N Scale Model Trains

When you enter a new job or career you can feel bombarded with a myriad of technical phrases and acronyms, but you soon get to speak the new language as fluently as anyone else. The same is true as you enter the exciting world of model trains. Don’t be intimidated by talk of scales, gauges and N scale model trains; you will quickly learn what these terms mean and you’ll love the ability to converse with other train enthusiasts about the technical intricacies of this hobby.

 

As you set up the landscape and scenery for your model railway, one of the big considerations to consider is the overall size of your project. There are many different manufacturers producing different model trains and different tracks, for a variety of purposes. Thankfully, with such a choice, you’ll definitely find something just right for you. You see, in order to ensure that any brand of train will fit on any brand of track, the train makers make the tracks and trains in accordance with specific standards of size, referred to as scale and gauge. The scale of the train refers to, just that, the scale or size of the model train in comparison with the life size locomotive. It is defined as the ratio and the different letters assigned to the scales define different set ratios.

 

So to the N scale model train – this is one of the smaller scales used in the model train hobby. It is, in fact, the smallest of the four most popular scales at a ratio of 1:160. This means the N scale train is one hundred and sixtieth the size of its life size counter part. Or put another way, you could line up 160 n scale model trains in a line next to the full size train.

 

In relation to the next sized scale (in the four more popular scales), the HO scale; we find the N scale is just a little over half the size of HO. The HO scale is 1:87. This is preferable for those hobbyists who enjoy expansive scenery or simply don’t have much room for their layout. This is where the n scale model trains can come into their own, as they do take up less space, and they also have the advantage of having more detail than some of the other smaller scales. Another advantage of N scale trains is that with smaller rail car and tracks then the larger and more impressive the scenery will appear around them.

 

N scale trains are relatively modern, coming into common use in the 1960’s, unlike the O scale, HO scale and standard scale which have all been around for over 100 years. You may wonder where the name N scale comes from? Well it stands for 9mm because this is the distance between the rails (known as the gauge). One other piece of terminology to become familiar with is code. The code refers to the height of rail – which is of course a much smaller measurement than the gauge.

 

Whatever scale trains you opt for you’ll have plenty of fun in this hobby, but take some time to consider if you need to go for this smaller scale to maybe make the most of a smaller amount of space available to explore your train hobby.


Building Model Trains and Scenery



After the initial novelty of setting up your model railway trains and investigating the locomotives and their top speeds (before becoming derailed) you will want to consider how you can have a more permanent layout for your train by building some scenery.

 

The benchwork underpins your railroad, just as the foundations do for a house. You have the option of buying an already made benchmark or alternatively building one for yourself. The advantage of buying one is that the kit is predrilled and precut enabling you to get up and running with your scenery building that much quicker. Of course they will also be much sturdier than an old piece of timber balanced on a pile of books! Also, with a kit, it enables you to be much more portable with your scenery, should you wish, at a later date, to travel to train shows. However, one disadvantage of buying your benchwork is that it is likely to be more expensive than building your own.

 

As well as being cheaper, building your own benchmark for your model railway train layout will provide you with the perfect opportunity to achieve the dream scenery layout you have in your minds eye. It may be a little more complicated and take some time but the end result will be well worth it. The first step is to create a design for your layout. Here’s a few questions to ask yourself to get started:

 

  • How large do you want the benchmark to be?
  • How much space do you have available in the room you wish to keep the train layout?
  • Will you be adding to the layout in the future?
  • What shape would you like to have?
    • Rectangular
    • Square
    • Circular
    • Oval

 

Once you have the answers to these questions next ensure you have a platform which is strong and sturdy and able to hold a lot of weight. Typically a good platform can be made from a thick piece of plywood between 3/8 inch and ½ inch thick. This can be placed onto a table top with the legs cut down to the height you require. If you want the benchwork to be portable then ensure the plywood is cut into several pieces before assembling.

 

Once your benchmark is in place you can begin building the model railway train scenery. For a good look, do remember to keep perspective and scale in mind as you build. The aim is to make the layout look larger than it is. Think of it as different levels of scenery. Place larger trees in the foreground and smaller trees in the background and in distant places, such as on mountain tops. Also for consistency, ensure that the scenery reflects the theme you have chosen. So if you are running a mountain model railway train ensure a mountain theme complete with mountains, alpine buildings, rivers, glaciers and the mountain meadows.

 

There are many different features you can incorporate into your scenery where only your imagination and artistic ability are the limit. Consider landscapes including tunnels, fields, meadows, bridges, aqueducts and roads. Towns and villages will obviously need houses and buildings. You should also include finer detail to your scenery such as fences, signs, pylons, bushes, flowers, animals and people. As a real challenge to your artistic ability, it can also be interesting to add bodies of water to your scenery such as rivers, streams and ponds.

 

What a wonderful way to show off your creative ability to your friends and family by creating dramatic and realistic train landscapes. So now you are inspired, get to work and start creating that scenery.


Toy Model Trains



Out of the many childhood memories one which sticks vividly in my mind was standing on the train platform in Ffestiniog, North Wales, as the steam railway arrived in the station. My senses were arrested with the hissing and puffing of steam, the rumble of the ground, the smell of the smoke and the heat from the engine. I watched enviously as the train driver quickly wolfed down his cooked breakfast whilst standing in the engine, eager to pull away from the station and continue his journey.

 

I believe it is some of this awe which is captured in a young boy’s heart which stays with him into adulthood; the control over a powerful machine – the steam train. If he can’t own the real thing then he will want to own a toy. This is where his passion for toy model trains often comes from.

 

Men often become fascinated by the thought of mastering something so powerful even if it is 1/87 of its original size. Technically it may only be a toy, but to the train enthusiast it helps him solve the puzzle of how trains work, and how the electricity supplies the locomotives power or maybe the intricate moving parts synchronized so beautifully and harmoniously to produce forward movement. For me, the toy model train brings back memories from the train platform in Wales, for others the comforting childhood memory of a train whistling around a Christmas tree gets relived. Whatever the reason these toys have now grown up into machines and are ready to play with the big boys.

 

Children are introduced to the hobby of toy model trains when they find a plastic train in their Christmas stocking, possibly. It may be low priced and simple, but it gets the boy’s interest in the hobby. As boys grow into men, so the plastic train becomes a locomotive – and they are made to last. Men enjoy the precision engineering of a well made toy model train. The attention to detail such as the good contact the wheels make with the track in order to get a better electrical connection. They have a stronger engine – and that means greater pulling power (most men enjoying having more power!). The well crafted and engineered metal body oozes with quality, and intricate craftsmanship rather than the cheap plastic models of their youth. The insignias and designs on the carriages and engine, makes the whole experience seem even more like they are fulfilling the dream of driving a real locomotive – not just a toy model train.

 

For some, electrically driven steam toy model trains are just not enough – it has to be the real thing. So the genius’s within the model train industry offer steam engines for grown men to relive their childhood dream, in the comfort of their own loft. What could be better than enjoying your favourite locomotive filling your scenery with lifelike steam.

 

So although very few boys get to grow up to actually be train driver, there are many who get to indulge in their dream enjoying the hobby which so many of us love and enjoy; toy model trains.


Model Train Information



Model trains have enthralled their train enthusiasts for decades; and who can blame them for it is a wonderful hobby to pursue with the opportunity for lots of inventive flair and endless scope for collecting new models. There is far more to this hobby than first meets the eye. It involved more than the mere gathering of locomotives! The model train enthusiast needs to acquire understanding of scales and gauges along with track layout, knowledge of the scenery and other invaluable model train information.

 

Model Train Scale

The first term to get to grip with in the model train hobby is scale. The scale of the model train refers to the size of the model train in relation to the full size locomotive. There are four main scales used for model trains: G, O, HO and N. Here’s a list of the ratios of the model train compared to the life size train:

 

G scale – ratio 1:22

O scale – ratio 1:48

HO scale – ratio 1:87

N scale – ratio 1:160

 

The G and O scale are grouped together as a larger scale category. They run on a No. 1 track.

HO scale has a ratio which is half a size smaller than O scale – hence the name HO meaning half O.

N scale is smaller still and is half a size smaller than HO.

 

Some less popular scales in use are:

S scale – ratio 1:64

TT scale – ratio 1:120

Z scale – ratio 1:220

 

You will note that TT scale is slightly larger than N scale and Z scale is smaller than N scale.

 

Model Train Gauge

Our next term is gauge which refers to the size of the track between the two rails of track. There are many different manufacturers producing trains and train tracks but they make the tracks to fit standard sizes. Those are as follows:

 

Standard gauge is 4 feet and 8 ½ inches long.

Narrow gauge is usually around 3 feet to 3 ½ feet long.

 

The rails on narrow gauge are normally closer together then on standard gauge track.

 

Model Train Scenery

This is where you can let your creativity run wild! You can lay out you track in anyway you please, as long as you use wide curves to avoid any derailments! Your location for the layout could be in a loft or a basement, but you choose the shape of the layout to fit around the workspace you have. You may choose a figure of eight, a basic oval shape, a dogbone shape or maybe something more adventurous like a twice around (2 loops).

 

Then you can bring your imagination to reality by designing and creating a myriad of landscape features such as fields, meadows, rocks, mountains and maybe you’d like to include water features like streams, rivers and maybe even a coastal seaside feature.

 

The model train hobby is a thriving hobby across the world. It appeals to young and old. And as a bonus, it can wonderfully combine the interests of two different generations as grandfathers share their joy of model trains with their kids and grandkids.