looking for new locos & rolling stock.

[Anonymous]

After a 10 year absence I am returning to Model Railroading in N scale. The biggest problem I have encountered is that the hobby shops that were in the area seem to all have closed. Nearest one I found so far is almost 100 miles away. I would like to purchase a new sw1500 diesel switcher, and some shorter freight cars due to this being a small layout. There seems to be an abundance of manufacturers to chose from on the net, but I'm unsure of buying equipment without "hands on" testing. What I would like is opinions on different brands of locos & rolling stock so I can make a more informed choice.

Thanks all in advance for your replies.

[Anonymous]

After a 10 year absence I am returning to Model Railroading in N scale. The biggest problem I have encountered is that the hobby shops that were in the area seem to all have closed. Nearest one I found so far is almost 100 miles away. I would like to purchase a new sw1500 diesel switcher, and some shorter freight cars due to this being a small layout. There seems to be an abundance of manufacturers to chose from on the net, but I'm unsure of buying equipment without "hands on" testing. What I would like is opinions on different brands of locos & rolling stock so I can make a more informed choice.

Thanks all in advance for your replies.

[Anonymous]

www.walthers.com is a good place to look at locos and cars and get a feel for what they should cost. Really quality is a function of price regardless of the scale. A 25 dollar N scale loco is most likely a toy. Our local hobby shop has lots of N scale locos and the good ones start at 75 dollars.

[Anonymous]

www.walthers.com is a good place to look at locos and cars and get a feel for what they should cost. Really quality is a function of price regardless of the scale. A 25 dollar N scale loco is most likely a toy. Our local hobby shop has lots of N scale locos and the good ones start at 75 dollars.

[jrbarney]

Even if you wi***o remain anonymous, if you post your geographic location, someone near you may know of a dealer who is closer than 100 miles. Sometimes there's a good hobby shop in someone's basement with little to identify it. Good luck from someone whom is more fortunate. Bob

[jrbarney]

Even if you wi***o remain anonymous, if you post your geographic location, someone near you may know of a dealer who is closer than 100 miles. Sometimes there's a good hobby shop in someone's basement with little to identify it. Good luck from someone whom is more fortunate. Bob

[IRONROOSTER]

Check out the events part of this site and see if a train show is near you.
Enjoy
Paul

[IRONROOSTER]

Check out the events part of this site and see if a train show is near you.
Enjoy
Paul

[Javern]

some good stuff on WWW.ebay.com

[Javern]

some good stuff on WWW.ebay.com

[Anonymous]

ok, I did actually find a hobby shop that's only about 40 miles away...in Hartford Wisconsin. I hopped in the truck, made it about a mile down the interstate & crankshaft in my engine broke! Is there some higher force at work against me? The bad news...I have no wheels to actually see the inside of a hobby shop for about 2 more weeks. The good news....the motor in my truck is still under warranty.

[Anonymous]

ok, I did actually find a hobby shop that's only about 40 miles away...in Hartford Wisconsin. I hopped in the truck, made it about a mile down the interstate & crankshaft in my engine broke! Is there some higher force at work against me? The bad news...I have no wheels to actually see the inside of a hobby shop for about 2 more weeks. The good news....the motor in my truck is still under warranty.

[Anonymous]

If you're 40 miles from Hartford, you could take another hour and go to Terminal Hobby shop in Milwaukee. On 11/8 & 9, there is a train show at the fairgrounds in Milwaukee and there will be N scale modular layouts and hobby shops selling N scale whatever you want.
Tim

[Anonymous]

If you're 40 miles from Hartford, you could take another hour and go to Terminal Hobby shop in Milwaukee. On 11/8 & 9, there is a train show at the fairgrounds in Milwaukee and there will be N scale modular layouts and hobby shops selling N scale whatever you want.
Tim

[Wdlgln005]

If you want a N scale switcher, check out the LL 900-1200 or the Atlas VO-1000, or go with a LL GP-20 ,BL-2, or Atlas GP 7-9. Short cars come from Atlas, LL, or MTL. You may find an "industrial" LL style cars for $2.00, then convert couplers with MTL.

[Wdlgln005]

If you want a N scale switcher, check out the LL 900-1200 or the Atlas VO-1000, or go with a LL GP-20 ,BL-2, or Atlas GP 7-9. Short cars come from Atlas, LL, or MTL. You may find an "industrial" LL style cars for $2.00, then convert couplers with MTL.

[Kent]

I've heard good stuff about http://www.4nscale.com

I have NOT bought from them yet myself though.

I have bought from Tower Hobbies http://www.trainmodels.com
Be sure to go to their main page at http://www.towerhobbies.com for discounts and shipping specials. They are most R/C stuff but have lots og good train stuff too, I've been buying from them for many years from back when I was into R/C Cars.

[Kent]

I've heard good stuff about http://www.4nscale.com

I have NOT bought from them yet myself though.

I have bought from Tower Hobbies http://www.trainmodels.com
Be sure to go to their main page at http://www.towerhobbies.com for discounts and shipping specials. They are most R/C stuff but have lots og good train stuff too, I've been buying from them for many years from back when I was into R/C Cars.

[Anonymous]

try to stay away from ebay at first...it is really easy to get caught up dreaming about all the stuff on there and spend way to much money on a vas multitude of items...either that or you dont know the prices and you end up paying 4 or 5 times the retail price. My suggestion would be to start small and slowly pick up cars here and there. Getting a variety of cars will help you decide if you want to have a logging empire, or a coal empire, or cattle...try not to get to set on only buying ATSF or BN or anything, all of this will prevent you from buying 20 or more of one car that you decide you dont really want to model with...and the variety cars can always sit on a switch of area or become kit baching projects. Ultimately it is up to you...have fun this site can be very helpful and most of all welcome back.

[Anonymous]

try to stay away from ebay at first...it is really easy to get caught up dreaming about all the stuff on there and spend way to much money on a vas multitude of items...either that or you dont know the prices and you end up paying 4 or 5 times the retail price. My suggestion would be to start small and slowly pick up cars here and there. Getting a variety of cars will help you decide if you want to have a logging empire, or a coal empire, or cattle...try not to get to set on only buying ATSF or BN or anything, all of this will prevent you from buying 20 or more of one car that you decide you dont really want to model with...and the variety cars can always sit on a switch of area or become kit baching projects. Ultimately it is up to you...have fun this site can be very helpful and most of all welcome back.