The date on this flyer from Westside models says 1979 but I was wondering if this Ho or the O scale triplex was ever delivered and if so has anybody ever seen it?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
It actually says HO in the text.
In O scale I own both the VGN Triplex and the VGN 610 which was the engine less the tender with drivers. They are decent looking as the engine didn't have much detail. From what I gathered they didn't run well if they did run. Westside wasn't known for it's running abilities in O scale.
Attachments
Images (2)
bob2 posted:It actually says HO in the text.
The last paragraph mentions that the O scale will be coming later in the year.
@VGN64 posted:In O scale I own both the VGN Triplex and the VGN 610 which was the engine less the tender with drivers. They are decent looking as the engine didn't have much detail. From what I gathered they didn't run well if they did run. Westside wasn't known for it's running abilities in O scale.
Bringing this back. I just recently acquired the elusive O scale 610. To go with my also recently acquired. VGN 700. I have been on the hunt for a couple years now. I haven’t seen any till this popped up. Did they all come unpainted?
Attachments
Images (2)
Painted brass back was rare, most were custom painted after they got to the USA.
I have a Westside triplex. The locomotive was worked on and runs wheel. I still had to repair the gear box in the tender needed to be soldered.
O Scale Trains Magazine issue No 120 and Issue No 121 Resurrecting an Old Westside Virginian Triplex part 1 and 2 Yves Vidal
HO version. 300 made in 1979 listed for $950. In today's dollars that's about 3800 bucks.
Also have an MTH Erie version. Very nicely done. Cast metal and smoke.
Just one motor and the tender drivers only go along 'for the ride' (not motored).
Videos:
Departing Hillyard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC20qzgTs2c
Skykomish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMUnFQJQpdE
Attachments
Images (7)
@david1 posted:The last paragraph mentions that the O scale will be coming later in the year.
These O scale units were produced long time ago and will (most likely) never been produced again.
Only 110 units in O-Scale were manufactured by Westside. They are very poor runners for most of them and I have published a five parts article describing the restoration of one of them, in O-Scale Train magazine: https://oscalemag.com/current-issue/ if you want to know more about the idiosyncrasies of these models.
Yves
@Yves posted:These O scale units were produced long time ago and will (most likely) never been produced again.
Only 110 units in O-Scale were manufactured by Westside. They are very poor runners for most of them and I have published a five parts article describing the restoration of one of them, in O-Scale Train magazine: https://oscalemag.com/current-issue/ if you want to know more about the idiosyncrasies of these models.
Yves
I ordered both magazine issues this morning to see what was done. I am looking at modifying both my engines gear boxes. Maybe go to a single shaft drive...time will tell.
It's a beauty but stays on the shelf 
Attachments
Images (7)
This started life as one of the O scale units...
Attachments
Images (1)
@oscaletrains posted:This started life as one of the O scale units...
Very nice rendering of the Baldwin proposal to DRGW. Did you reduce the size of the pistons as suggested by Baldwin?
The tender with its 6 wheels truck is very interesting.
Beautiful job overall.
Yves
Not mine, it was built for the fellow that ran Brass Locomotive Company back in the day. He sent me photos of it a couple years ago.
Well this has been an interesting topic. Those models sure look a lot different than my Railking triplex haha I would love to get my hands on one.
Back in the day when I was painting for a hobby shop in Pittsburgh I was handed the O scale Westside Virginian Triplex 700 to paint. Problem was though that it came disassembled. Ugh! I had to paint it and figure out where all the parts and screws went. It came out well. Well enough that I was handed a second Triplex to paint. Same customer. Luckily it was all assembled before I tore it down to paint. It would have been nice if I was handed that one first and then the disassembled one second. If I recall correctly one of the gears was either cracked or a few teeth were damaged. It was replaced and the loco ran ok. I think I painted the HO version as well. Exact same, just smaller pieces.
