2026 On30 ANNUAL: Do you enjoy model railroading and On30 or narrow gauge? Then we invite you to immerse yourself in the captivating world of narrow gauge railroading with the all-new 2026 On30 Annual. This year marks the 21st issue of providing you modeling fun and accessible narrow gauge in O scale, featuring amazing models, layouts, and building projects. Order your copy today!
A Look Back… And a Look Ahead
A look back at 20 years of the On30 Annual, led by editor and narrow gauge modeler Chris Lane, and published by White River Productions.
Creating a Narrow Gauge Logging Behemoth
I obtained a Banta Model Works conversion cab for the Mantua HO scale 2-6-6-2 tank engine. They are very nice kits and fit the locomotive perfectly. Mine was for the version without a tender but Banta makes both types.
History of the Bellevue & Cascade
The Chicago, Bellevue, Cascade & Western Railway Company was organized in 1877 and its 36 miles of 30 lb. iron arrived in Cascade Iowa, a town of 900 souls, on the evening of December 31, 1879. The CBC&W’s eastern terminus was at Bellevue, Iowa, on the Mississippi River.
Mann’s Creek Hopper Plans
One of the more appealing aspects of these diminutive wooden 20-ton hoppers was that after twenty or so years of service on the Mann’s Creek Railway, each had been individually rebuilt in a variety of ways. Download free plans to build your own.
AMS On3/On30 D&RGW Short Caboose
The short caboose was once the mainstay office and living quarters for train crews throughout the Rio Grande’s narrow gauge operations. Decoration and minor detail miscues aside, this a very good O scale model of a numerous, well-known and well-preserved class of narrow gauge cars.
San Juan Car Co. O Scale Parts
After getting a few pairs of the excellent On3/On30 passenger car trucks, I was pretty excited when San Juan announced they would be doing a Jackson & Sharp coach. I was equally disappointed when they announced late in 2012 that the coach project was suspended indefinitely.
RS Laser add-on deck for Bachmann freight cars
Both kits from RS Laser include two custom fitted plywood decks with double sided tape applied to attach the deck to the host car as well as Grandt Line O scale brake wheels and ratchet and pawl castings for two cars to replace those removed when new decks are installed. The kit for the tank cars also includes Standard Oil Company decal sets to add to the tank of each car.



















