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Burlington Northern in N Scale

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  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: United Kingdom
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Burlington Northern in N Scale
Posted by whywaites on Thursday, October 12, 2006 8:11 AM
I have been trying to locate a copy of Kalmbach's book How to Build the Burlington Northern in N Scale.  I have not had any success!  Can anyone tell me the back issues of Model Railroader that these articles originally appeared in or where to get a copy of the book at a reasonable amount. 

Many Thanks -
Shaun from England
"Flying is easy. all you have to do is throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
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Posted by tjsmrinfo on Thursday, October 12, 2006 9:43 AM

have you tried emailing kaalmbach directly? also theres a link on the homepage for the books they do have available.

 

tom

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Posted by PA&ERR on Thursday, October 12, 2006 10:01 AM

If you can't find the book, the construction of that layout was featured in  a series of articles in MR starting in Feburary 1990 (I think). The first article was titled "Introducing the N scale Burlington Northern" or something like that.

-George

"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."

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Posted by nbrodar on Thursday, October 12, 2006 10:14 AM

The book long out of print.   The article series ran Feburary to September or October 1990.

Nick

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Posted by Dave Vollmer on Thursday, October 12, 2006 10:24 AM

How long has it been since MR's done a project layout in N?  Three that come to mind are the Arkansas & Missouri, the Wisconsin Central, and the Appalachian Central.  It's been a number of years, hasn't it?  Or am I forgeting something?

Considering what a boost MR's Clinchfield project gave N scale in the late 70s, it would be nice to see another.

Sorry to go off topic.

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

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Posted by Master of Big Sky Blue on Thursday, October 12, 2006 12:22 PM

I have a copy of the book in question. I am considering thinking about building a version in HO.

James

"Well, I've sort of commited my self here, so you pop that clowns neck, I will shoot his buddy, and I will probably have to shoot the bartender too." ----- William Adama upon meeting Saul Tigh Building an All Steam Roster from Old Tyco-Mantua, and Bowser kits. Free Drinks in the Dome Car
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Posted by pcarrell on Thursday, October 12, 2006 3:40 PM

It's this book you're talking about, right?

If so, there are 6 copies on Amazon.com right now.  The cheapest is $31.25.  I'm not sure if this link will work or not, but lets try:  http://www.amazon.com/Building-Burlington-Northern-Railroad-Handbook/dp/0890241198/sr=1-1/qid=1160685243/ref=sr_1_1/002-8585774-6736809?ie=UTF8&s=books

Philip
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Posted by whywaites on Friday, October 13, 2006 4:35 AM
Many thanks all for your replies!   Will check this out.  Sometimes its a bit harder getting things from this side of the atlantic. 

Shaun
"Flying is easy. all you have to do is throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
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Posted by Outsailing86 on Friday, October 4, 2019 3:02 PM

I know its a terrible practice to pull up a 13 year thread... 

 

I broke my ankle, which will make me an armchair modeler for the next 4-6 months. Very frustrating! 

I’ve decided to start looking at N scale, since HO scale 12x15 rooms never have enough track. I thought this was a neat plan. Are there any online builds?

 

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, October 6, 2019 3:58 PM

Outsailing86
I know its a terrible practice to pull up a 13 year thread.

.

Why? I don't think so.

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I think it is an excellent track plan, but I have never seen, or know of one, that was built.

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I remember the original series, and it was one of the best of the project layouts. I was also in N scale at the time.

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-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by MARTIN STATION on Sunday, October 6, 2019 6:20 PM

   Well, welcome to “normal“ scale Big Smile ! I sometimes look with envy at all the great things coming out in HO scale but then there are some great things in N scale also.  

    Look at the details on the new Scale Trains locomotives and how excellent a Kato looks and runs as well as improvements from all the manufacturers.  

    Mostly there is no way I would have the space to run models of the larger equipment running today in HO. N scale for me is really enjoyable. 

    As far as online builds, if you subscribe to Video Plus, they have several. It’s worth the look and if you’re not a subscriber I believe they offer a free trial. 

Ralph

 

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Posted by Outsailing86 on Monday, October 7, 2019 11:09 AM

That’s what I was thinking. Even changing the locale to Cleveland Ohio and letting the yard be visible staging, maybe some switching on the one end. I keep looking at N scale as maybe this is the golden ticket to let me do what I want to do in HO scale, yet can’t seem to find the room. 

Are N scale switching ops feasible? couplers work ok? 

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Posted by SPSOT fan on Monday, October 7, 2019 12:09 PM

Outsailing86

Are N scale switching ops feasible? couplers work ok? 

Ohh Yeah! You bet, I find Micro Trains couplers work VERY. Only issues I have are that they are somewhat oversized. I would also note often with N scale cars being much lighter than HO, when uncoupling I periodically knock the car of the rails. The issue is how underweight a few of my cars are, easy fix! Also body mounted cars and truck mounted cars couple fine to the same type on curves, but not to eachother, again simple fix, go for one of the two (I like body mounted, though I have a lot of truck mounted cars because I’m lazy!)

I agree with what was said previously, N scale is normal when It comes to fitting a reasonable amount of railroad in a normal space! I moved to N and am not sure I’ll ever move back! The lack space in locomotive for electronics, etc, is made up for by how much railroad fits in any given space!

Regards, Isaac

I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, October 7, 2019 2:31 PM

Outsailing86
Are N scale switching ops feasible? couplers work ok? 

.

Yes. For me, my first Kato diesel (an RS-3) made switching moves possible. Once locomotives stopped jerking into motion, those Micro-Trains couplers worked beautifully.

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This was back in the mid 1980s. I can only assume things have become even better.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Monday, October 7, 2019 4:35 PM

SeeYou190
 
Outsailing86
I know its a terrible practice to pull up a 13 year thread.

Why? I don't think so.

-Kevin

I know you disagree, but it really kind a is a terrible practice.  I've been on forums since I was a freshman in college in 1977 and I've noticed there is a consensus on that.  Not that some don't like to be rebels like you.  Pirate  MR forums seems to have necroing old threads down to an art form more than any other forum I've frequented.  Clown Dunce   Google may be partly to blame for it.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by corsiar on Monday, October 7, 2019 5:37 PM

I still have the orginal issues of that project when I subscribed in the 1990s. My entire model railroading has been based on that project. Always wanted to build one but never did. My current layout I am building is inspired by that layout. 

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