British N-scale running on USA N-Scale??

[Anonymous]

I would like to purchase a Graham Farish N scale locomotive, and cars and create the Hogwarts Express from the Harry Potter books. To my knowledge there is no N-scale version, and I would like to have/make one. I live in the USA and the Graham Farish N-scale is what Bachman's N-scale is sold under in the UK.

First off, would it be possible to purchase a British N-scale and run it on a USA N-scale track? From what I have read the answer would be No - due to power differences between the two countries. Question 2. Would the wheel width be the same between British N-scale and USA N-scale? If so, then the problem would be to solve the power problem between the two systems. Would it be possible to rewire the Graham Farish locomotive to run under the USA N-scale configuration?

Obviously, this is going to be a project that takes a little time [:D] , but I have the interest to follow through on it, and I just want to know if it can be done. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks a bunch!

Don

[simon1966]

I run British OO on US HO scale track. The power difference between the UK and the USA is not a problem for the locomotives as the Track power is either low voltage DC or DCC as determined by your Powerpack/transformer. The power conversion is made by the transformer, the track voltages are the same. Just don't try and run transformers from the UK in the USA and visa-versa. I think the guage is the same. So the UK trains should run in the USA with no modification at all. Acording to my PECO catalog (They sell N guage in the USA and the UK) the track gauge of 9mm is the same in both places. The scale is slightly different, 1:148 in the Uk and 1:160 overseas, so the UK models would be a little oversize rather like OO is to HO, but the track is the same. So I think your project will be as simple as ordering and running the train!! Good luck.
Simon

[Anonymous]

You should have no trouble here - I ran Bachmann US N-scale locos on the same track as Graham Farish N and Fleischmann N (though the Grafar stock didn't get run much as the build quality pre-Bachmann takeover was, to be blunt, awful!)

[BR60103]

Don:
You will have no problems. The Peco track is the same in both countries.
You will want a Great Western 4-6-0 locomotive and Mark I coaches. I don't know if GF make it, but a Hall is the locomotive class used in the films. For paint, Floquil used to make a colour called British Crimson in their military range; you may be able to find a plastic compatible version.
(Digression: One of my friends gave all his Briti***rains to his cousins when the family moved to Canada because they knew the electricity was different. They weren't here long before they realized that only the power packs were incompatible. It's been 40 years and he's still trying to get them back!)

[Anonymous]

Hello to everyone,

Thank you so much for your helpful responses. It is nice to know that I will be able to purchase a locomotive and run it on a USA N-scale track. I have found the locomotive to purchase, now I have to figure out what cars to buy. From this web page are any of these cars the ones that I would be looking for? Any guidence would be greatly appreciated, since I am not familiar with British Rail history. (although I have learned a little bit from this project [:D]).

http://www.grahamfarish.co.uk/prod.php4?prod_selected=farish&prod_area=3

One last question for all of you, would I be better off buying a darker colored car or lighter colored car to paint over? I was thinking that the lighter colored car might show need to many coats to cover it - any thoughts on this aspect of the project?

Thanks for all of your help!

Don

[Anonymous]

Graham Farish offer their MK1s (the first standard British Railways coach design - followed by MK2, MK3 and MK4) in the BR maroon finish used in the film - I wouldn't advise attempting to repaint them as the Grafar cars use a clear plastic bodyshell with all the detail "printed" on. As far as I know the cars in the film were standard BR maroon MK1s, only the crests and numbers were changed (in N, these would be so tiny that it might not be worth the time and effort to change them!) Item number 374-078 is in the correct livery.

If you've not yet found a supplier, I'd suggest you look at www.ehattons.com - they're very good for mail-orders and have a proper online store.

[Anonymous]

Hi Railroading_Brit and friends,

Thank you for the response. I have another question for you. I took this off a website and wondered if you would tell me what some of it means. I have a guess as to what some of it is, but would like to be sure. What is refered to as Lining? Is it the light colored line running beneath the windows? Where does the "Black" come in with regards to Lining - is it the roof?

Also, what is meant by two SKs and Two BSKs - is it the livery you mentioned above?

Thanks again!

Don


"Preparation of locomotive and stock was relatively straightforward. Color selection was made on the basis that the chosen shade of red showed up with the least variation under all lighting conditions. Lining was British Railways style orange and black, with a large sign on the tender, again in the late 1950s British Railways style, proclaiming “Hogwarts Railways” and featuring the school crest. Len Clark, who had also repainted “Taw Valley” into red, painted the locomotive. Ian Castledine produced the superb WR-style “Hogwarts Express” headboard, completed with hand-painted low-relief crest. Rolling stock was comprised of two SKs and two BSKs, repainted into the standard West Coast maroon with yellow and black lining, although with circular Hogwarts Railways crests on the vehicle sides. "
This is the article that it is from: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/695oseho.asp

[BR60103]

Don:
SK and BSK are coach types. SK is "Second Corridor" and BSK is "Brake Second Corridor." A BSK looks like a combine with a baggage section at one end. The Corridor is the passageway running up one side of the coach joining the compartments. (In the film, Malfoy and his friends come "visiting" through the corridor.)
The lining is a decorative bit. On the coaches, it runs straight along under the windows and also above the windows. It's usually black with yellow/gold borders, or maybe yellow with a black middle. On the loco, there is a panel on the cab side, stripes on the cylinders, and more lining on the boiler bands (straps around the boiler to hold it together). There is a big square panel on the tender.
You might want to check the British Railway Modellers of North America
http://home.ca.inter.net/~brmna/index.html
and their list of dealers in the United States and Canada for decals. Your GF Hall will come with lining, but you're (unfortunately) going to paint over it. The paint colour to match the coaches is BR Crimson. (My Bachman model is a much brighter red!)
(Other coach descriptions are First, Composite, and Open. Also Restauant, Sleeper, Buffet.)

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the information. Are there companies out there that will have the decals that I need to complete the job after painting the locmotive or will I have to try and paint the lines?