Although a new topic in this website, over the years I have seen a few references here and there to OOn3 models being built. Attempts at activity in this gauge date from after WWII, as the 12mm gauge track required for OOn3 is the same as TT standard gauge track, so you could make use of TT gauge locomotive mechanisms and, if you did not mind the small wheels and ties, commercial TT gauge track and trucks.

Recently obtained were these two cabooses. The one in the front is standard gauge and was scratch built by Fred Schorr, and is lettered for his personal road. (It is a near twin to the caboose in this article, and has full interior and lights!). The one in the rear is OOn3 and was built by his son Ed. It is neatly scratch built and rides on modified HOn3 trucks.

Note, in comparing the photos, that from the side they are similar in size but the narrow gauge model is not as wide.

According to Ed he made one other model in OOn3, a D&RGW C-16! If anyone has that model out there reading this, I would love to hear from you. I do hope the owner knows what it is and how unique the model is! [And see UPDATE at end.]

The idea of OOn3 has intrigued me for years, I like Colorado narrow gauge, but it just seems like too much work compared to for example switching scales and then building a layout in Sn3. I laid that OOn3 track seen in the photos back when I was in high school (!), but as an experiment I think originally to lay some TT gauge track. But the ties I used were way too big for TT and it ends up being about right visually for OOn3 or maybe more correctly for HOm (HO, meter gauge) due to tie size.

Speaking of track, you can buy what would be very workable OOn3 track commercially now, as there are several lines of HOm track, also 12mm gauge. It is more of a European specialty product so tracking down suppliers in the US is more of a challenge, but it should in closing also be noted that there are entire lines of products that are built in HOm and various types of OO narrow gauge models as well, but not specifically US prototype of course. Maybe if a situation came where I really had to seriously downsize I might think about freelancing some mining or logging line OOn3, who knows the future?

UPDATE: I recently spoke to Ed Schorr, and he shared that he actually made a whole train of models in OOn3. Besides the caboose and the C-16 there was at least a boxcar and a gondola. Certainly models to keep your eyes peeled for.