post your non-O scale stuff here!

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It's hard to tell on the video.  Apparently Gilbert had their own coupler in 1948/49 that looked like a sideways latch coupler before switching to the NMRA X2F.

It appears  they tried several different couplers , the first being a Varney (Marlin) , then the sideways hook and horn coupler"  I have the 31004, (late 50's early 60's) and it came with the  hook and horn.

@rplst8 posted:

You may have never seen it... but your mistaken about it's origin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HO_scale#History

From the Wikipedia post you linked to: "...After the First World War there were several attempts to introduce a model railway about half the size of 0 scale that would be more suitable for smaller home layouts and cheaper to manufacture...HO is the most popular model railroad scale in both continental Europe and North America..."

I understand that the intent was to make a scale that was "...'half nought gauge'..."  but the term "H naught" or "H zero" never caught on. The term used than and now is HO, not H Zero.

To make matters more complex, half O is actually half European #0 gauge which explains the 1:87 proportion with #1 gauge being their equivalent of standard gauge. 

On a more serious note, this was a great locomotive by Gilbert.  One of two steam locomotives in the HO catalog with the Hudson being the other.  As to couplers, I don't have anything much to add to Rusty's comments.  I know from my Grandfather's collection of early postwar HO, a lot of his equipment had the latch and hook system that was found on Mantua.  Varney started with something similar before going to their close to scale cast dummy couplers.

I have the B6.  I got my dad the Hudson.  Both nice and rare in that they are the only vintage HO mass produced locomotives that I am aware of that smoked.  A little awkward that the motor sticks out a little far, but still a cool locomotive.  Mine is obviously a late one.

20210814_161242

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  • 20210814_161242
@GG1 4877 posted:

To make matters more complex, half O is actually half European #0 gauge which explains the 1:87 proportion with #1 gauge being their equivalent of standard gauge. 

On a more serious note, this was a great locomotive by Gilbert.  One of two steam locomotives in the HO catalog with the Hudson being the other.  As to couplers, I don't have anything much to add to Rusty's comments.  I know from my Grandfather's collection of early postwar HO, a lot of his equipment had the latch and hook system that was found on Mantua.  Varney started with something similar before going to their close to scale cast dummy couplers.

I have the B6.  I got my dad the Hudson.  Both nice and rare in that they are the only vintage HO mass produced locomotives that I am aware of that smoked.  A little awkward that the motor sticks out a little far, but still a cool locomotive.  Mine is obviously a late one.

20210814_161242

The Marx 6096 was also a nice smoker.

Steve

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