Help with loco choice

[Anonymous]

Good Morning everyone,

I am new to the hobby and am in the planning stages of my first layout. I have chosen N scale because I can pack alot of activity in a relatively small space. My layout will be loosely based on the layout in the book "The N Scale Model Railroad That Grows With You." I want to utilize both steam and diesel power, and am looking at the late '40's to early 50's in the mountainous Western U.S. I'm not modelling any particular prototype railroad. I just wanted to get a sense of what loco's were running at that time (I'm not familiar with ral history), and get your recomendations as to which models would be appropriate and that people have had success with. I would like to have locos that I can eventually upgrade to DCC if (when?) I choose to expand and grow into the hobby.

Thank you for any feedback you can offer.

Adam

[Anonymous]

Adam:

Hard for me to give you any specific advice as you aren't in either a scale or an era I model (I'm early 1900s HO scale).

You can justifiably run anything you care to made from 1900 or so up to the day you simulate. As you comment you are concerned with space, I suggest you begin with a survey of N scale manufacturers and from the available choices select an engine which fits both your budget...yes we all have them ;)...and your overall concept.

I would comment that you are better off with a smaller size engine rather than a larger. Smaller engines always have a place on a layout as well as having a place to run. Too many novices buy the largest engine they can think of/afford and then are disappointed when they have troubles keeping it on the rails and belatedly realize it is so large on the layout it looks 'out of scale'. At the outset smaller is definately better.

As to DCC, virtually all new locomotives made in HO scale are either DCC ready or wired so as to be easily made DCC ready. I assume it is the same for N, likely someone else familiar with the scale can comment authoritatively.

Good Luck

Randy

[nfmisso]

Hi Adam;

I am modelling about the same era as you, but Appalachian Mountains and HO.

I specifically recommend Atlas as one of several very good model railroad manufacturers. http://www.atlasrr.com/

Within in thier line up, the Alco RS1, Baldwin VO1000, EMD GP7, EMD GP9, EMD SD7, EMD SD9, FM Train Master, FM H15-44 and FM H16-44 are with in your choosen era, that have been announced in the recent past. I found these under "Products" then "New N Products". Any of these can be converted to DCC rather easily. They have also announced a 2-6-0 and a 2 truck Shay.

Atlas has offered other locomotives in N scale that fit your era, but these are the only ones announced since June 2002.

I would suggest starting out with the RS1, GP7, GP9, H15-44 or H16-44. These are four axle road switchers, that saw duty in all sorts of railroad services - switching, freight, passenger, etc.

Other fine manufacturers include Kato, LifeLike, and others.

[Anonymous]

A good starter loco for N would probably be a Bachmann (Spectrum in N?) or a Kato.

[Anonymous]

I would also add Micro Trains and Model Power as manufacturers. Model Power has just redesigned the electrical pickups on their locomotives, so hopefully, they'll run much better than they did. (I have a Model Power 4-8-2 Pacific that had to be sent back to the factory since some engineer changed the design of the pickups from what it was on their demonstration models).

Most of the locomotives in our club are either Atlas or Kato, although I believe there are also a few Spectrums there, too. That's something to think about for me, too. I believe I'll ask the members of my club what their locomotive manufacture of choice might be.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by joekc6nlx

(I have a Model Power 4-8-2 Pacific that had to be sent back to the factory since some engineer changed the design of the pickups from what it was on their demonstration models).

Isn't a Pacific a 4-6-2? I think a 4-8-2 is a Mountain.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have a couple of Bachmann already, i like the affordability of them, but they do not come with much in the way of an owner manual. I hear alot of talk about Atlas and it is mostly positive. I just have to get more familiar with the various models and engines. And I guess it mostly boils down to what engine(s) I like the looks of.

Once agian, thanks.

Adam

[Anonymous]

kato