Hi everybody, long-time lurker, first-time poster:
I've loved model railroads since I was a kid, and now I finally have the money, time, and space (semi-finished basement) to build a layout. My dream for a long time has been an urban industrial switching layout, and I'm wondering, since I'm basically starting from scratch, if HO or N is the way to go here. HO has more stuff available off the shelf and I think it generally looks more impressive, but my back of the napkin plan would be 30 feet long in that scale; N is much more compact and I have a little bit of equipment I've collected over the years to start, but I'm worried that constantly fiddling with N-scale couplers will make a switching layout unfun to actually operate.
So, based on your experience, which scale do you think would be a better choice? I'm most concerned about operating smoothly; not only do I want to be able to set up and solve switching puzzles for myself, but I'd like other people (who otherwise aren't model railroaders) to have the chance to try, and they won't if it's more hassle than fun.
Any city gets what it admires, will pay for, and, ultimately, deserves.
I am afraid you will have to make that decision on your own!
There will be folks telling you that N scale is not very well suited for switching layouts, but there will also be those, who will tell you otherwise. My answer is there fore simple - whatever rocks your boat! Both N scale and HO scale are fine for switching layouts, so the decision should not be based on the scale, but the space and/or the theme you have in mind for your layout.
I have built switching layouts in both scales and Z scale as well. All of them worked fine for me!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
I operate on both HO and N scale layouts and find that both can provide equally satisfying operations. If you convert all of your N scale rolling stock to Micro Trains couplers, you will not find coupling/uncoupling cars to be at all fiddly. In fact, I often find it is easier to uncouple Micro Trains equipped N scale rolling stock than it is to uncouple Kadee equipped HO scale rolling stock. The only downside to lots of switching in N scale is that it can be difficult to read the road numbers on the cars, especially when the cars are weathered. It helps to add photos of each car on your car cards as this often eliminates the need to read the road number.
Hornblower
Pondering thoughts.
A 30' ISL in N Scale would give you a complete industrial district including a small yard for holding cars until needed at the industries. You could add trailer drop lot,2 or three street crossings(always fun to block during switching moves) a small creek through a large drainage pipe etc.
In HO that 30' would give you a industrial lead,a small holding yard,trailer drop lot, two or three streets, a small creek going through a large drainage pipe.
At 30' a walkaround throttle would be a must have regardless of scale.
While I'm still a N Scaler at heart and currently in HO where my heart isn't exactly overjoyed but,I have to many high end models to just sellout and return to my belove N Scale.
I'll soon be 72 and would return to N in a heart beat if I just had low end less detail models like BB cars and engies and Roundhouse cars to sell..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"