Tell me about modern N gauge

[NevinW]

I am just thinking out loud here, I have a narrow space for a shelf layout in my garage about 45 feet long but no more than 36 inches wide. I have been designing a shortline HO layout to fit it, but it suddenly occurred to me that a substantial N scale layout could be built. A model of the Union Pacific though Las Vegas in the 1940's or the Western Pacific though Portola would be interesting to me. There would be enough room for balloon tracks and staging on the ends. I could see big boys and challengers as well as my childhood favorite, the COLA with E8's. Of course my eyesight is going downhill and that would be a problem.

I fiddled with N scale in college (1970's) and I found it to be disappointing with too much sensitivity to dirt, poorly designed gearing (200 mph) and no way to do any switching. I have not paid any attention to the scale since then.

So, N gaugers, tell me about current state of N scale. Who makes the best engines and track? Does the track look right or is it still clunky. Do the engines run slowly and smoothly? Is switching fun. Is DCC really doable? (I will not have a railroad without DCC.) It seems like UP stuff is available, but are they based on real prototypes or some Pennsylvania RR or other RR design painted UP. Are the flanges still huge? Is scratch building and kitbashing doable my my declining eyesight? - Nevin

[pcarrell]

You should stop by The "N" Crowd and read some of what's said there.  N scale isn't what it used to be!

And just to whet your whistle........here's the newest Athearn loco, due out in early September (just about the time you'd need it) that comes factory equipped with DCC and sound!

Yes, that horrible looking Atlas code 80 track under it, but N scale has some great looking track too.  The Atlas code 55 line even has a comercially available #10 turnout that came out last year.

And we have E units with DCC and sound if you want too!

Alot has changed over the years in N scale.  Alot has changed just within the last ten years!  Big flangs are out.  Working couplers are in.  Slow speed loco's are much more the norm.  Hands off OP's can easily happen in N scale.

The question isn't "Can I get what I want from N scale?", because you certainly can.  The real question is, "Can I do the smallness of N scale?"  If manual dextarity or eyesight are a problem you may have an issue.  You can get an Optivisor, but shaky hands are not well suited to fine detail work with little parts.

[tgindy]

So, N gaugers, tell me about current state of N scale. Who makes the best engines and track? Does the track look right or is it still clunky.

 

Go to Atlas and check out their N Scale track and Atlas Diesels in particular...

http://www.atlasrr.com/ 

There are (42) Code 80 track items with this description...

"Our popular N scale Code 80 track has been used on thousands of model railroads over the last 30 years. Easy to use and affordable, you will find that Atlas N scale Code 80 track with black ties and nickel silver rail is built to last for ultimate performance."

There are (48) Code 55 track items with this description...

"Designed with precision and sophisticated technology, Atlas' N scale Code 55 track has the same reliability and durability as our popular Code 80 track, but with some slight differences that make it more prototypical. Code 55 track is characterized by having finer brown ties and smaller rail than Atlas' traditional Code 80 track."

Another well-known N Scale manufacturer is Bachmann where their Spectrum locomotive line is of a better quality.  You might go to Walthers to check out what they are good at which is selection.

Here is how my layout will incorporate Code 55 to smaller operations, and Code 80 track to Class I operations... 

The free-lanced N Scale traction/interurban, Conemaugh Road & Traction, is inspired by a combination of three prototypes: passenger PCC, industrial short line, and local Class I branch line.  This "CR&T layout division" will use Code 55 track.

The CR&T is surrounded by a Pennsy 2-track mainline, and sometimes dogboned to appear as a 4-track mainline which will interchange with the CR&T for passenger and freight. This "PRR layout division" will use Code 80 track. 

P.S.:  You can't go wrong with "pcarrell" when it comes to N Scale steam insight.

[emdgp92]

After years of HO scale only...I recently took the plunge with N scale. I'd been curious for years, and when one of the local shops (Esther's) had it's "flood salvage" sale, I couldn't resist. N scale has changed a lot since the J-class (junk) days of the '70s. Kato E units and RDCs are great runners, and so is my Atlas U25B. LL also makes good engines, but they can be a bit noisy. For now, I'm using Kato Unitrack with some Atlas stuff mixed in. Everything is powered by an old Tyco (blue) train-set transformer.

One thing I did notice, is just how small things are in N. (Thank you, Captain Obvious!) I mean, I had to more-or-less "relearn" how to work on something so small. But, I will admit that the small bits have helped me to hone my skills in the larger scales too. After several weeks of messing about with N scale buildings, even a small HO scale house looks like a mansion!

You might run into trouble if you're trying to model a train exactly--some rolling stock is "fudged" for different prototypes. For me though, I don't worry about getting all the rivets in the right place, as long as the actual "feel" is there, I'm happy. 

With that said, you'll love Kato's E units. They're smooth runners!

[ATSFCLIFF]

I started with N scale in the early 70's and continued with it till today. I agree the early days were disappointing and frustrating. From then and now, there has been a vast improvement on engines, rolling stock and structures.

Most of the good engines have five pole motors with fly-wheels and run smoothly (scale speed) and most of them come with knuckle couplers no more those dreaded rapidos!
For engines make your choices from Kato, Atlas and InterMountain all of them have good motors with flywheels.
For tracks you can choose from Atlas, Peco and Micro Engineering.
There are good choices for rolling stock like Atlas, Red Caboose, deluxe Innovations, InterMountain and MT.
You could some good input form the 'N crowd'.
Happy modelling!
Cheers