If These Shirts Could Talk: The Tantalizing Tales Behind Used Clothes
Jockeying for Position: How Boxers and Briefs Got Into Men's Pants
Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
In the Hot Seat: Is Your Antique Windsor a Fake?
Love at First Kite: How Pizza and Pente Led to One Oklahoman's High-Flying Obsession
Blood, Sweat, and Steel: My Afternoon with the Ace of Swords
'The Great Gatsby' Still Gets Flappers Wrong
Say Ahhh: An Oral Surgeon's Quest to Reimagine the Garage-Band Guitar
Forget TV Pickers, Meet the Real Mavericks of the Antiques World
Coveting The Craziest Cat-People Collectibles
For would-be Gullivers, N scale model trains from Athearn, Atlas, Bachmann, Kato, and others are a terrific way to go. Just as HO scale model trains are half the size of O scale trains, N scale model trains are half the size of HO, measuring between 1/148 and 1/160 the size of their real-life counterparts (the exact proportion depends on the country you live in or the manufacturer who made the model train). One thing is standard, though, and that is the gauge of the track, which is always 9mm wide.
N scale trains are most popular in Japan, no doubt owing to the premium put on real estate in that island nation. Most Japanese N scale trains are 1/150 the size of the real trains running on the real 3-foot, 6-inch narrow-gauge train tracks there. Models of Shinkansen (bullet trains), however, are 1/160 scale.
In England, a ratio of 1:148 is typical, although some N scale trains are 1:152. These latter models are understandably confused with the vintage Lone Star OOO scale trains that ...
Space alone is not the reason to choose N scale over HO scale. Many collectors have plenty of room to house their passions, so collecting at N scale simply allows those lucky folks to amass twice as many examples in N scale as they could in HO.
Unlike O scale, standard scale, and HO scale, some of which have been around for a full century, N scale only came into prominence in the 1960s. While the relative youth of the collectible limits the vintage value of N scale trains, it does mean that N scale collectors can generally mix and match components—standards were agreed upon early by manufacturers, making the interchangeability of many parts viable. Just having standard gauge tracks is an enormous help.
The downside of this rush to standardization was that one manufacturer, Arnold, was given the right to produce the N scale’s standard coupling, the Rapido. Not surprisingly, competitors were loathe to steer their customers to Arnold’s coupler, so they developed couplers of their own, even though Arnold owned the patent.
As it turned out, the Rapido did not work very well for automatic uncoupling and it was a bit bulky relative to the N scale’s diminutive size. Today, most serious N scale collectors prefer the magnetic knuckle couplers produced by Micro Trains.
by 
Interviews & Articles
The Beauty of Brass Model Trains
We’ve been operating Dan’s Train Depot, which is the parent company of BrassTrains.com, for about 11 years now. We bought out a ve… [more]
Train Talk with the National Model Railroad Association's Brent Lambert
The NMRA library’s original purpose was to focus on model railroading, but over time we’ve also received donations that have helpe… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
Airfix Model Railways
Dave McCarthy's Airfix Model Railway treasure trove is an in-depth archive of the company's plastic railway kits fr… [read review or visit site]
Gateway NMRA
This great reference site for model railroaders, from the Gateway (St. Louis) division of the NMRA (National Model … [read review or visit site]
HOseeker.net
This site is a treasure trove of HO scale model railroad manufacturer catalogs and other reference information, inv… [read review or visit site]
Postwar Lionel Trains Library
Bernie Schulz’s Lionel Trains Library focuses exclusively on postwar Lionel trains and accessories. The site cont… [read review or visit site]
Eric's Trains
Eric Siegel's site displays his collection of O-gauge/O-scale trains, tracks, turntables, and other accessories. A … [read review or visit site]
Tech Model Railroad Club of MIT
MIT's model railroad club, as one might expect, has one of the best websites for learning about how people play wit… [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations: Model Trains
- Train Collectors Association
- National Model Railroad Association
- Lionel Collectors Club of America
- Toy Train Operating Society
- National Association of S Gaugers, Inc.
- Train Collectors Society (U.K.)
- Lionel Operating Train Society
Other Great Reference Sites: Model Trains
Top eBay Auctions
N Scale Two Train Operation Set Custom Made Layout Platfoarm Hand Crafted In Usa
Overland Ultra Rare Up Sd 70 M 4747 And 4637 And Up Ca- 9 Caboose 25669
Overland Models N Scale B.n. Sd70mac Fact. Painted #9432
Overland Models N Scale B.n. Sd70mac Fact. Painted #9474
Key Imports N Scale Brass Usra Light 2-8-2 B&o Engine & Tender Painted
Bachmann Spectrum Amtrak Acela Complete & Ready To Run Train Set Dcc On Board
Athearn 11805 Challenger 4-6-6-4 Union Pacific #3943
Con-cor N-scale 2hl Burlington Zephyr Nib
N Scale Walthers Usra 0-8-0 Unlettered Steam Locomotive
Lifelike N Scale P2k Usra 2-8-8-2 Undecorated
Con-cor N Scale Up 4-8-8-4 Big Boy Steam Locomotive & Tender By Rivarossi Ex/box
Up 2-8-0 Consolidation Oriental Limited Samhongsa
Fm Eire Builts Union Pacific A B 2 Unit Set
N 1/160 Sc Kato Set A 4 Southern Lighted W/ Interiors Cs Passenger Cars
Intermountain N Scale Enthusiast Mtl Union Pacific Heritage Boxcar 7 Car Set
Broadway Limited N Scale Alco Prr #5755a/5756b W/paragon 2 Electronics No456
N Scale Minitrix
Con/cor Rivarossi "n" Up Big Boy 4-8-8-4 Steam Locomotive Does Not Run Diff #'s
Shinohara"n"scale C70 Turnouts #4's & #6's Right & Left-new & Used-25 Total
Two (2) Bnsf Es44dc Fox Valley Models
N Scale Atlas Dash 8-40 Locomotive / Santa Fe Road #561 / Decoder Equipped / New
N Scale - (20) Peco Code 80 #6 Left & Right Hand Turnouts
Kato N Scale Amtk, Amtrak P42 Phase Iv Amfleet & Viewliner 5-car Set - 106-0101
N Scale Unpainted Brass Caboose
Kato Santa Fe Atsf El Capitan 10 Passenger Car Set W/ Unitrack N Scale #106-077
N Scale Lot Of 2 Locomotives, 11 Cars, 1 Caboose, And 1 Building
N Scale Con-cor Rivarossi Big Boy 4-8-8-4
N Scale Rivarossi 4-8-8-4 Big Boy
N Scale Talgo Electrotren 3251 K Amtrak Trainset Talgo Pendular 200
Kato 106-6103 Amtrak Ge P42 Genesis Phase V 2 Locomotive Set New In Box
Precision Craft N Scale Union Pacific 1 Powered-2 Unpowered 2-sound Equipped
Kato Burlington Cb&q Emd E5a & Silver Streak Zephyr 6 Unit Set N Scale #106-090
N-scale Kato F7a & B Units Sante Fe Freight Color Scheme Rd #226c
N-scale Kato F7a & B Units Sante Fe Freight Color Scheme Rd #235
Fleischmann "n"; Scale Railcar 7428
Huge Lot Of N Gauge 36 In Total, 32 Cars, 4 Engines. Atlas, Bauchman, Trix, Mrc
Rivarossi N Scale Brass 0-8-0 Steam Locomotive & Tender/box
Nib N Scale Atlas Emd Gp-40 Rio Grande #3087 Dcc Ready
N Scale Athearn 11887 Procor 30k Gallon Ethanol Tank Cars #s 43855, 43968, 43972
Model Power B&o 4-6-2 Pacific Steam Locomotive & Tender (new)
Kato Santa Fe Atsf Warbonnet Alco Pa-1 & Pb-1 Diesel Locomotive Set N Scale
Brass Manufacture Unknown Santa Fe Diesel Locamotives No # 
Dtd - N Scale Kato 106-0009 Atsf F7 Train Set W/ Unitrack Santa Fe
Kato Santa Fe Atsf Emd F7 A&b Diesel Locomotive Set N Scale Dc Powered Models
Dtd - N Scale Kato 176-294 Emd E8/9 Up #935b Diesel Engine Union Pacific
Kato Powered Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 Heavy Mikado
Kato N Gauge Locomotive Union Pacific E9a And E9b Units #944 And #953b Mib
Minitrix N 15188 Hot Metal Bottle Car Torpedowagen Steel New Wagon
Atlas N Code 55 #10 Turnouts - Lot Of 8
Ahm, Bertren & Minitrix N Scale Locomotives (7)/box
N Scale Atlas Sd-35 Locomotive /norfolk & Western Road #1515 /decoder Ready/new
N Scale Brass Baldwin Switcher Vo-1000 #1800 Hallmark Models
Kato Cn 8 Car Bethgon Coalporter Set - 1064615 - Canadian National
Brass Hallmark Diesel Western Pacific # 582
Kato 106-0801 Nscale Alco Pa-1 & Pb-1 Sp 6006 & 5911 - Nib
Lot Of 9 Micro Trains/intermountain Cars & Kato Bnsf Sd40-2
N Scale Al's Kustom Kars * Custom Painted & Decorated Micro Trains Cars
Kato Union Pacific Pa-1 Diesel Locomotive 106-0804 Set A & B Unit Mib
Hallmark/samhongsa Emd Ft-a&b Brass
Special Train Sale! Lot Of N-scale Kato Unitrack Snap Track
Recent News: N Scale Model Trains
Source: Google News
Fun time at Homewood Railroad Heritage Day
SouthtownStar, May 19ththe engineer has to honk the horn. This came of the line through Palos Park and Orland Park. I grew up over there. Now it's a no-horn area,” he said. He has HO gauge trains at his folks' house, and an N scale train in the apartment he shares with...Read more
Casper Calendar for May 15, 2013 - Casper Star-Tribune
Casper Star-Tribune Online, May 14th11 a.m.-2 p.m., 1356 N. Center St. Fun with model trains with N Scale enthusiast Harry Buhler and HO Scale collector Homer Whitlock. Info: 235-4950 or 266-6439. NAMI. * 7:30 p.m., 133 W. Sixth St. Connections/All Diagnosis support group for persons...Read more
Train Society to hold open house
Shelton Herald, May 13thThe Boothe Memorial Train Society will hold an open house on Sunday, May 19 from 1-4 p.m. Four operating train layouts from “N”, “HO”, “O” and “G” scale will be on display. The Boothe Memorial Railroad Society is located in Boothe Memorial Park at 5800...Read more
Model trains, batteries and a simple idea - Christian Today Australia
ChristianToday, May 12thIt's an expensive hobby that I just don't have the money to keep going but I do have a little amount of HO and N scale trains that I like to set up and watch the trains go round and round. I had not set up my model trains for a very long time and last...Read more
Amtrak station in Flint celebrates National Train Day with 1920s speeder car ...
Mlive- flint, May 11thInside of the station, volunteers with Huckleberry Railroad, the National Association of Railway Business Women, Mid-Michigan Railway and Operation Lifesaver handed out gift bags. Attendees were also privy to see a detailed, operating "N" scale model...Read more
Model RR club makes tracks for Beardsley Park
YourWestValley.com, April 29thSun City West Model Railroad club member Art Werner, left, and club vice president Bob Nelson are surrounded by HO- and N-scale tracks and trains in their club room. By fall, the club plans to operate a G-scale layout in an area west of the horseshoe...Read more
Freightloads of fun for Railroad Day
Osawatomie Graphic, April 24thFour-year-old Riley Duncan, with his dad Jessie Duncan and grandmother Dorothy Spencer, spent a long while admiring an N-scale model train inside the museum, set up courtesy of Greg Gilroy, model railroad chairman at the Franklin County Historical...Read more
Model Trains Come Home To Winslow Gallery Every April
AzJournal.com, April 24thThe “N” scale trains are 1:160 the size of an actual locomotive, or 160 scale feet to one actual foot. This is almost half the size of the more popular HO scale, which is 1:87. Because of this small size, module builders can fit a lot into their...Read more